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Our culinary experts found the best chai tea options from loose leaf teas to spicy sachets.
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Top-Rated Chai Tea Brands for Every Palate, Taste-Tested and Recommended
Updated on Aug. 01, 2024
For many, a cup of coffee is the only way to start the day. But if you crave caffeine and spice, we bet you reach for a cup of chai.
If you’re unfamiliar, chai tea is a blend of black tea leaves and aromatic spices like cardamom, ginger, star anise and cloves. The combination and proportion vary on the type you buy. You may even find chai made with black pepper, cinnamon, allspice or nutmeg.
A cup of this tea is a spicy way to warm up in the morning—provided you find a good brand to steep in your favorite mug. Lackluster chai at the base of your latte can be disappointing.
So how do you ensure that your morning pick-me-up has the kick you’re looking for? You rely on our Test Kitchen experts to taste all the most popular brands to find the best chai.
Via Target.com
Best Spicy Chai
Rishi Masala Chai
While many like a smooth chai to start their day, others want the punch of a spicy chai. If you’re in the latter camp, pick up sachets of Rishi Masala Chai.
This cup of tea had the most kick of any brand we tried. According to our Test Kitchen’s Sarah Fischer, “this cup has a nice amount of spice.”
This is thanks to the precise blend of aromatics inside each sachet. Rishi Masala Chai contains ginger, black pepper and cinnamon—all the spices that perk up your taste buds. It also has cardamom and clove to give the tea a bit more balance.
If you enjoy chai lattes, a stronger brew like this is ideal. When you add the milk to your drink, the spices will still be prominent.
Via Amazon.com
Best Smooth Chai
Celestial Seasonings India Spice Chai Tea
For a supremely balanced cup of chai, steep yourself a cup of Celestial Seasonings India Spice Chai Tea.
With this cup, “you get the spices, which one wants in a chai tea,” says Sarah Farmer, head of the Test Kitchen, “but it’s not such a kick.”
This doesn’t mean that this tea doesn’t have spice, though. In fact, you get a really pleasant blend of ginger, vanilla and clove, but it’s all well balanced with plenty of black tea for a flavorful, smooth brew to start your morning.
Via Walmart.com
Via Walmart.com
Stash Chai Spice Black Tea
To start the day, many folks crave a bit of cinnamon, be it from a slice of coffee cake, piece of toast or a sprinkle on top of oatmeal. You can also get a cinnamon kick in a cup of Stash Chai Spice Black Tea.
“This is a chai for cinnamon lovers, that’s for sure!” says Sarah Farmer. A cup of this deep golden tea has a cinnamon-forward aroma and pleasant cinnamon flavor that lingers after each sip.
But this tea is more than just cinnamon, of course. Every sip had a full chai flavor with plenty of black tea and notes of allspice.
Via Traderjoes.com
Best Sweet Chai
Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai
If you prefer chai that tastes a bit more like dessert than black tea, snag a box of Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai.
“This one is cozy,” says Maggie. Those warm and cuddly vibes come from this tea’s notes of vanilla and caramel—flavors every one of our pros noted during this test.
This tea doesn’t deliver strong, spicy flavors. Instead, you’ll notice more subtle spices that harmonize with the dessert-like qualities. So put on the kettle and relax with a cup of this tea on a cold day. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a good book.
Taste of Home
How We Tested Different Types of Chai
