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 house, saving you a visit to Starbucks.
Thirsty? We thought so. Earlier than you run out to seize a field of tea, preserve studying. We chatted with the consultants to seek out the coziest, most flavorful chai teas your cash can purchase so you’ll be able to brew the right cup. Beneath are the most effective 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 selection, there are a couple of elements to think about as you store.
First, contemplate 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 Honest 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 essentially 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 want their chai iced would possibly wish to contemplate 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 recognized pro-inflammatory agent that may detract from the great well being advantages of chai,” Ziata provides that you could be additionally wish to keep away from synthetic flavors if you wish to obtain essentially the most genuine chai.
Store the most effective chai tea
Greatest unfastened leaf: In Pursuit of Tea Traditional Chai (4 Oz.) — $14.00
Kind: Free leaf | Dimension: 4 oz., 1 lb. | USDA natural? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
Ziata mentions that loose-leaf tea provides essentially the most traditional preparation and most customization. She recommends choices from In Pursuit of Tea.
“In Pursuit of Tea makes a really warming Traditional Chai, however I’m additionally keen on their Thai Chai, which incorporates a bit of saffron too,” she says. The one-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.
- Really helpful by Ziata
- Full-bodied taste
- No synthetic flavors or sugar
- Accessible in bagged kind
- No USDA natural and Honest Commerce certifications
- Not extensively stocked in shops
Greatest bagged: Numi Tea Golden Chai (18 Tea Baggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 8, 15, 16, 18, 100 tea luggage | USDA licensed? Sure | Honest Commerce licensed? Sure
In case you just like the comfort of tea luggage however don’t wish to sacrifice taste or efficiency, Manian recommends this mix by Numi. Its teas are USDA organic- and Honest 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 comprise are spices, reminiscent of 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 provides different varieties, like Roobios Chai, which additionally are available loose-leaf kind.
- Really helpful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Accessible in loose-leaf kind
- Extensive number of sizes
- Pure, great-tasting taste
Greatest price range: Tazo Regenerative Natural Chai (16 Tea Baggage) — $9.00
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 16 tea luggage | USDA licensed? Sure | Honest Commerce licensed? Sure
Tazo additionally produces USDA organic- and Honest 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 Traditional Chai Latte focus.
- Really helpful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Extensive number of choices
- Accessible and reasonably priced
Greatest caffeine-free: Numi Rooibos Chai (18 Tea Baggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Kind: Tea luggage | Dimension: 18 tea luggage | USDA natural? Yes | Honest Commerce licensed? Yes
If you wish to keep away from caffeine, contemplate the Roobios Chai from Numi. It brings the spice with out the excitement. The USDA Natural and Honest Commerce-certified mix is made with rooibos, a caffeine-free tea that’s just like black tea. It has a woodsy taste and is filled with warming spices—specifically, allspice, cardamon, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s mellow, however the spices nonetheless shine by way of, making it best for consuming 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 value.
- Really helpful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Accessible in loose-leaf kind
- Extensive number of sizes
- Caffeine free
- It isn’t as potent as different choices on the record
Greatest focus: The Chai Field Chai Focus (16 oz.) — $13.00
Kind: Focus | Dimension: 16 oz.| USDA natural? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
In case you like your chai with milk, contemplate a liquid focus. Simply combine it with the milk of your selection, and voilà—you could have a tasty drink. “The Chai Field Chai Focus is a stunning deal with,” says Ziata, who provides that it’s additionally “excellent for a simple glass of iced chai.” It is available in two choices: an unsweetened model for individuals who wish 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 use it in different recipes, too.
- Really helpful by Ziata
- Preferrred with milk and over ice
- Accessible in pre-sweetened model
- Extensive number of choices
- No USDA natural and Honest 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 | Honest Commerce licensed? No
Blue Lotus makes sugar-free powdered tea that gives comfort and taste. I used to be first launched to its merchandise by way of its Masala Chai Assortment, which incorporates all its hottest varieties, and the Conventional Masala Chai was a private favourite. It’s my concept of an ideal chai: it’s pleasantly spicy, and once I need it sweeter, I take advantage of milk to offset the warmth. Tasting notes embody cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, which provides an prompt pick-me-up at first sip. This model is offered in 0.5, 2, 3, 8 ounces and in a one-pound bag, and Blue Lotus additionally provides different varieties like Rooibos Masala Chai and Golden Masala Chai.
- Sugar-free
- 3-ounce dimension makes 100 cups
- Non GMO Mission Verified
- Extensive number of choices
- No USDA natural and Honest Commerce certifications
- Not extensively stocked in shops
Greatest sampler set: Vahdam India Assorted Chai Tea Sampler — $22.00
Kind: Free leaf | Dimension: 1 oz./tea bag | USDA Licensed? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
In case you aren’t certain about which chai you want—otherwise you’re searching for a present on your favourite tea lover—contemplate 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 constructed from 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.
- Diversified number of flavors
- No synthetic flavors or sugar
- Vacuum-sealed pouches protect freshness
- Cheap
- No USDA natural and Honest Commerce certifications
- Not extensively stocked in shops
FAQs
What’s chai tea?
Originating from India, this cozy, spiced beverage (also referred to as masala chai) is made by brewing black tea with a warming mix of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, anise, and black pepper. The consequence? 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 a beautiful array of substances that every one boast plenty of micronutrients—specifically, plant compounds,” says Manian. She provides that “plant compounds or phytonutrients are potent antioxidants that assist to scale back irritation all through the physique, in addition to battle off free radical molecules,” which have been linked to power sicknesses1 reminiscent of coronary heart illness and kind 2 diabetes.
Chai normally additionally incorporates black tea, which is beloved in itself for its longevity-boosting advantages. In a 2022 research printed within the Annals of Inside Drugs, researchers discovered that consuming 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 could be very private,” says Ziata. In case you’re feeling traditional, chai is usually ready by simmering the tea and spices along with milk and sweetener, leading to a creamy, spiced drink with a stability of daring flavors. Chai lattes are additionally common, typically served with steamed milk and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Some would possibly want it spicy, whereas others would possibly prefer it on the sweeter facet—full with milk and a sprinkling of sugar.
