Neglect pumpkin spice, it’s chai tea season. The nice and cozy, cozy beverage is a fall staple, and a wholesome one at that—from boosting immunity to combating off indigestion, there’s a boatload of advantages in each cup of chai (and it tastes nice, too). Better of all, it’s extremely versatile—from creamy iced lattes sprinkled with cardamom and cinnamon to mugs of the tea by itself, there are such a lot of methods to get pleasure from it proper at residence, saving you a visit to Starbucks.
Thirsty? We thought so. Earlier than you run out to seize a field of tea, hold studying. We chatted with the consultants to search out the coziest, most flavorful chai teas your cash should buy so you possibly can brew the right cup. Under are the very best chai teas to sip on all season lengthy.
What to search for when selecting a chai tea
Many chai merchandise can function a clean canvas for experimentation. No matter your alternative, there are just a few elements to think about as you store.
First, take into account the substances. “I at all times wish to search for natural varieties to keep away from pointless chemical consumption,” Christina Manian, RDN, registered dietitian and W+G contributor. If that is vital to you, choose chai that carries the USDA Natural Seal, which ensures {that a} product hasn’t come into contact with GMOs, artificial herbicides, pesticides, or pesticides. Manian additionally prefers merchandise which have a Truthful Commerce certification, which implies that they meet social, environmental, and financial requirements, together with secure working situations and a sustainable livelihood for farmers.
As you select, you’ll encounter unfastened and bagged tea, in addition to powders and concentrates, every with its personal perks. “For probably the most traditional preparation, use unfastened tea,” says Ann Ziata, chef on the Institute of Culinary Schooling in New York Metropolis. “You’ll get management over how lengthy you need it to steep and the way candy you want to it to be.” Tea luggage and powders make brewing faster and extra handy, whereas those that desire their chai iced would possibly need to take into account a focus, she provides.
What to keep away from
As for what to keep away from? “Any premade varieties that included added sugar,” says Manian. “Added sugar is a identified pro-inflammatory agent that may detract from the fantastic well being advantages of chai,” Ziata provides that you could be additionally need to keep away from synthetic flavors if you wish to obtain probably the most genuine chai.
Store the very best chai tea
Greatest unfastened leaf: In Pursuit of Tea Basic Chai (4 Oz.) — $14.00
Kind: Unfastened leaf | Dimension: 4 oz., 1 lb. | USDA natural? No | Truthful Commerce licensed? No
Ziata mentions that loose-leaf tea gives probably the most traditional preparation and most customization. She recommends choices from In Pursuit of Tea.
“In Pursuit of Tea makes a really warming Basic Chai, however I’m additionally keen on their Thai Chai, which accommodates somewhat saffron too,” she says. The only-origin Assam tea bursts with pure flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and ginger, leading to one thing pleasantly spicy that may be loved with or with out milk. It’s accessible in 4-ounce as much as 1-pound luggage, in each unfastened leaf and bagged kind.
- Advisable by Ziata
- Full-bodied taste
- No synthetic flavors or sugar
- Out there in bagged kind
- No USDA natural and Truthful Commerce certifications
- Not extensively available in shops
Greatest bagged: Numi Tea Golden Chai (18 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 8, 15, 16, 18, 100 tea luggage | USDA licensed? Sure | Truthful Commerce licensed? Sure
In the event you just like the comfort of tea luggage however don’t need to sacrifice taste or efficiency, Manian recommends this mix by Numi. Its teas are USDA organic- and Truthful Commerce licensed, and simply as importantly, fragrant and flavorful. What’s extra, it’s freed from undesirable components like sugar and synthetic flavoring. What it does include are spices, akin to cardamom, ginger, and star anise, and the flavour is well-balanced, not bitter. Golden Chai is offered in counts of 8, 15, 16, and 18, and there’s a cost-effective 100-count choice. Numi gives different varieties, like Roobios Chai, which additionally are available loose-leaf kind.
- Advisable by Manian
- USDA organic- and Truthful Commerce-certified
- Out there in loose-leaf kind
- Huge number of sizes
- Pure, great-tasting taste
Greatest finances: Tazo Regenerative Natural Chai (16 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 16 tea luggage | USDA licensed? Sure | Truthful Commerce licensed? Sure
Tazo additionally produces USDA organic- and Truthful Commerce-certified bagged tea and comes with the advice of Manian. The Natural Chai teems with notes of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and black pepper—it’s a heat hug in a cup that’s neither too candy nor too spicy. Plus, it’s good by itself or with a splash of milk. Tazo’s Natural Chai is offered in a rely of 16 and is extensively accessible on-line and in shops. The model additionally makes different bagged chai varieties, together with Pumpkin Spice Chai and Vanilla Caramel Chai, in addition to a Basic Chai Latte focus.
- Advisable by Manian
- USDA organic- and Truthful Commerce-certified
- Huge number of choices
- Accessible and reasonably priced
Greatest caffeine-free: Numi Rooibos Chai (18 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 18 tea luggage | USDA natural? Yes | Truthful Commerce licensed? Yes
If you wish to keep away from caffeine, take into account the Roobios Chai from Numi. It brings the spice with out the excitement. The USDA Natural and Truthful Commerce-certified mix is made with rooibos, a caffeine-free tea that’s much like black tea. It has a woodsy taste and is filled with warming spices—particularly, allspice, cardamon, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s mellow, however the spices nonetheless shine by means of, making it very best for ingesting by itself or with milk. Just like the Numi Natural Chai, it’s additionally accessible in loose-leaf kind and in counts 8, 15, 16, and 18, and 100 for an reasonably priced worth.
