Quick Answer
Yes, Tazo Chai tea does contain calories. The number of calories can vary based on the specific type and preparation method, but a 8oz serving of Tazo Chai tea prepared with water contains around 60 calories. The calories come from natural sugars and other compounds found in the tea leaves, spices, and added milk or sweeteners.
Calorie Content of Tazo Chai Tea
Tazo Chai tea is a black tea blended with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Like all true teas, it naturally contains some calories from compounds like polyphenols, amino acids, carbohydrates, and caffeine.
When prepared as directed with 8oz of water and no added milk or sweeteners, Tazo Chai tea contains approximately:
| Serving Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| 8 fluid oz | 60 calories |
However, the calorie content increases if you add supplemental ingredients like milk, sugar, honey or syrups.
Here are the approximate calories when prepared with different add-ins:
| Beverage Preparation | Calories (8oz serving) |
|---|---|
| Tazo Chai tea prepared with water | 60 calories |
| Tazo Chai tea with 1 tbsp honey | 105 calories |
| Tazo Chai tea with 1 tbsp white sugar | 100 calories |
| Tazo Chai tea with 2 oz milk | 90 calories |
As you can see, adding mix-ins like milk, honey or sugar will increase the total calorie content per serving. Plain Tazo Chai made with water has the lowest amount of calories.
Calories from Natural Compounds in Tea
All true teas (black, green, white, oolong) contain some natural calories and compounds that account for the baseline calorie level.
Specifically, the calorie content of Tazo Chai and other teas comes from:
– Polyphenols: Plant-derived compounds that act as antioxidants. Polyphenols like catechins, flavonoids and tannins have a complex chemical structure that contains calories.
– Carbohydrates: All teas contain a small amount of carbohydrates, usually around 1-2g per 8oz serving. Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram.
– Amino acids: Black tea especially contains amino acids like theanine, which have a calorie content.
– Caffeine: The caffeine in tea also possesses calories – roughly 1 calorie per 5mg of caffeine. An 8oz cup of black tea contains around 40mg caffeine.
In addition, blending black tea with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg for chai adds extra compounds that contribute calories and carbohydrates.
So the natural calorie content of Tazo Chai tea comes from all of these energetically rich plant compounds found in tea leaves and dried spices. Even without added milk or sweeteners, these components add up to around 60 calories per 8oz serving.
Calories from Added Ingredients
The calorie content of Tazo Chai tea increases substantially if you add supplemental ingredients like milk, honey, sugar or syrups.
Here’s a breakdown of how added ingredients boost the calorie content:
– Milk: Depending on fat content, 1 cup of milk contains 102-146 calories. Adding 2-3oz of milk to chai will add 20-45 calories.
– Honey: Honey is approximately 64 calories per tablespoon, due to its high sugar content. Adding 1-2 tablespoons of honey can add 64-128 extra calories.
– White sugar: Plain granulated sugar provides 16 calories per teaspoon. Just 1 tablespoon of sugar adds 48 calories to chai tea.
– Simple syrup: Simple syrup is typically 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in water. A tablespoon of simple syrup adds around 53 calories to a cup of chai.
– Flavored syrups: Syrups like vanilla, caramel or pumpkin spice made with sugar have around 60 calories per tablespoon. They significantly increase the calorie content.
So while plain Tazo Chai with water is relatively low in calories, popular additions like milk, honey or sugar can double, triple or even quadruple the total calorie count. To keep calories low, it’s best to enjoy chai tea unsweetened without added cream or milk.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Chai Tea
If you enjoy chai tea with add-ins but want to reduce the calorie content, here are some tips:
– Use skim or low-fat milk instead of full-fat milk
– Limit milk to 1-2oz per serving
– Use small amounts of natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract instead of sugar
– Sweeten with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamom instead of honey or sugar
– Ask for 50% or 25% normal sweetness if ordering chai tea out
– Substitute frothed unsweetened almond milk for regular milk
– Avoid sugary flavored syrups and use extracts like vanilla instead
– Boost flavor with a slice of fresh ginger root or ginger powder
– Skip the extra sweetened whip cream topping to avoid excess calories
With some simple adjustments, it’s definitely possible to enjoy delicious Tazo Chai tea that still fits into a balanced calorie controlled diet.
