A chai tea latte is prepared by mixing tea brewed with traditional Indian herbs and spices with a sweetener and milk or a milk substitute. The fat content of the latte depends completely on the milk you use, and the number of calories depends on the sweetener as well as the type of milk. A chai tea latte is high in protein, carbohydrates, calcium and healthy antioxidants.
Ingredients
The tea blend used to prepare chai is made from black, green or oolong tea with traditional Indian spices, such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, star anise and nutmeg. Brewed tea is blended with one or more sweeteners, usually honey and sugar, and milk or a milk substitute. The nutritional value of a chai tea latte primarily depends on the type of milk you use.
Nutritional Overview
Before the sweetener and milk is added, chai tea contains negligible calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Some sweeteners add carbohydrates and calories. The milk or milk substitute used to prepare a chai latte contributes nearly all of the fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. A 12 oz. chai tea latte made with nonfat milk contains 150 calories, no fat, 75 mg of sodium, 33 g of carbohydrates with 32 g of sugar, 6 g of protein, 6 percent of the daily allowance of vitamin A, 20 percent of the daily allowance of calcium and 2 percent of the daily value of iron. If the chai latte is made with whole milk, the calories increase to 200 and fat increases to 5 g. A 12 oz. chai tea latte made with soy milk has 170 calories, 2 g of fat, 65 mg of sodium, 35 g of carbohydrates with 32 g of sugar, 4 g of protein, 6 percent of the daily value of vitamin A, 20 percent of the daily value of calcium and 4 percent of the daily value of iron.
Antioxidants
A chai tea latte contains beneficial antioxidants. The specific compounds depend on the type of tea and spices that are used. In general, the herbs and spices in chai support a healthy immune system and aid digestion. Tea contains antioxidant flavonoids that lower cholesterol, control blood pressure, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and help protect against cancer.
Caffeine
If you are trying to cut back on caffeine, a chai tea latte is a good alternative to a coffee latte. Tea contains about half as much caffeine per serving as regular coffee. You can expect an 8 oz. chai tea latte to contain approximately 50 mg of caffeine, while an 8 oz. espresso latte contains about 150 mg of caffeine. A chai latte made using decaffeinated tea contains only a trace amount of caffeine.
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