How Many Calories Does A Chai Tea Latte Have?

"Chai tea" is somewhat redundant since "chai" actually means "tea" in many parts of the world, but most often it refers to a spiced milk tea from India. It has become increasingly popular in the West over the past several years, especially in the form of a latte, which is a coffee drink made from espresso and steamed milk. Chai tea lattes are available ready-made in coffee shops and as a packaged product in retail stores.

Identification

Chai tea contains a black tea base with spices and milk. The spices vary depending on the region and maker. According to chai-tea.org, the most common spices used are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pepper. A chai tea latte is very similar to a regular chai tea except you blend the drink with steamed milk, as opposed to simply diluting the drink with regular milk.

Considerations

The calories in a chai tea latte will depend on many factors, including where you purchase your beverage. Many different coffee shop brands and deli stores sell chai tea lattes. Each shop has its own way of making the beverage, meaning the caloric content will vary. You can also make a chai tea latte at home using a mix. The biggest factor that will affect the caloric content of a chai tea latte is the kind of milk you use: 2 percent, whole, or nonfat.

2 Percent Milk

A chai tea latte made with 2 percent milk, a lower-fat option than whole milk, has on average 260 calories in a 16-ounce serving. There are 7 grams of fat; 37 total grams carbohydrates, 35 of which are sugars; and 13 grams of protein. A 16-ounce serving is equal to 2 cups.

Nonfat Milk

A chai tea latte made with nonfat milk has the least amount of calories. Using nonfat milk will result in very few fat grams in the beverage. Fat contain 9 calories per gram. A gram of carbohydrates and protein contains only 4 calories per gram. A 16-ounce serving of a chai tea latte with nonfat milk has 210 calories, less than .5 grams of fat, 37 grams of total carbohydrates of which 35 are sugars, and 14 grams of protein.

Whole Milk

Using whole milk to make a chai tea latte will result in the highest caloric intake. A 16-ounce serving has about 320 calories, 13 grams of fat, 36 total carbohydrate grams of which 35 are sugars, and 13 grams of protein.