Have you had those days when you just need a pick-me-up drink from Starbucks?
What is your first thought?
A drink that instantly boosts your energy but is free of Caffeine – Chai Tea. Starbucks’ Chai tea latte is becoming immensely popular among people in the United States. Everyone loves this caffeine-free drink, from business corporates to students.
People who wanted to cut back on Caffeine and were looking for a Coffee substitute have switched over to tea. The majority believe that Chai tea gives them the boost they need with no health risks behind.
But is Starbucks’ Chai tea really Caffeine-free?
Or People have assumed it to be a magical drink with no caffeine and still helps them perk up fast.
To answer all your Chai tea questions, we have prepared a guide to help you with everything you need to know about your “pick-me-up “drink from Starbucks.
What is a Chai tea? What makes it worth the hype?
Chai tea – the immensely popular drink originated in India, and its history dates back 5000 years. In India, “Chai” refers to tea, but in the biggest American coffee chain – Starbucks, the word “Chai” refers to a particular flavor or style of tea.
It is a spiced tea made by boiling black tea leaves in a certain amount of water and then adding milk and some aromatic herbs and spices. The spices added to the Chai are quite strong and spicy such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper. Sweeteners and milk are added for a sweet and creamy taste.
Many people associated with South Asia got excited when Starbucks introduced Chai to their menu. However, most of them rejected the Starbucks take on Chai and found their version overly sweet and oddly spicy.
However, even though Indians disapproved of Starbucks Chai tea, people in the West are huge fans of Starbucks’ unique drink – Chai tea.
Does Starbucks Chai Tea contain Caffeine?
When Starbucks introduced Chai tea to their menu, many health-conscious individuals looking for a Coffee alternative got excited. However, soon, news on the Internet broke that Chai tea is not one of Starbucks’ Caffeine-free drinks.
Does Starbucks Chai tea really contain Caffeine? Yes. Finally, a tea made to Starbucks’ caffeinated drinks. Whether you enjoy a cup of a strong Chai tea that is heavy on the spices or want a mild version, you are still sipping on Caffeine. Black leaves are used to prepare Chai tea drinks, and black tea includes Caffeine. Therefore, there is no excuse to sip on Chai tea if you are on a mission to cut back on Caffeine.
However, if you don’t like Coffee but still want a drink to help you kick start your day, this Chai tea would be a perfect choice for you. Also, a piping hot Starbucks Chai tea can be a great drink to sip on cool days.
How much Caffeine is in Chai tea from Starbucks?
Usually, the simple version of Chai tea contains 95mg of Caffeine per cup. Starbucks Chai tea is less caffeinated than Coffee because black tea leaves contain lower Caffeine than coffee beans. However, the caffeine amount can vary depending on the type of Chai tea and the size of your drink.
Your Chai tea can have the same amount of Caffeine as Coffee or even more. Therefore, it is better to take notes of your Chai tea, especially if you are trying to cut back on Caffeine. Starbucks prepares their Chai tea using pumps of Chai syrup, and the number of pumps used depends on your cup size.
- Hot-short: 2 pumps
- Hot tall: 3 pumps
- Hot grande: 4 pumps
- Venti: 5 pumps
- Iced Chai tall: 3 pumps
- Iced grande: 4 pumps
- Iced venti: 6 pumps
5 Popular ways to customize Starbucks Chai tea
Like all other drinks at Starbucks, Chai teas can also be customized with flavored syrups, cream toppings, and a variety of milk options. However, the base of all these drinks will be a Chai tea concentrate. Also, we will be mentioning the caffeine content alongside each drink to help you choose a customized Chai tea option that contains a lower amount of Caffeine.
Here are a few favorites of Starbucks Chai tea lovers:
Iced Chai tea latte (95 mg of Caffeine)
Starbucks’ popular iced Chai tea latte has the same ingredients as the piping-hot version. However, it has a whole different vibe. The mixture of chai tea concentrate and milk is shaken with ice to prepare a mouth-wateringly delicious iced chai tea latte that can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Whether it’s a cold temperature or scorching heat outside, you can enjoy a delightful iced chai tea latte cup and get yourself ready for the day. Considering the 95 mg of Caffeine in a grande cup, it is a great drink to kick start your day with.
Pumpkin spice chai tea latte (70 mg of Caffeine)
Are you looking for a unique flavored chai drink that provides comfort to you when it is snowing heavily outside? Try pumpkin spice chai tea latte. It is undoubtedly a favorite fall chai tea drink for Starbucks fans.
When the cooler weather sets in, Starbucks pumpkin spice chai tea latte makes an appearance on the menu. It may be a limited-time offer, but many Chai tea lovers love it.
Starbucks experts combine warm Chai spices with pumpkin spice sauce to prepare an absolutely delicious Winter latte. Try once to love it forever!
However, it may be lower in Caffeine, but it is higher in calories – 310 cals. Therefore, enjoy it more as an occasional drink instead of sipping on it regularly.
Chai creme frappuccino (40 mg of caffeine)
Similar to Starbucks iced Chai tea latte, a Chai creme frappuccino is a perfect blend of spice-filled Chai, milk, and sweetened whipped cream.
It is perfectly spicy and sweet to make it a real treat for Chai tea lovers. If you are looking for a refreshing Chai tea drink in summer, this one is not worth skipping! However, if you don’t want to blow your calorie budget, try a Chai creme frappuccino only on your cheat days, as it contains 340 cals.
Vanilla Chai tea latte (59 mg of Caffeine)
A regular Chai tea latte contains chai concentrate and milk. However, in vanilla Chai tea latte, Expert Baristas at Starbucks add a few pumps of regular vanilla syrup or sugar-free vanilla syrup for a gentle kick of vanilla in the Chai tea latte.
However, before ordering your vanilla Chai tea latte, you must keep in mind that additional syrup will increase the overall sweetness of your Chai tea latte. Therefore, if you are not a fan of overly sweet Chai tea lattes, this one is definitely not for you.
Dirty Chai tea latte (135 mg of Caffeine)
Do you want to sip on a highly caffeinated chai tea? Then, try a dirty chai tea latte to boost caffeine for a tiring day at work.
A dirty Chai tea latte is a perfect drink for those who find it difficult to choose between Coffee and Chai. With this unique flavored latte, they can enjoy both in a single cup.
Is Chai tea healthier than Coffee?
Chai tea is a classic beverage that has been used worldwide for centuries. It is made of black tea leaves and various spices and herbs, making it a rich source of antioxidants.
The spices and herbs in the Chai give you the energy to rock the day and play an important role in your overall health and well-being.
Therefore, what should you drink more – Starbucks’ Chai or Coffee? The way Chai tea is prepared results in a healthy drink with one-third of the amount of Caffeine used in Coffee. The less Caffeine, the more healthy the drink is.
Conclusion:
Everyone needs a drink to help survive a tiring day at work. Chai and Coffee are the two most widely used drinks by people to get themselves prepared for the day.
Starbucks has undoubtedly become a favorite spot for employees and students to grab their morning drinks.
Starbucks Chai tea was considered a caffeine-free drink by many people. It is evident now that it also does contain Caffeine.
However, it does not make it an unhealthy drink. It just means that you should take a note of the Chai tea you choose, the ingredients it is made up of, the cup size we go for, and the number of them we consume each day.
The best practice is to know your tea ingredients better, choose when best to enjoy it, and have an alternative drink option when you have had enough Caffeine for the day.
However, if you want to cut off Caffeine from your life but still need a refreshing tea to start your day with, you can go for Starbucks herbal teas. Free of Caffeine & lower in sugar!