- Advisable by Manian
- USDA organic- and Truthful Commerce-certified
- Out there in loose-leaf kind
- Huge number of sizes
- Caffeine free
- It isn’t as potent as different choices on the listing
Greatest focus: The Chai Field Chai Focus (16 oz.) — $13.00
Kind: Focus | Dimension: 16 oz.| USDA natural? No | Truthful Commerce licensed? No
In the event you like your chai with milk, take into account a liquid focus. Simply combine it with the milk of your alternative, and voilà—you will have a tasty drink. “The Chai Field Chai Focus is a beautiful deal with,” says Ziata, who provides that it’s additionally “good for an easy glass of iced chai.” It is available in two choices: an unsweetened model for individuals who need to keep away from sugar, and a sweetened model containing uncooked sugar. Each are infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and ginger, yielding a cup of chai with a strong—however not brazen—spice profile. Psst—it’s not only for lattes; you should utilize it in different recipes, too.
- Advisable by Ziata
- Best with milk and over ice
- Out there in pre-sweetened model
- Huge number of choices
- No USDA natural and Truthful Commerce certifications
- Restricted dimension choices
Greatest powder: Blue Lotus Conventional Masala Chai (3 Oz.) — $23.00
Kind: Powder | Dimension: 0.5, 2, 3, 8, oz.; 1 lb.| USDA licensed? No | Truthful Commerce licensed? No
Blue Lotus makes sugar-free powdered tea that provides comfort and taste. I used to be first launched to its merchandise by means of its Masala Chai Assortment, which accommodates all its hottest varieties, and the Conventional Masala Chai was a private favourite. It’s my thought of an ideal chai: it’s pleasantly spicy, and once I need it sweeter, I exploit milk to offset the warmth. Tasting notes embrace cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, which gives an prompt pick-me-up at first sip. This model is out there in 0.5, 2, 3, 8 ounces and in a one-pound bag, and Blue Lotus additionally gives different varieties like Rooibos Masala Chai and Golden Masala Chai.
- Sugar-free
- 3-ounce dimension makes 100 cups
- Non GMO Venture Verified
- Huge number of choices
- No USDA natural and Truthful Commerce certifications
- Not extensively available in shops
Greatest sampler set: Vahdam India Assorted Chai Tea Sampler — $22.00
Kind: Unfastened leaf | Dimension: 1 oz./tea bag | USDA Licensed? No | Truthful Commerce licensed? No
In the event you aren’t positive about which chai you want—otherwise you’re searching for a present in your favourite tea lover—take into account the Vahdam India’s Assorted Chai Tea Sampler. The set contains 10 loose-leaf chai blends, together with Assam Spiced Masala Chai, Earl Gray Masala Chai, Candy Cinnamon Masala Chai, Vanilla Spiced Masala Chai, and extra. They’re all constituted of pure substances and no components and are available vacuum-sealed pouches to protect their freshness. The blends are additionally fragrant and have a full-bodied taste that tastes as scrumptious with milk or because it does by itself.
- Assorted collection of flavors
- No synthetic flavors or sugar
- Vacuum-sealed pouches protect freshness
- Cheap
- No USDA natural and Truthful Commerce certifications
- Not extensively available in shops
FAQs
What’s chai tea?
Originating from India, this cozy, spiced beverage (also called masala chai) is made by brewing black tea with a warming mix of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, anise, and black pepper. The outcome? A aromatic, soul-soothing cup that delivers each taste and feel-good advantages.
What are the well being advantages of chai tea?
It depends upon the mix, however “chai is filled with an exquisite array of substances that every one boast a number of micronutrients—particularly, plant compounds,” says Manian. She provides that “plant compounds or phytonutrients are potent antioxidants that assist to cut back irritation all through the physique, in addition to battle off free radical molecules,” which have been linked to continual sicknesses1 akin to coronary heart illness and kind 2 diabetes.
Chai normally additionally accommodates black tea, which is beloved in itself for its longevity-boosting advantages. In a 2022 examine printed within the Annals of Inside Medication, researchers discovered that ingesting two or extra cups of black tea was modestly related to decrease all-cause mortality fee.
How do I make chai tea?
“How you want your chai may be very private,” says Ziata. In the event you’re feeling traditional, chai is often ready by simmering the tea and spices along with milk and sweetener, leading to a creamy, spiced drink with a steadiness of daring flavors. Chai lattes are additionally widespread, typically served with steamed milk and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Some would possibly desire it spicy, whereas others would possibly prefer it on the sweeter aspect—full with milk and a sprinkling of sugar.
Nicely+Good articles reference scientific, dependable, current, strong research to again up the knowledge we share. You may belief us alongside your wellness journey.
- Phaniendra, Alugoju et al. “Free radicals: properties, sources, targets, and their implication in varied illnesses.” Indian journal of medical biochemistry : IJCB vol. 30,1 (2015): 11-26. doi:10.1007/s12291-014-0446-0
- Inoue-Choi, Maki et al. “Tea Consumption and All-Trigger and Trigger-Particular Mortality within the UK Biobank : A Potential Cohort Research.” Annals of inner drugs vol. 175,9 (2022): 1201-1211. doi:10.7326/M22-0041