Samurai Chai Mate tea is infused a variety of spices, fruits and nuts. This fruit-flavored tea is touted as a healthy and flavorful alternative to coffee. Like any freshly brewed tea, Samurai Chai Mate, by itself, contains healthful antioxidants and micronutrients, but offers no protein, fat or carbohydrates. Because of the variety of ingredients and natural caffeine content, you should consult your doctor before drinking Samurai Chai Mate if have concerns about drinking caffeine or have nut allergies.
Macronutrients
Macronutrients describe fat, protein and carbohydrates, the three main nutrients necessary for bodily functioning. Plain Samurai Chai Mate tea contains no carbohydrates, fat or protein. The production process dries each of the ingredients before packing the loose tea into small containers. During the steeping process, hot water pulls flavors from each ingredient such as the dried pineapple and cinnamon. The lack of solid ingredient chunks added to the tea infuse the tea with trace amounts of micronutrients without adding fat or calories.
Phytosterols
According to the Linus Pauling Insitute of Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health, phytosterols are plant-derived chemical compounds that help reduce unhealthy LDL cholesterol and ease joint inflammation. The most phystosterol-dense ingredients in Samurai Chai Mate include anise seed, lemongrass and green rooibos tea. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration does not require tea manufacturers to report the quantity of phytosterols in their products, leaving the exact amount inside a cup of Samurai Chai Mate unknown.
Caffeine
According to Teavana, the manufacturer of Samurai Chai Mate, the caffeine content for an 8-ounce cup of Samurai Chai Mate equals that of an average 8-ounce cup of coffee. According to Go Ask Alice at Columbia University, an average cup of coffee contains 135 milligrams. Although Teavana doesn't disclose the exact quantity of caffeine, it does categorize Samurai Chai Mate as a high-caffeine tea with, "100 percent of the caffeine in a cup of coffee."
Nutrition Altering Substances
As with any beverage, the fat and calorie content of Samurai Chai Mate changes after you add ingredients such as sugar, honey, milk or cream. For example, stirring a tablespoon of honey into your cup of freshly brewed tea adds 60 calories. Two tablespoons of creamer adds between 2 to 3 grams of fat and 50 to 80 calories. Combining these two flavor-enhancing ingredients turns a previously calorie-free beverage into one that contains more than 100 calories and as much as 6 grams of fat per cup.
References
- Teavana: Samari Chai Mate Tea
- Myfitnesspal.com: Calories in Teavanah Herbal Tea Samurai Chai Mate Tea W/ 2 Tsps of Raw Sugar
- University of Illinois - McKinley Health Center: Macronutrients
- National Center for Complimentary Medicine: Antioxidants
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health: Phytosterols
- Go Ask Alice: Caffeine Content
Member Comments