NutritionDoc

Chai (rhymes with pie), a traditional drink from Asia and the Middle East, has many variations, but always contains tea, milk and spices such as cardamon, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Whether it is a good for you depends on how it is prepared.

 

Though made with tea, which is noncaloric, the calories in chai run the gamut from 120 for 8 oz of Lipton Instant Chai to a whopping 640 for 24 oz of Tazo Chai Frappucino Blended Creme at Starbucks, loaded with fat (15 grams) and sugar (22 teaspoons).

 

New research suggests that if you add milk to your tea, proteins in the milk may block the action of tea's catechins. So it is unclear whether you are really getting any of tea's health benefits when you drink chai.

 

To avoid a calorie calamity, steer clear of fancy chai at coffedehouse chains. At the least, order it "skinny". AND CHECK THE NUTRITION FACTS PANEL ON PACKAGED DRINKS.