Does Chai Have Caffeine? A Clear Answer

Does chai have caffeine? Yes, in most cases. Traditional chai is built on black tea, so a typical cup contains caffeine, usually somewhat less than a cup of brewed coffee. The exact amount depends on the tea base, how much leaf goes into the pot and how long it steeps. Chai made on rooibos or another herbal base is the exception: it is naturally caffeine-free. Below, we break down caffeine by chai style, then look closely at Dirty Chai, our spiced black tea blended with real coffee, with flavor notes, ingredients, caffeine level and pricing.

Does Chai Have Caffeine? The Short Answer by Type

"Chai" simply means tea in many languages. In the United States it usually refers to masala chai: black tea simmered with warming spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, often finished with milk. Whether your cup contains caffeine comes down to the base.

• Black tea chai (masala chai): contains caffeine. Commonly cited averages put an 8 oz cup of brewed black tea at around 47 mg, compared with about 95 mg for brewed coffee. A strong, long-simmered chai made with extra leaf can land higher.
• Green tea chai: contains caffeine, generally a little less than black tea chai.
• Rooibos or herbal chai: caffeine-free, because it contains no leaves from the tea plant.
• Chai concentrates and café chai lattes: contain caffeine, with amounts that vary by brand and cup size. Check the label or ask the café.
• Dirty chai: contains more caffeine than plain chai in most cases, because coffee or espresso is added to the spiced tea.

The spices themselves, including cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and clove, contain no caffeine. Milk does not remove caffeine either; it simply changes the texture and how strong the cup tastes. For a side-by-side look at tea categories, see our guide to caffeine content in black, green, oolong and rooibos tea, or the caffeine section of our Learn page.

What Changes the Caffeine in a Cup of Chai

Two cups of chai can differ noticeably in caffeine. These are the main variables:

• Amount of leaf. More tea per cup means more caffeine. Latte-style recipes often double the leaf to stand up to milk.
• Steep or simmer time. Longer infusions extract more caffeine and more flavor. Simmering chai on the stove extracts more than a quick steep.
• Water temperature. Black tea chai is brewed with water at a full boil, which extracts more than cooler water.
• Added coffee or mate. Blends that include coffee beans or mate add caffeine from those ingredients on top of the tea.
• Serving size. A 16 oz café latte holds more than an 8 oz mug at home.

Dirty Chai: Spiced Black Tea With Real Coffee

Dirty chai began as a café order, a shot of espresso added to a spiced chai latte. Our Dirty Chai - Spicy Black Tea With Coffee builds that idea into the leaf, so you can brew it at home without an espresso machine. It is one of the dozens of uncommon blends in the Da LBI Tea collection, and a natural fit for fall mornings.

Flavor notes: coffee, cardamom, caramel and ginger. The first sip brings a thick caramel character alongside earthy roasted mate and malted barley. Chocolatey coffee follows, with cardamom and cinnamon brightening the cup and a hint of ginger in the finish. It is especially good with milk.

Ingredients: Assam black tea, roasted Brazilian mate, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom seed, cardamom pods, malted barley, coffee beans, ground coffee, vanilla pieces, and natural flavors of coffee, cinnamon and ginger. All natural, vegan, non-GMO and sugar-free. Contains gluten from malted barley.

Caffeine level: High caffeine, rated at 40 to 60 mg per 10 oz serving when brewed as directed. Caffeine comes from three sources in this blend: Assam black tea, mate and coffee.

Sizes, Prices and Price per Cup

• 70-cup bag (loose leaf): $44.99, about $0.64 per cup. The best value for a daily chai habit.
• 15-cup bag (loose leaf): $14.99, about $1.00 per cup.
• 4-cup deluxe sample (loose leaf): $4.99, about $1.25 per cup.
• Dirty Chai tea bags, 15 bags: $14.99, about $1.00 per cup. Each bag holds 3.5 g of tea, the same as a standard loose-leaf serving.

How to Brew Dirty Chai

Hot, 10 oz: Heat water to 212°F (100°C). Use 3.5 g of loose leaf, about 2 teaspoons, or 1 tea bag. Pour 10 oz of water and steep 4 to 5 minutes; longer is stronger. Loose leaf can be reinfused 1 to 2 more times, tea bags once.

Iced, 10 oz: Heat water to 212°F. Add 2 teaspoons of loose leaf or 1 tea bag and pour about 3 oz of hot water, just enough to cover the leaves. Steep 4 to 5 minutes, then add 7 oz of cold water and serve over ice.

Dirty chai latte, 2 servings: Combine 4 tablespoons of Dirty Chai with 1.5 cups of boiling water in a saucepan. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar. Warm 1.5 cups of milk, add it to the pot and remove from heat. Cover and infuse 10 minutes more, strain, and serve. Froth a little extra milk for the top if you like, and finish with a pinch of cinnamon.

For water temperatures and steep times across every style of tea, see our loose leaf brewing chart.

Current Offer

Through October 28, code LAUNCH10 takes 10% off orders of $40 or more, and the Tea Trio automatically takes 10% off any 3 or more teas at checkout. A single 70-cup bag of Dirty Chai clears the $40 minimum on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does chai tea have caffeine?

Yes, if it is made with black or green tea. Rooibos and herbal chai blends are caffeine-free.

How much caffeine is in a cup of chai?

A typical black tea chai has roughly as much caffeine as a cup of black tea, commonly cited at around 47 mg per 8 oz. Stronger recipes and larger servings contain more.

Does chai have more caffeine than coffee?

Usually not. Brewed coffee averages about 95 mg per 8 oz, while black tea chai typically contains less.

Does dirty chai have more caffeine than regular chai?

In most cases, yes, because coffee is added. Our Dirty Chai is rated high caffeine at 40 to 60 mg per 10 oz serving.

Is there caffeine-free chai?

Yes. Chai made on a rooibos or herbal base has no caffeine. Browse caffeine-free options in our caffeine free tea guide, or keep the black tea taste with most of the caffeine removed in our decaf tea.

Does Dirty Chai contain gluten?

Yes. It contains gluten from malted barley.