All teas from the tea plant contain caffeine. But chai lattes have considerably less caffeine in them than a regular coffee based latte. We have compiled a list of caffeine free chai too.
What is chai?
Seen as a way of life in India, chai is a sweetened, spiced milky tea. Western cultures often see “chai” as a cinnamon-and-vanilla-flavoured tea drink, however traditionally, in India, “chai” literally translates to “tea.”
Chai is enjoyed by the people of India in their homes, as well as while they’re out and about. There are countless household and regional variations to chai. Street corners and busy marketplaces usually feature “chaiwallah”, local chai vendors, who will pour out a steaming cup from a huge roiling pot of chai. The experience of sipping on your chai along with biscuits on a rainy day is one-of-a-kind.
To make a flavourful chai, you start with a strong, full-bodied black tea such as Assam tea. Adding an array of spices like cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cardamom, and clove makes this a “masala chai.” Other spices such as nutmeg, mace, and bay leaf can also be included in the spice blend. Chai is always made with whole milk for a smooth, creamy finish, and sweetened with white sugar, or jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) for a deeper, caramelly flavour.
History of chai
Legend has it that the history of masala chai began millennia ago when a king in an ancient royal court created an Ayurvedic beverage using herbs and spices for its medicinal properties. The herbal tea was served hot or cold, and acted as a remedy for mild maladies.
In the 1900s, the British rule over India saw a strong promotion of tea consumption in the Indian masses. At the time, tea was primarily sourced from China. Once the British discovered tea in India, they rapidly expanded the tea industry. Tea was exported worldwide from India, and the global demand for tea was met with 90% of tea from India.
Unlike the British population that brewed mainly black tea, the Indian population brewed their tea with milk, sugar, and spices. As a result, the Masala Chai came to be. In the 1960s, the mechanical tea production called “cut, tear, curl” (CTC) tea became popular, and made tea more affordable for the masses. CTC tea is still a staple in Indian households today.
What is a chai latte?
A chai latte is a westernised version of the Indian classic that has been designed to provide a sweet, milky, and gently spiced alternative to coffee. Every cafe has their own variation of a chai latte.
Let’s discuss the types of chai lattes
Instant chai lattes: Instant chai latte powders have become increasingly accessible from supermarkets.
Made with a mix of spices, vanilla essence, and milk powder, powdered chai lattes provide an easy yet flavourful base to create your own chai lattes. Just add a few teaspoons of powder to a mug, and top up with steamed milk for a frothy, spiced treat.
Dairy-free instant chai latte powder options are becoming more and more available with each passing day, so making a dairy-free chai latte in the comfort of your home is becoming easier with the use of oat, almond, and coconut milks.
Loose-leaf chai lattes: To make a loose-leaf chai latte, begin with 2-3 teaspoons of loose-leaf black tea, a small stick of cinnamon, 2 cardamom pods, 3 cloves, and a small knob of ginger (approx. 1cm) crushed. Steep the tea and spices with 2/3rd cup boiling water for 5 minutes. The tea and spices can be kept together in a tea infuser, or steeped loosely in the water and strained later. Top up with 1/3rd cup steamed milk. Using a milk frother to steam and froth the milk provides an additional luxurious mouthfeel to the chai latte. Sweeten with raw sugar, jaggery (unrefined cane sugar), or honey to taste.
Sticky Chai: Sticky Chai is a type of tea with a shiny, wet-like appearance. Sticky Chai is made of healthy, all-natural ingredients without preservatives, artificial sweeteners, or additives. Often there is honey or agave to their spice blend, making it sticky. This sweetens it so that you don’t have to add sugar or sweetener during the process.
Iced chai latte: Begin by making a chai concentrate using 2 teaspoons black tea leaves, a small stick of cinnamon, 2 cardamom pods, 3 cloves, a small crushed knob of ginger and a cup of water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Strain to remove the tea leaves and spices, and refrigerate the strained chai concentrate to cool completely. To make an iced chai latte, fill a tall glass with ice. Add the cold chai concentrate, ½ teaspoon vanilla essence, and top up with cold milk (or alternative dairy-free milks). Sweeten with raw sugar, jaggery, honey, or even maple syrup.
Alternatively, a quick iced chai latte can be made using 2-3 teaspoons of instant chai latte powder topped with cold milk, served over ice in a tall glass.