Nutrition Facts for Tazo Chai Tea
Beyond just calories, here is the full nutrition breakdown for an 8oz serving of Tazo Chai tea prepared with water according to the label:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 60 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 10mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 0g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, a serving of Tazo Chai tea contains no fat, minimal sodium, 14g total carbohydrates, and zero grams of both dietary fiber and sugars.
The carbohydrate content accounts for the majority of the calories, providing about 56 calories (14g x 4cal/g). The other calories come from the natural compounds in tea leaves and spices. There are no significant amounts of protein.
Keep in mind nutrition labels are based on preparing the tea with only water. Adding milk, sweeteners or syrups would change the nutrition profile.
Calorie Differences Between Tazo Chai and Coffeehouse Chai
There are some notable differences in calories and nutrition when comparing homemade Tazo Chai tea and chai lattes purchased from coffee shops:
– Coffeehouse chais are typically made with full fat milk, adding more calories and fat. A Tazo Chai latte prepared with nonfat milk would have fewer calories.
– Purchased chai lattes often have added sugar or flavored syrups that boost the calorie count by 100 calories or more compared to plain tea with water.
– Large coffee shop sizes may provide 2-3 servings of chai in one cup. A 16oz Starbucks chai latte has over 200 calories, while a homebrewed 8oz mug of chai has only 60 calories.
– Whipped cream toppings pile on extra fat and sugars to coffeehouse chai lattes.
So while the chai tea bags themselves may have similar calorie counts, the calories can stack up quickly once you start making larger, more decadent drinks.
Calories in Other Types of Chai Tea
While this article has focused specifically on Tazo brand chai tea, other chai tea brands and products will have similar calorie contents.
Here are the approximate calorie levels in an 8oz serving of different chai tea options prepared with water:
– Oregon Chai Tea: 60 calories
– Stash Chai Black Tea: 60 calories
– Traditional Masala chai: 70 calories
– David Rio Chai: 80 calories
– Teavana Chai Tea: 60 calories
– Celestial Seasonings Chai Tea: 60 calories
– Rishi Masala Chai: 50 calories
– Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai: 60 calories
As you can see, most chai teas contain 50-80 calories per 8oz cup. Variations are due to differences in spices, tea blends, and concentration. But all contain calories from their natural components.
Should You Be Concerned About Chai Tea Calories?
For most people, the modest amount of calories in a cup of plain chai tea prepared with water is nothing to worry about.
At just 60 calories per 8oz cup, enjoying unsweetened chai several times per week should not significantly impact your overall calorie intake or body weight.
However, be cautious of excessive calories if drinking very large servings or always adding high-calorie mix-ins like heavy cream or sweet flavored syrups, which can tip chai tea into the 200+ calorie range quite quickly.
As part of a varied, balanced diet and active lifestyle, an occasional chai latte can certainly be enjoyed in moderation as a special treat. But try to limit heavier preparations to once in awhile, rather than every day.
Conclusion
Tazo Chai tea contains approximately 60 calories per 8 ounce serving when prepared with water, coming from natural energetic compounds in tea leaves like polyphenols, carbohydrates, and caffeine. The chai spices also add negligible amounts of calories.
However, calories increase substantially when adding milk, sweeteners like sugar or honey, flavored syrups, and whipped cream. To keep calories in check, enjoy chai tea unsweetened with water or only small amounts of milk. Limit sweetened coffeehouse-style chai lattes for occasional treats.
Other types of chai tea have similar calorie contents in the range of 50-80 calories for an 8oz serving prepared with water. So you can enjoy chai tea as part of a healthy diet as long as you pay attention to portion sizes and added mix-ins.
