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Watch Our Chai Tea Review
What is the Best Chai Tea? Ingredients to Look For!
For you to enjoy a cup of chai, you need to pick a product that contains the right ingredients that meet your needs. Let’s continue looking at more pointers that will aid you in settling for a particular chai tea product.
By the way, there's one more brand that we recommend (we only had room for 5) and that's Adagio teas. You can order one of their 16 different chai varieties, directly from their website.
Our Top Choice
Bigelow Tea 20 Bags Decaffeinated Spiced Chai Tea – 3 Pack
Features
For nearly seventy years, Bigelow Tea, a family-owned business, has provided tea lovers with specialty tea products. Ruth Bigelow’s adoring love for tea blending led to the creation of personal recipes that have been refined throughout generations to create amazing products.
The Bigelow Tea Spiced Chai Tea is part of the company’s passion to keep evolving and surpassing their customers’ expectations. This decaffeinated chai tea is all-natural, gluten-free, and has zero calories. Endowed with antioxidants, this chai tea will leave you feeling refreshed. Due to the rich spices, this chai tastes best with milk and sweetener. If you like to take your favorite tea with you on vacation, or just to a friend’s house, you’ll be pleased to know these tea bags come individually wrapped. This tea also comes as a 3 pack, so that’s 3 times 20 individually wrapped tea bags! They’ll surely last you a while, unless you’re a huge tea fiend of course!
Best Value
The Twinings Chai Decaf Tea is an expertly blended black tea enriched with flavorful spices such as cinnamon that have a soothing aroma and a rich taste. Do you prefer a caffeine-free chai tea without the spices? Try the
Twinings Decaffeinated Earl Grey Flavored Black Tea.
Twinings Keurig K-Cups Chai Tea – Available in 23 Flavors & 5 Pack Sizes
Features
Twinings dates back to the 17th century, when its founder, Thomas Twining, opened a coffee-shop-turned-teahouse, welcomed by Londoners in need of coffee alternatives. Twinings continues to reign in the industry with a wide range of flavorful tea products. With over 300 varieties, Twinings is adored by tea lovers around the globe.
The Twinings Chai Decaf Tea is caffeine-free, with perfectly blended spices including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. Your taste buds will thank you for blessing them with this rich chai. This chai does not contain any milk or sweetener, but you have the option of adding either of these ingredients to enrich the taste. This chai is worth every sip!
Unlike regular tea bags, these are Keurig K-cups which can fit into your trusty Keurig brewer (although, not that they are not compatible with the Keurig 2.0 model). If you love your tea, then you might want to consider a large pack size. With these K-cups you can opt for a pack of 12, 24, 60, 72 or 96 pods depending on your level of tea-enthusiasm!
What’s more? If you want a selection of different teas to go in your Keurig brewer, you can choose from 23 flavors of Twinings tea. These include, but are not limited to, chai, chai latte, earl grey, English breakfast and French vanilla chai latte!
The Tazo Chai Decaf Tea is a naturally caffeine-free tea, enriched with spices such as cinnamon and black pepper. Prefer iced tea? Try the low-caffeine
Tazo Iced True Black Tea instead!
Tazo Decaffeinated Spicy Black Chai Tea – Available in 17 Flavors
Features
For over twenty years, Tazo’s dedicated teams have traveled the world in search of the best ingredients. Since they only purchase pure tea, they are able to capture the freshness and flavor that translates to the overall quality of their products.
The Tazo Chai Decaf Tea is a naturally sweet, vegan rooibos tea enriched with ginger and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper. This decaffeinated tea comes in a pack of 6 with each pack containing 20 tea bags, so that should keep any household going for a while! If you’re thinking to yourself “Come on, TopProducts team, I need my caffeine” then, fair enough! With the hours we spend researching, we love caffeine as much as the next person and this Tazo Chai Tea also comes in a caffeinated version! If that doesn’t float your boat, you can also choose from the 15 other flavors available.
The Celestial Seasonings India Spice Chai contains 24 tea bags endowed with rich, authentically blended Indian spices. Prefer the soothing scents of chamomile before bed? Try
Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea.
