Chai is a beverage made by brewing tea with herbs and spices. There are many recipes for chai; milk and a sweetener are often added, although some people prefer to drink the tea without any additives. Your recipe will determine the calories and fat in your cup of chai. No matter how you prepare it, chai offers healthful anti-oxidants and less caffeine than you would find in a cup of coffee.
Chai Ingredients
The basic ingredients of chai are tea, herbs and spices. Usually black tea is used; the spices often include ginger, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg. Other types of tea or other spices may be used. Whole, low-fat or soy milk may be added. Chai often includes a sweetener, which may be honey or sugar, though a low-calorie or calorie-free sweetener may be used. The exact recipe depends entirely on your preference.
Calories, Fat and Other Nutrients
The tea, herbs and spices in chai do not add any appreciable amount of calories or fat to your diet. Your choice of milk or a milk substitute and a sweetener will determine how much fat and how many calories you consume. Protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A, iron and most of the calories would come from your choice of milk or milk substitute. If you use a sweetener, it may contribute additional carbohydrates. If you are ordering chai from a restaurant, ask to see the nutritional information for the beverage. If you are making chai yourself, read the nutritional information on your milk and sweetener to determine calories and nutrients. A 16-oz. chai tea latte from a retail vendor, prepared with skim milk, has 0 g of fat and 200 calories, while a chai latte made with whole milk has 7 g of fat and 260 calories.
Caffeine
Chai is a good selection for those wishing to limit caffeine intake. Both regular and decaffeinated chai contain less caffeine than a cup of coffee. The basis of chai, black tea, contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine per 5-oz. cup; regular coffee has 200 mg of caffeine per 5-oz. cup. Chai made from decaffeinated tea contains essentially no caffeine.
Anti-oxidants and Health Benefits
The tea, herbs and spices in chai are rich in anti-oxidants, and the ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. Fennel, found in some chai formulations, helps to combat flatulence. Cinnamon and ginger help to soothe the stomach, and cloves and black pepper aid the digestive process.
Member Comments