A chai latte is nothing new. This spicy drink has existed in countries like India for a very long time. If you’ve just come across it, you might have some confusion, thanks to the use of the word ‘latte’. I know what’s that question lingering in your mind and I’m here to answer it.
Is chai latte coffee? Chai latte is a spicy black tea that is served with frothed milk. It does not contain any coffee. Chai latte comes with its share of caffeine to keep you energized and fresh. If you’re looking for a coffee-induced chai latte, then you can try the dirty chai latte which is a regular chai latte with an added espresso shot.
Is Chai Latte A Coffee Or Tea?
If you’re still confused, let me explain.
A chai latte is tea and not coffee.
As most people associate the name ‘latte’ with coffee, it is common for people to get confused. Actually, a latte is Italian for milk. So if you’re drinking a cafe latte, you’re drinking a coffee with milk in it.
So a chai latte or chai tea would be black tea that is served with frothed milk.
Chai = Black tea
Latte = Frothed milk
In a chai tea latte, apart from tea and milk, you are going to have an assortment of spices like ginger, cardamom, star anise, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and other spices.
Let’s have a little comparison between the two drinks to see where they stand.
Does Chai Latte Have Caffeine?
Chai latte comes with caffeine. Considering it is made from black tea, you can expect a chai latte to have a decent amount of caffeine.
If you’re looking for a caffeinated drink without the adverse effects of coffee, then a chai latte might be an excellent choice. Not to mention that the chai latte also comes with a horde of health benefits.
What about the caffeine levels? How much caffeine is in a cup of chai latte?
Here’s a table that gives you a decent idea.
| Size | Caffeine in Chai Latte (mg) | Caffeine in Cafe Latte (mg) |
| Short (8oz) | 50 | 75 |
| Tall (12oz) | 70 | 75 |
| Grande (16oz) | 95 | 120 |
| Venti (20oz) | 120 | 150 |
As you can see, a chai latte can supply you with a pretty good amount of caffeine that is comparable to that of a cafe latte.
Also keep in mind, that these numbers are for a cafe latte with just a single shot of espresso. If you’re going to use a double shot of espresso, you can double the caffeine content of the cafe lattes.
The sizes used are from Starbucks. If you’re going to make yours at home, you can approximate the final caffeine content in your chai latte from these figures.
Related Read: 16 Coffee Alternatives with Caffeine
Is Chai Latte Healthier Than Coffee?
Without a doubt, a chai latte is a lot healthier than a cup of coffee. Black tea alone brings a myriad of health benefits when compared to coffee. A chai latte comes with a variety of spices that are loaded with goodness for your body.
Every cup of chai latte comes with some fresh ginger infused in it. Ginger comes with strong antibacterial properties and can reduce your nausea, calm your arthritis, and even fight cancer. It’s also known to keep your blood sugar in check.
Cinnamon, one staple chai latte ingredient, comes with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It comes with lots of antioxidants and can help in your gut health and also reduces digestive problems.
Cardamom is known for its antioxidant and diuretic properties. It is great for your digestive health and can help fight cancer.
Likewise, every single spice you use in the making of a chai latte comes with its health benefits. Together, you can even call a chai latte a modern elixir that can elevate your health.
Compared with your regular coffee, a chai latte is a lot healthier. You can even throw in some sugar to make it taste a lot better.
Coffee is great and does have its benefits, but it doesn’t stand a chance against a cup of chai latte.
How To Make A Chai Latte?
Starbucks and other outlets serve an excellent chai latte.
But the good thing about this drink is its simplicity. This means you can make one at the comfort of your home without spending a lot of money outside.
To make your chai latte, you’re going to need good quality tea. We recommend going for loose leaf tea and not tea bags. While using teabags is a lot easier, they are not as flavorful as loose leaf tea. Teabags are also more expensive.
The next set of ingredients you are going to need are spices. Here are some spices that are a great addition to your chai latte.