The complexity of iced chai lattes can vary from a simple chai mix or concentrate served with ice and milk to a blended slushie of ice, milk, and chai concentrate topped with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon powder.
At Coffee for the People Roasting Co, we use Calmer Sutra Original Chai. We also use the Calmer Sutra Super Spiced Cacao. Containing black tea, zingy fresh ginger root, local Victorian honey and freshly ground spices, it is the perfect morning cuppa to enjoy every day of the week….ok, YEAR.
Calmer Sutra also explains that “The amount of caffeine in your cup will also depend on how much of the blend you use and how long you steep for. ”
How much caffeine is in a normal one-shot cappuccino compared to a chai latte?
The average shot of espresso has 65mg of caffeine. Comparatively, black tea can have 20-100mg of caffeine depending on how long the tea is steeped for.
Steeped means – soak (food or tea) in water or other liquid so as to extract its flavour or to soften it.
Additionally, instant chai latte powders can have varying levels of caffeine in them based on what sort of tea was used and how much.
However, black teas have tannin which is known to calm the nervous system.
Often packaging of chai does not tell you how much caffeine is in it.
The tannin interacts with the caffeine in black tea and allows it to be absorbed slowly in the body, providing a calm focus without the hyperactivity associated with coffee.
Why are chai lattes becoming popular?
Chai lattes are a wonderful option to consumers who are looking for an alternative to coffee. For consumers who are seeking a warm, sweet, and lightly spiced beverage, the chai latte is perfect. The chai latte can be enjoyed by people who are sensitive to the caffeine in coffee, who don’t have time for the energy boost, or for consumers who find the taste of coffee too bitter or too rich. Depending on how that chai is brewed, chai lattes may provide similar or higher caffeine content to coffee for consumers. However, if made with decaffeinated tea, chai lattes can just as easily be made caffeine-free for consumers.
Looking for a Australian owned caffeine free chai to make at home?
At night I love a chai before bed. But this means I’m also conscious of the caffeine intake in the tea. So why not try one of these delicious caffeine free chai?
Fresh Chai Co – Caffeine Free Masala Fresh Sticky Chai
This chai uses super tasty ‘masala’ spice blend with sweet cinnamon, warm ginger, star anise, fragrant cardamom, long cut rooibos herbal tea and preserved in rich vanilla bean infused organic agave syrup so it’s vegan friendly. For this particular chai I use a pot with boiling water, add a couple teaspoons of the sticky chai. Let boil, add milk, again bring to the boil. Then strain over a mug.
Chai Walli – 11 Spice Chai (Caffeine Free)
This 11 Spice Caffeine Free Chai is perfect for those wanting a high quality decaf chai or to relax before bed. Many of the spices in this blend are known to aid the digestion, ease sore throats and relax the mind. To make – Use a saucepan to warm 1.5 cups of water. Add 2 heaped teaspoons of chai, stir and brew on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of milk, brew for 3 minutes, bringing to a light boil. Strain chai into glasses or cups and add jaggery to sweeten if desired.
Love Tea – Caffeine Free Chai Loose Leaf
Caffeine free chai is Love Tea’s alternative to traditional chai blends, which usually contain black tea. Based on rooibos tea, which is naturally caffeine free, rich in minerals and abundant in antioxidants, this tea is a great option for anyone wanting a chai that can be enjoyed any time of the day. The combination of fresh spices and South African teas offer a unique blend of earthy, slightly nutty and spicy flavours. To brew – Add 2 teaspoons of tea and half a cup of water to a saucepan, and bring to boil. Simmer for up to 5 minutes. Add half a cup of milk and heat to desired temperature. Strain and sweeten to taste.
T2 – Sticky Honey Rooibos Loose Leaf Everyday Foil
This tea is a classic spice and rooibos drip with sweet, sticky honey for a caffeine-free chai latte. A sticky chai treat with a rooibos and honeybush spin! Hailing from South Africa, earthy rooibos and honeybush dance with all the usual suspects like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves before a wave of honey coats the whole lot. To brew – boil leaves in water on stove top. Add milk. Strain to serve.
Calmer Sutra’s Dandi Chai
Using roasted dandelion and chicory root, this earthy concoction subtly resembles coffee with its warm and nutty flavour profile. This is a sticky chai, so again to brew – boil chai blend in water on stove top. Add milk. Strain to serve.
Want to try a delicious Chai Latte (yes with a little caffeine) – pop into Coffee for the People Roasting Co. in Seaford and try one today.
