Are you considering a new beverage? Do you need a replacement for your daily cup of coffee? Are you wanting to add a little spice to your morning routine? You might be in the right place if you are considering chai tea.
Chai tea is a spiced beverage that is created with an assortment of spices and brewed as a tea. There are many that find numerous benefits to drinking this beverage such as better digestion and clearer skin. The taste of chai is adored by nearly everyone who tries it as it’s unique and fresh. You can enjoy chai tea cold or hot and it will still be a new favorite beverage all year long.
If you are considering chai tea as your new go-to or you are simply wanting to learn more about the beverage then read on to learn the numerous facts about chai tea. You will be surprised to learn how many benefits there are to drinking chai tea!
What is Chai?
Chai is a decadent tea that is infused with numerous spices that include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black peppercorns. This is the average ingredient list but each brand of chai that you purchase might add something different.
Chai tea is normally created with milk and a sweetener such as honey or sugar. You brew chai the same way you would brew your average cup of coffee which is simply in boiled water.
Where did it come from?
Chai has been around for more than 5000 years and was invented for the purpose of medicinal practices. The tea originates from India where each spice included in chai tea has a specific purpose for healing. Chai tea has evolved since and you will find a different recipe in just about each place you visit.
However, the original hope was that the ingredients would help with digestion, pain, mood and even circulation in the body. This has made it a staple in many of our homes and a featured drink mainly around the holidays. The spices and benefits have allowed many to switch from coffee to tea with a much easier transition.
What does it taste like? How to improve the taste?
There is no singular recipe for chai today which means that it will taste different nearly each time you try a new brand of chai. This means that being aware of the certain spices that you prefer in your chai is going to be critical when you are attempting to find that taste that you desire.
Chai can taste spicy if you are including more ginger or black pepper. It can also become a very savory drink with the use of fennel or cumin. The taste truly depends on the ingredients of the chai. You can alter the taste by sampling different brands and deciding which one you like best. You can also create chai tea yourself with the ingredients you prefer.
There are many people who actually taste chai tea and end up switching to tea instead of coffee. We often don’t realize how beneficial tea is until we try and learn the facts. Chai tea can taste incredible and leave you satisfied all day long.
How much caffeine does it contain?
You can find that chai tea will have about 95 mg of caffeine per 16 oz. cup that you drink.
This can be compared to a 16 oz. of brewed coffee at Starbucks that contains 330 mg of caffeine. This simply means that chai does have caffeine but it’s much less than a cup of coffee.
What benefits are there to drinking chai?
As mentioned above, chai was created for medicinal purposes originally which begs the question of how it will benefit our health. It’s been shown that it does improve your digestion and increase your energy! This makes it a wonderful replacement for coffee as it gives you an alert feeling without the jittery feeling of coffee.
Chai also contains antioxidants and is good for your skin which is a wonderful benefit. There are people out there that use chai tea as a supplement to fight off colds as well. The benefits are endless and worth learning more about!
How many carbs & calories does it contain?
A cup of chai tea that is unflavored and unsweetened contains no carbs or calories. The calories and carbs are something that you will need to be aware of as you are adding ingredients such as milk and sweeteners. A decadent cup of chai tea can become fairly high in calories and carbs.
How long does it last?
Chai tea will thrive and last up to a year with the right care and conditions. You simply want to ensure that your chai tea is being kept in a dark and cool place. You also want to isolate the chai from your other beverages such as coffee grounds. The chai is susceptible to pulling the flavor from the coffee into itself which will damper the taste of your chai next time you attempt to have a cup.
Chai Tea
You can’t go wrong with a cup of chai tea if you are looking for a little spice in your life. You will find a perfect blend of spices when you brew a cup in the morning. The benefits to drinking chai tea make switching from coffee to chai a pleasing option.
The idea of chai tea may have originated many years ago but it’s truly now a favorite among us.
