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 preventing 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 dwelling, 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 seek out the coziest, most flavorful chai teas your cash should purchase so you possibly can brew the proper 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 a number of components 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 essential 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 circumstances and a sustainable livelihood for farmers.
As you select, you’ll encounter free and bagged tea, in addition to powders and concentrates, every with its personal perks. “For essentially the most basic preparation, use free 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 desire to it to be.” Tea baggage and powders make brewing faster and extra handy, whereas those that choose their chai iced would possibly wish 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 recognized pro-inflammatory agent that may detract from the great well being advantages of chai,” Ziata provides that you could be additionally wish to avoid synthetic flavors if you wish to obtain essentially the most genuine chai.
Store the very best chai tea
Greatest free leaf: In Pursuit of Tea Basic Chai (4 Oz.) — $14.00
Type: Unfastened leaf | Dimension: 4 oz., 1 lb. | USDA natural? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
Ziata mentions that loose-leaf tea provides essentially the most basic 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 a fan of their Thai Chai, which incorporates slightly 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 out there in 4-ounce as much as 1-pound baggage, in each free leaf and bagged kind.
- Really useful by Ziata
- Full-bodied taste
- No synthetic flavors or sugar
- Obtainable in bagged kind
- No USDA natural and Honest Commerce certifications
- Not extensively stocked in shops
Greatest bagged: Numi Tea Golden Chai (18 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Type: Tea baggage | Dimension: 8, 15, 16, 18, 100 tea baggage | USDA licensed? Sure | Honest Commerce licensed? Sure
When you just like the comfort of tea baggage 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 include are spices, similar to cardamom, ginger, and star anise, and the flavour is well-balanced, not bitter. Golden Chai is bought in counts of 8, 15, 16, and 18, and there’s a cost-effective 100-count possibility. Numi provides different varieties, like Roobios Chai, which additionally are available loose-leaf kind.
- Really useful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Obtainable in loose-leaf kind
- Huge number of sizes
- Pure, great-tasting taste
Greatest price range: Tazo Regenerative Natural Chai (16 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Type: Tea baggage | Dimension: 16 tea baggage | 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 bought in a depend of 16 and is extensively out there 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.
- Really useful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Huge number of choices
- Accessible and inexpensive
Greatest caffeine-free: Numi Rooibos Chai (18 Tea Luggage) — $9.00
Usually $11
Type: Tea baggage | Dimension: 18 tea baggage | USDA natural? Yes | Honest 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 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 stuffed with warming spices—particularly, allspice, cardamon, cinnamon, and cloves. It’s mellow, however the spices nonetheless shine by means of, making it best for consuming by itself or with milk. Just like the Numi Natural Chai, it’s additionally out there in loose-leaf kind and in counts 8, 15, 16, and 18, and 100 for an inexpensive worth.
- Really useful by Manian
- USDA organic- and Honest Commerce-certified
- Obtainable in loose-leaf kind
- Huge number of sizes
- Caffeine free
- It isn’t as potent as different choices on the checklist
Greatest focus: The Chai Field Chai Focus (16 oz.) — $13.00
Type: Focus | Dimension: 16 oz.| USDA natural? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
When you like your chai with milk, take into account a liquid focus. Simply combine it with the milk of your alternative, and voilà—you could 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 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 sturdy—however not brazen—spice profile. Psst—it’s not only for lattes; you should use it in different recipes, too.
- Really useful by Ziata
- Perfect with milk and over ice
- Obtainable in pre-sweetened model
- Huge number of choices
- No USDA natural and Honest Commerce certifications
- Restricted dimension choices
Greatest powder: Blue Lotus Conventional Masala Chai (3 Oz.) — $23.00
Type: 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 provides comfort and taste. I used to be first launched to its merchandise by means of its Masala Chai Assortment, which incorporates 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 after I need it sweeter, I exploit 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 on the market 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
- Huge 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
Type: Unfastened leaf | Dimension: 1 oz./tea bag | USDA Licensed? No | Honest Commerce licensed? No
When you aren’t certain about which chai you want—otherwise you’re in search of a present to 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 made out 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 choice 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 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 is determined by the mix, however “chai is stuffed with a beautiful array of substances that each one boast plenty of micronutrients—particularly, 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 combat off free radical molecules,” which have been linked to power sicknesses1 similar to coronary heart illness and sort 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 Inner Drugs, researchers discovered that consuming two or extra cups of black tea was modestly related to decrease all-cause mortality price.
How do I make chai tea?
“How you want your chai could be very private,” says Ziata. When you’re feeling basic, 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 well-liked, usually served with steamed milk and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg. Some would possibly choose it spicy, whereas others would possibly prefer it on the sweeter aspect—full with milk and a sprinkling of sugar.
