Over the past few years, tea has taken over the cafe industry. Due to massive public demand, notable names like Starbucks now offer different tea combinations. Of all the tea categories, the most popular is the “Chai Latte Coffee.”
Chai Latte Coffee can offer health benefits from spices and tea, but the added milk and sweeteners increase its calorie content. Choosing non-dairy milk and artificial sweeteners can make it healthier. Moderation and homemade preparations help control sugar intake.
As peculiar as its name sounds, very little is known about the origin and benefits of chai latte coffee. However, if you have reached this article, look no further.
Check out the following context if you want to know, if a chai latte is good for you and how does it differ from conventional tea?
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Chai latte coffee is a popular tea-based beverage that originated in India and has evolved over time. |
| The main difference between chai tea and chai latte coffee is the latter’s addition of milk and creamers. |
| Chai tea has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, while chai latte coffee has more calories due to the added milk and sweeteners. |
| Making homemade chai tea latte with healthier ingredients is recommended to reduce sugar content. |
| Chai latte coffee is a flavorful alternative to highly caffeinated beverages like espresso and soda. |
What Exactly is a Chai Latte Coffee?
Traditionally, chai tea is made with loose leaves and steaming hot water. It is a typical hot beverage originating 5000 years ago in India. Over the decades and millenniums, the beverage has drastically evolved in its recipe and flavors.
Today, about 3000 variations of tea are consumed worldwide, and the chai tea latte is one of them. Starbucks first introduced the Chai tea latte as a classic South-Asian beverage. It is a modified version of the classic Masala Tea, made with brewed tea, a blend of selected spices, milk, and sugar (optional).
Chai Latte Tea has a similar recipe but is usually made with foamy milk to resemble a latte. Thus, now you can imagine why the word “latte coffee” is used with the Chai. The combination might seem quite peculiar, but it was an instant hit at Starbucks. And now everyone who has tried it loves it, including the ones who were not tea-lovers.
Chai Tea Latte Coffee vs Chai Tea: What is the Difference?
Chai tea and Chai Tea Latte Coffee are different names for the same thing. But it is not true. There is a significant difference between Chai Tea and Chai Tea Latte Coffee.
The bases of the two beverages are the same, i.e., black tea and spices like ginger, black pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon. However, Chai Tea has no milk. In contrast, the Chai Tea Latte is made with frothy milk and creamers.
Chai Tea is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-bacterial properties. The Chai Tea Latte Coffee has similar benefits but is a bit heavier on calories, owing to the addition of milk/creamers and sweeteners.
However, you can make Chai Tea Latte Coffee as healthy as Chai Tea by using artificial sweeteners or non-dairy milk. Making the beverage at home instead of getting it at Starbucks is another way of making the Chai Latte customizable and healthier.
Is Chai Tea Latte Good for You?
Chai Tea is an Ayurvedic beverage for its countless health benefits. However, when consumed in different forms, these benefits can vary extensively. Therefore, many people wonder whether chai tea latte coffee is good enough and has any benefits.
Fortunately, a chai tea latte is as good for you as any other tea. It is more tasteful than conventional black and green teas. Besides, the blend of spices used for flavor spark has several concealed benefits that are not much discussed.
What are the Benefits of Chai Tea Latte?
Chai tea latte is a perfectly balanced alternative to highly caffeinated espressos, coffees, and sodas. But besides that, it has multiple health benefits. Some of those are listed below;
1. Helps Lower Blood Pressure
One of the critical ingredients of Chai Tea Latte is cinnamon. It is a sweet spice that aids in controlling hypertension and is excellent for people with diabetes.
Moreover, research reveals that people who regularly consume tea have lower blood pressure than those who don’t.
2. Full of Antioxidants
Chai Tea Latte is made with black tea, which has many antioxidant properties. Black tea has abundant polyphenols that are natural antioxidants and help reduce stress.
Therefore, regular consumption of Chai Tea Latte can strengthen your metabolism, leading to its subsequent benefits like better skin, voluminous hair growth, etc.
3. Improves Digestion
Simple black tea has nothing to do with digestion. But spices like black pepper, cardamom, and ginger in Chai Tea Latte Coffee have digestive benefits.
They can stimulate the enzymatic activity in the stomach, ultimately aiding in reducing bloating and problems related to indigestion.
4. Reduces Nausea
If you frequently feel nauseous, try Chai Tea Latte Coffee, as ginger is famous for regulating gut health. Ginger is conventionally used for treating nausea and its related problems. Chai Tea Latte typically contains one to two grams of ginger, sufficient to provide you with its concealed benefits.
5. Boosts Immune System
Both cardamom and cinnamon have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They help kickstart the metabolism and can boost your immune activity.
6. Promotes Heart Health
The polyphenols in black tea also have cardioprotective properties. Regular consumption of Chai Tea Latte Coffee leads to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which ultimately reduces the risks of heart diseases.
7. Combats Cold, Sore Throat and Headaches
One of the most well-known benefits of tea is that it can combat colds, soar throat, and headaches. Basically, black tea has catechins that are antiviral and can help prevent conditions like flu and fever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it okay to drink a chai latte every tea?
Chai tea latte is abundant in polyphenols and antioxidants, which makes it a good choice for regular consumption. However, if you are calorie-conscious, then replace dairy with non-dairy milk and use natural/artificial sweeteners instead of white sugar.
Is a chai tea latte full of sugar?
The restaurant-style Chai Tea Latte, especially from Starbucks, is indeed heavy on sugar. Thus, the healthier alternative is to make a Chai Tea Latte at home and use artificial/natural sweeteners.
Conclusion
Chai Latte Coffee, also known as Chai Tea Latte, has become a beloved beverage in the cafe industry. It is a modified version of Masala Tea, made with brewed tea, spices, milk, and sugar.
While Chai Tea and Chai Tea Latte Coffee may sound similar, they have significant differences. Chai Tea is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, while Chai Tea Latte Coffee is higher in calories due to the addition of milk and sweeteners.
However, Chai Tea Latte still offers numerous health benefits. It can help lower blood pressure, thanks to ingredients like cinnamon. It is also rich in antioxidants, which aid in reducing stress and improving metabolism.
The spices used in the Chai Tea Latte, such as black pepper, cardamom, and ginger, have digestive benefits and can alleviate nausea.
Additionally, the beverage boosts the immune system, promotes heart health, and can combat colds, sore throats, and headaches.