Celestial Seasonings Naturally Flavored Keurig K-Cup Brewers – Available in 5 Flavors & 6 Sizes
Features
Colorado-based Celestial Seasonings was started in 1969, and has since become a reputable blender of fine tea. It prides itself with having over 100 varieties of superb tea geared towards promoting your wellbeing. Their focus on providing heathy products has built the company a global following.
The Celestial Seasonings India Spice Chai is a flavored black tea, containing cloves, giving the tea antioxidant properties, and ginger, which is a digestive aid. This gluten-free black tea contains vanilla, giving it a smooth flavor. If you have a Keurig brewer, you’re in luck because these are K-cups and not regular tea bags. If you fancy a different flavor, you could try the green tea or English breakfast varieties. Also, if you want a large or small batch of this tea, you can choose between 24, 36, 48 or 96 cups!
The Numi Rooibos Chai contains 18 biodegradable tea bags containing quality chai grown and cultivated in organic tea plantations. Are you looking for tea that contains antioxidant ingredients like turmeric? We believe that the
Numi Organic Tumeric Tea Blended with Chamomile is a great choice!
Numi Non-GMO Organic Rooiboi Chai Tea – Available in 22 Flavors & 15 Sizes
Features
Numi is a social enterprise started by two siblings with a passion for quality tea and healthy living. The company sources its tea from farmers who grow it in organic tea plantations. Since one of the founders, Ahmed, is an alchemist; you are assured of a mind-blowing blend of flavors. In their pursuit to be unique, Numi travels to various parts of the world in search of quality ingredients. The Numi Foundation has also managed to make a difference by providing basic needs such as water to remote areas.
The Organic Tea Rooibos Chai is a healthy caffeine-free beverage. Made using exotic spices such as cardamom, real herbs, and flowers, you can be sure that one sip of this tea is a memorable one.
Here are more features of this rich chai:
- Comes in a pack of 18 tea bags
- Biodegradable tea bag filters
- Sourced directly from organic tea plantations
- No trace of GMO
- Halal and Kosher certified
- Vegan friendly and gluten-free
- Contains nil oil and flavorings
If you’d prefer a different flavor, why not try one of the other 21 flavors available! They include breakfast blend, aged earl grey, decaf ginger & lemon and golden chai! Also, if 18 tea bags is too little or too many, these teas come in 15 different pack sizes to suit your needs.
Buying Guide: What is Chai Tea and How to Choose the Best Chai Tea Blend
According to legend, the first use of chai can be traced back to five thousand years ago, when an Indian king accidentally discovered its rich taste while performing a holy ritual. By combining cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper, chai, the Indian word for tea, was born.
Chai tea (which technically should be called masala tea, masala chai or Indian tea - because "chai" is the Hindi word for tea) is now a popular beverage, loved for both its spicy taste and
healing powers. Chai is said to elevate one’s mood and even help with respiratory functions. All you need to enjoy a fresh cup of this beloved beverage is a
teapot or
electric kettle, your favorite mug, and a bag of your preferred chai tea blend.
When shopping for the best chai tea, the ingredients make all the difference. Most chai products are gluten-free and are made using natural ingredients. If you are looking for an alternative to coffee but still want some caffeine, you may consider a
high caffeine tea. Switching to chai will expose you to a whole new world of tasty flavors and rich aromas that you never knew existed in tea.
What Is Chai Tea? History, Origin, and Health Benefits
What is Chai? Where did it come from? Why do we add sugar and milk? | Courtesy of Miss Mary Lu
Price
Once reserved only for Indian royalty, Chai tea is an affordable luxury, with cheaper products starting as low as five dollars and the most exotic varieties of chai costing over thirty dollars.
Cheap chai tea may taste so faint that you feel like you are drinking plain water, so we wouldn’t recommend going for the very cheapest option. Authentically blended Masala chai is made from pure tea, not tea dust, and with a quality taste reflected by a slightly higher price point.
Features
The market is full of thousands of chai products; it’s impossible to taste all of them to know what best suits your needs, so we’ve narrowed it down for you. Here are some important features of the best chai teas:
- Type - Chai comes in black, organic, herbal, or even decaffeinated tea varieties. It all boils down to your personal preference.
