In the first decade of the 21st century, chai tea became a hit in America, largely popularized by Starbucks. The coffee giant uses a chai concentrate from the Tazo company to make its chai tea latte. The ingredients in Starbucks chai are used to create a masala chai tea, a variation that uses a number of spices. In fact, there are many variations of chai tea, some using green tea and some using the traditional black tea.
History
In many parts of the world, chai is the word for tea. According to legend, a royal king in India created chai tea some 5,000 years ago. According to an article in "Arzoo Magazine," chai tea also is related to the Indian system of healing known as Ayurveda. The typical recipe for chai in India combines black tea with milk, water and sugar. Starbucks tea, on the other hand, uses a number of spices, the distinctive element of masala chai tea
Starbucks Chai
The Tazo chai tea concentrate used by Starbucks contains the following ingredients: black tea; cardamon, cinnamon, ginger root, black pepper, cloves, natural flavors and star anise. To make a regular Starbucks chai, which is called a chai latte, the Tazo chai mix is combined with steamed milk. A cold chai latte is made with milk and ice. People who eschew dairy can order their Starbucks chai lattes with soy milk
Spices
Starbucks chai sticks to spices that are commonly used in a masala tea. These spices not only are tasty to the palate, some of them might offer health benefits. Cinnamon is linked to cancer-cell fighting activity, the regulation of blood sugar and the reduction of cholesterol. Ginger aids digestion, might lower cholesterol and might contain anti-cancer properties.
Considerations
A 16-oz. Starbucks chai latte contains 100 mg of caffeine, 240 calories, 95 g sodium, 44 g carbohydrates, 41 g sugars and 7 g protein. With the growing popularity of chai drinks in the West, cooks are increasingly using chai concentrate in recipes for items such as pound cakes and muffins. Given the caffeine in a Starbucks chai latte, it might work for you as a pick-me-up. On the other hand, the spices and milk, which contains tryptophan, a calming amino acid, might soothe your mind and stomach.
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