- Fresh ginger
- Cardomom
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Star Anise
- Black pepper
You can also other spices that add to the flavor of your chai latte. But as a starting point, these spices will do well.
You can also add some sugar to your chai latte if you find it a bit too spicy.
And the final ingredient we need to make a glossy cup of chai latte is frothed milk.
Let’s see how to make one.
- Add all your spices except fresh ginger and toast it on a pan for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then add some fresh ginger and water and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Once done, remove the water mixture and add your loose leaf tea into the water. Allow steeping for about 7 to 10 minutes. You can also add your loose leaf tea during the simmering process, but that can sometimes over-extract so it isn’t recommended.
- You can now add some sugar and then strain the tea. Once it is complete, keep it aside for now.
- Make frothed milk. If you have a frother, then that’s great. If you don’t, you can whisk your milk in a saucepan while heating it. You can also shake your milk in a jar and then heat it for the same result.
- Take a cup and fill 3/4 with your tea mix. Then fill the rest of the cup with frothed, hot milk. Your homemade chai latte is ready.
This chai latte recipe is basic at best. Feel free to improvise it with different chai spice selections and other trials.
Here’s a tip. You can make your tea mix or chai concentrate and use it for up to 5 days. Just make sure it is stored in a refrigerator and ensure that it is fresh before adding it to your chai latte.
You can serve your chai tea latte hot or as an iced chai latte. We leave that to you. You can also try making a spiced tea with sweetened condensed milk. That would make it similar to a Vietnamese coffee, of sorts.
What’s A Dirty Chai Latte?
A dirty chai latte is a regular chai latte that comes with a shot of espresso. As unholy as it sounds, this is a real drink that combines both black tea and an espresso shot.
As one can expect, the discovery of this drink was by accident during the 1990s. A barista made a mistake when making a chai latte and added an espresso shot to it. The resulting drink was pretty good and the guy who ordered it started asking for the same anywhere he went.
As you’re adding an espresso shot to a chai latte, a dirty chai latte is also known as Java Chai, Chai charger, and also as Red Eye Chai. These are fitting names, but we think dirty chai latte is the aptest name of all.
How do you make a dirty chai latte?
To make one, you’re going to need 3 things.
- An espresso shot
- Spiced up masala black tea
- Frothed milk
First, add the espresso shot to your cup or mug.
Then, strain your masala black tea into the same cup.
Once your frothed milk is ready, you can add it to the cup and give it a twirl. Your dirty chai latte is ready. You can also serve it as an iced dirty chai latte with some ice cubes.
Can A Chai Latte Replace Your Coffee?
Yes and No.
If you’re looking for caffeine, then yes, a chai latte can be a good substitute for your coffee. It can provide the caffeine you are craving and all is good.
But if you’re drinking coffee for its taste, then we’re not sure if a chai latte can replace your cup of coffee. The aroma and taste of coffee are very different from that of a chai latte.
If you enjoy taking a sip of your coffee every morning for its aroma and taste, then no chai latte is going to replace it. Even dirty chai (the one with an espresso shot) can’t match up to the taste of an original coffee.
To be honest, we don’t think a chai latte should replace your coffee. We love coffee (if you can’t tell already) and we believe that these two drinks can co-exist without one having to replace another.
This opinion does change if coffee is adversely affecting your health. If your coffee is causing serious heartburn and acid reflux problems, then you might want to switch to a chai latte. It is healthier and shouldn’t give you the same problems.
Closing Thoughts
A chai latte is nothing but a masala tea that comes with frothed milk. It doesn’t have any coffee in it but packs a lot of health benefits.
If you are looking to replace your coffee for health reasons, then a chai latte is an excellent choice. It reduces your caffeine intake but also brings a ton of goodness to the table.
If you are a coffee lover who just wants to try a chai latte, then you may or may not like it. But we recommend giving it a couple of shots before coming to a conclusion. You may end up adding making it a regular drink.
