Chai Tea Latte: Benefits and Nutrition

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Drinking a chai tea latte from time to time is an excellent way to add some variety and “spice” to your healthy beverage consumption.

What is a Chai Tea Latte?

A chai tea latte is a beverage that is prepared by blending chai tea and its assorted spices with sweetened or condensed milk. This creates a frothy and smooth beverage that has a good amount of spice and a very pleasant earthy flavor. Similar to how a traditional latte uses coffee, a chai tea latte uses chai tea. This drink originated and was popularized in India and other Asian countries, but it has now become more popular in the United States and Europe. Some variations on this tea latte also include adding chocolate and other sweet flavors to further alter the drink. [1]

Since chai tea is made from a blend of black tea and spices, it will contain caffeine, but only between 30-40 milligrams, about 1/3 the amount you would get from a cup of coffee.

A cup of chai tea latte with cinnamon powder and star anise, with cinnamon sticks

Homemade Chai Tea Latte is the perfect easy fall drink recipe. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Chai Tea Latte Nutrition

In terms of nutrition, a chai tea latte has slightly more calories than regular chai tea, due to the addition of sweetened or condensed milk. It also contains all of the active ingredients and compounds from common spices in chai tea, including cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, depending on your particular recipe. The tea itself contains catechins and polyphenolic compounds, and the addition of milk also boosts the overall protein and fat content of the beverage. [2]

Chai Tea Latte Benefits

Chai tea lattes can have a number of excellent effects on your health, due to its caffeine and antioxidant content, including reducing inflammation, preventing chronic disease, supporting your digestive health, preventing blood sugar fluctuation, strengthening bone mineral density and aiding in weight loss efforts. [3]

Chai Tea Latte Side Effects

Due to the presence of caffeine in this drink, it can cause elevated blood pressure and increased anxiety. In large quantities, it can also cause gastrointestinal distress, constipation, and may worsen nervous disorders. [4]

DMCA.com Protection Status
About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

Rate this article
Average rating 3.8 out of 5.0 based on 22 user(s).