Chai vs Coffee: Why Try Chai?
Hi chai (and coffee) enthusiasts! Today I thought I’d cover a hot topic: chai vs coffee.
Both drinks are powerhouses and have their own following, but when I bring up my enthusiasm for chai, many ask me why I prefer it over coffee….
The chai vs coffee debate has been an article I’ve wanted to write for a while, and I’ve finally gotten around to it. I mean, there’s so many aspects to think about, from flavor to caffeine and everything in between. So if you’re an avid coffee drinker, why should you try chai? Can chai ever replace coffee for you? And what makes chai better than coffee?
I’m going to dive right into this, breaking down the battle by category.
*Note: When referring to chai in this article, I am speaking of authentic-style chai made from black tea and spices, not concentrate or syrup (as used at Starbucks)
Caffeine
This is probably the biggest reason why coffee drinkers turn to coffee throughout the day. Many who haven’t tried chai think that they simply won’t get the energy buzz that they need. I’m here to tell you, that‘s not the complete truth.
Some people don’t recognize, but chai is a caffeinated drink. In case you didn’t know, chai is made of black tea and spices (black tea is one of the higher caffeinated teas). Looking at the numbers, an average cup of chai can have anywhere between 50 to 100mg of caffeine (*this number varies between brands, each one has a different ratio and depending on how you make your chai this can change the amount of caffeine), an average cup of coffee has around 120mg.
Ok, so why choose chai over coffee strictly based on caffeine? Well, caffeine from tea is absorbed slowly by your body, giving you energy more gradually as opposed to the caffeine rush (and sudden crash) of coffee. It not only lasts longer, but is a more enjoyable experience and if you’re trying to cut down on caffeine but still need the energy, it has around 1/3 of the amount of a cup of coffee.
Benefits
Many ingredients in chai are actually beneficial. If you haven’t read my article, 11 Health Benefits of Chai , you can check that out here.
An ingredient commonly found in chai is ginger. Ginger is well known for being great for many things, from building your immune system to helping with headaches and nausea. Cardamom is a detox ingredient, and also supports building your immune system. Cloves can help with minor aches and pains. These are just a few ingredients, but you can read more benefits here.
Overall, chai is a healthy drink and contains powerhouse ingredients that in combination make this drink a healthy option for some energy.
Flavor
When it comes down to it, the flavor is probably the most important factor in choosing between coffee and chai. While coffee is often customized with syrups, it has a distinct flavor. Sometimes, coffee can be quite acidic and for some people they can feel sick after drinking it.
True-style chai is not customized with syrups, but rather relies on its crushed/whole ingredients flavor coming out through the steeping process. Any customizations come from the ratio of ingredients in the mix.
Typically in chai, there is black tea, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, milk (or milk alternative) and some sort of sweetener.
Some like it sweeter, some like it spicy, and some like it right in the middle. Everybody has their own unique take on chai and that shows through not only their amounts of each ingredient, but also any extra ingredients they throw in (I’ve personally had a chai with orange peel and it was so unique and delicious!), and whether it’s placed in tea bags, packaged loose leaf, or in a powdery crushed consistency.
So if you’ve read down to here, are you going to make the switch to chai? If you’re hesitant, at least give it a shot (I promise you won’t regret it). Check out my chai reviews to find the perfect starter chai to introduce you to this new world of non-coffee. In my opinion, chai is the clear winner in the battle of chai vs coffee, but I’ll leave the verdict up to you…. Comment below what team you’re on!
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