Last Updated on 03/02/2022 by Miki
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You probably heard about this drink named a chai latte and wondered what it is. Is it tea or coffee? Does a chai latte have caffeine? This article will help you learn what a chai latte is and how to make one at home.
What Is A Chai Latte?
So, what exactly is a chai latte? To understand it, we have to understand the history of chai. The word ‘chai’ is a common name for a type of masala tea made in India. This is especially popular during the winter and is associated with India’s sweet teas.
A chai latte is a beverage that is different from traditional tea or coffee. A chai latte is typically black tea blended with milk and Indian spices like cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, and black pepper. The spice in the chai latte is what makes it so popular.
Does A Chai Latte Have Caffeine?
Are you wondering if a chai latte has caffeine? The answer is yes. A chai latte contains a fairly low amount of caffeine as it is made out of black tea. The caffeine content in a chai latte depends on how much is brewed and what kind of tea is used. It is said to range from 12 to 50 mg in a 6-oz cup. This is much less than the same cup of coffee that contains an average of 70 mg. Chai lattes are best for people who have a reasonable tolerance for caffeine and are looking for an alternative to the standard latte. The drink does have caffeine in it, but the spices used to flavour it, such as ginger and cardamom, usually have a natural calming effect on people that causes them to relax. This can mean that a chai latte is more likely to make you sleepy than give you a boost of energy.
How To Make A Chai Latte
We know that there is a huge difference between tea and coffee. Coffee is a much stronger drink whereas tea is more subtle. Chai tea is a very strong tea with many different flavours, which is why it is usually made by mixing a chai blend with a black tea base. It is a popular drink in India and is often served in coffee shops. It is also called a chai tea latte. The essential ingredients of a chai latte are black tea, milk, spices and sweetener of your choice. The chai latte spices that I recommend are cinnamon (I have mentioned how much I love cinnamon in this post.), cardamom, clove, ginger and black pepper (I use black pepper in most of my savoury dishes.). You can surely experiment with other spices such as nutmeg and star anise.
Here is a simple recipe for a DIY chai latte:
Ingredients
- 6 oz of brewed black tea (you can make it strong or weak depending on your preference)
- 2 cups of milk (choice of your preferred milk)
- 1 tsp* of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp* of ground cardamon
- 1/4 tsp* of ground clove
- 1/4 tsp* of ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp* of ground black pepper
- *all the spices can be increased or decreased according to your taste
- sweetener of your choice (optional)
Method
- In a small pot, heat the milk with the black tea to just below boiling.
- Add all the spices and the sweetener if you like.
- Simmer for 5 minutes or so, then remove from heat.
- Steep for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour into a cup and enjoy!
How To Make A Green Tea Chai Latte
If you are a fan of matcha like me, you would love this recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of milk (choice of your preferred milk)
- 1 tsp of matcha green tea powder
- 1 tsp* of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp* of ground cardamon
- 1/4 tsp* of ground clove
- 1/4 tsp* of ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp* of ground black pepper
- *all the spices can be increased or decreased according to your taste
- sweetener of your choice (optional)
Method
- In a small pot, heat all the ingredients over medium heat while stirring frequently.
- Once it reaches your preferred temperature, remove it from heat.
- Pour into a cup and serve immediately.
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Best Chai Tea Latte Powder
The powder is easy to mix with hot water to give that perfect chai flavour and if you’re looking for a way to add it to your perfect cup of coffee, it’s the perfect addition.
The best chai tea latte powder can be acquired from a variety of sources. People all over the world have found themselves enjoying this beverage. The drink has become so popular that many shops sell it pre-made. If you want to buy it pre-made at your local grocery shop, check the international aisle. Most shops offer a mix of chai tea latte powder. With that being said, the best place to buy the best chai tea latte powder is from Amazon as it’s convenient and it’s a popular market for a good reason. The key points for the best chai tea latte powder are:
- No additives
- No sweeteners
- High-quality spices, preferably 100% organic
Unfortunately, there are a lot of chai tea latte powder mix packets that contain loads of sugar and unnecessary additives on the market. I highly recommend avoiding those nasty ones. Here are my top 3 picks for the best chai tea latte powder on Amazon:
Chai Lords Instant Chai Powder
I love the fact that the Chai Lords chai powder is 100% natural ingredients without any nasties. To make it even better, it’s full of beautiful spices that will bring you a nice kick! I do love chai spice blend and the Chai Lords is perfectly balanced in my opinion. Highly recommended.
Arkadia Chai Tea Vanilla
Although Arkadia Chai Tea contains sugar, there is a great variety of natural spices used and it can be easily made hot or ice by adding wate or milk and stir. How could it be much easier than this?
VAHDAM INSTANT Vanilla Chai Tea Latte
What I like about VAHDAM Instant vanilla chai tea latte is its convenience. It’s already got milk powder in the mix, so you simply need hot water to make a delicious cup of chai latte. Even though there is cane sugar in it, all the ingredients are natural and it has no nasty additives. Moreover, there is a 100% money-back guarantee! Why not give it a go?
Is There The Difference Between A Chai Latte And A Dirty Chai?
Somebody might be wondering what the difference between a chai latte and dirty chai is. A chai latte is a type of tea drink containing cinnamon, cardamon, clove, and ginger. Dirty chai is like a chai latte with the addition of espresso. The addition of coffee to the drink gives it a stronger flavour than a regular chai latte. If you cannot choose which to have, a cup of chai latte or coffee, then dirty chai may be the best option. As a coffee lover myself, this drink is a great invention!
Final Thoughts
The chai latte is traditionally a mix of hot milk and black tea. You can also use green tea to make a chai latte. This tea is known to have antioxidants and has a stimulating effect on your body. People enjoy this drink in winter to make themselves feel warm and to feel relaxed at the same time. Having said that, I would happily drink a delicious cup of chai latte any time of the year 🙂