- Form - Chai can be bought as tea bags or loose leaf. Tea bags are easy to infuse and tend to retain their taste for longer, especially if sealed in an air-tight pouch.
- Count - It’s important to consider how much chai is in a pack or pod so that you can obtain the best value for your money.
- Ingredients - The ingredients used to make chai are important because they dictate its taste. The tastiest blends contain spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.
Construction and Design
Chai blends incorporate spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, which have antioxidant properties and can relieve respiratory problems. While specific blends vary from brand to brand, most companies prioritize quality brewing.
Chai can be made from organic, herbal, decaffeinated, or black tea leaves. The highest quality chai teas are made from pure tea rather than tea dust.
Performance and Ease of Use
Strong chai is best enjoyed with milk and sweetener. Steep chai for two minutes before adding milk for ideal mixing. If the chai contains black tea, a longer brew may be required.
Store in a cool place, free from moisture and away from direct sunlight. Mixing odors can be avoided by storing tea away from coffee or spices.
Homemade Chai Tea Recipe – Iced Version
How to make homemade iced chai using Indian black Assam tea and spices. | Courtesy of Byron Talbott
INGREDIENTS:
- 4-5 cups water
- 1 1/4 cup black Assam tea
- 3-4 whole star anise
- 1 vanilla bean or 1 tbsp vanilla extract/paste
- 3-5 whole cloves
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- 3-5 cardamom seeds
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 4-5 slices of ginger
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
Get the Best Chai Tea of 2023!
Wow! That was quite an interesting review, right? We hope that you can’t wait to go shopping for the best chai tea which you may have spotted in here. In case you didn’t, continue exploring more quality options from these recognized brands and you will definitely come across something that will make you smile.
Our Top Choice
Bigelow Tea Spiced Chai Decaf Tea
Best Value
Twinings Chai Tea Keurig K-Cups
Tazo Chai Decaf Black Tea
Celestial Seasonings K-Cups Chai Tea
Numi Organic Tea Rooibos Chai
Chai Tea FAQs
What Is Chai Tea?
The word “chai” means tea in India - so technically, when Americans say chai Tea, the are saying "tea tea". So, the proper name for this is actually Masala chai or Masala tea. Chai refers to a sweet, spicy, fragrant beverage with Indian origins. To bring out its unique flavor, the tea is made from a mixture of tea leaves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and fennel. However, the primary additive – which could be the only one – is ginger. Water and milk are mixed together before the tea and spices are added.
How Do You Make Chai Tea?
Chai tea is simple to make. With a few ingredients and the right recipe, you should be able to brew several cups of chai tea. Once you have picked your ingredients, throw them into a pot of hot water and hot milk in the ratio of one-to-one. Stir the ingredients into the mixture until the tea is ready to drink. Or you can buy chai tea blends ready to go!
How Much Caffeine Is In Chai Tea?
It is not easy to tell how much caffeine is in chai tea. The more concentrated the tea is, the more the caffeine it contains. So, you can regulate the amount of caffeine in your tea by reducing or increasing the number of tea leaves. It all depends on you. Even so, the caffeine content in chai tea is half of that in a similar cup of coffee.
What Spices Are In Chai Tea?
In addition to tea leaves, the spices in chai tea may include ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and fennel. Some people may even use coriander seeds, peppercorns, and star anise. Traditional chai tea has the taste of ginger, which was the principal spice used to make it. You can enrich this taste by adding any of the other spices we have mentioned above. As such, your chai tea will have the same taste as that of the mixture of spices used. When you purchase pre-made chai tea to make at home, read the ingredients to make sure you get the blend of spices you like best.
What Is Chai Tea Good For?
Chai tea has been established through various scientific studies to be beneficial in many ways. For example, some of its ingredients can help to improve your heart health. Others reduce blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Other studies have suggested that chai tea can also regulate blood sugar levels, improve digestion and reduce nausea. The milk in chai tea can make you feel fuller for longer, thus reducing unhealthy cravings.
