Based in Lake Forest, Calif., Big Train is a specialty beverage company that began in 1991. According to its website, Big Train sells chai tea as well as flavored coffee drinks. Its beverages are sold in dozens of retail outlets around the United States and throughout the world.
Types
Big Train's best-known product is its chai tea, which comes in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, gingerbread, green tea, raspberry, spiced apple and vanilla. The company also sells several types of iced coffee drinks with flavors, such as caramel latte, chocolate malt, dulche de leche, Kona mocha and pumpkin spice. Smoothies, iced tea, Mexican-inspired beverages and frozen chocolate drinks are also offered.
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional information varies for each Big Train product. One very popular drink is the company's vanilla chai. Three tablespoons of the chai powder makes an 8 oz beverage that has 140 calories, 3 g fat, 45 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrates, 25 g sugar, 2 g protein, no cholesterol and no fiber. The chocolate malt-blended ice coffee comes from 4 tbsp. mix to make one 8 oz. beverage that has 190 calories, 10 g fat, 105 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrates, 18 g sugar, 3 g protein, 1 g fiber and no cholesterol.
Ingredients
The ingredients in each powder and drink mix are what determines the final nutritional values of Big Train's beverages. The primary ingredient in both the vanilla chai and the chocolate malt coffee drink is sugar. The chai mix also contains nonfat milk, non-dairy creamer, salt, black tea powder and granulated honey. The chocolate malt mix features coconut oil, corn syrup solids, nonfat milk, cocoa powder, malted milk powder and coffee.
Alternatives
You can slim down any version of a Big Train drink. To save fat and calories, get the drinks without whipped cream or syrup, and order small sizes. Low-calorie alternatives with less sugar and fat include regular coffee with cream and sugar or fresh chai with skim milk.
Considerations
Since Big Train drinks are made from powdered mixes, they contain few of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that the USDA recommends getting on a daily basis. For the best health and nutrition, make the foundation of your diet daily servings of whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, fruits and nonfat dairy and stick to having flavored coffee drinks and chais as occasional treats.
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