CHOCOLATE CHAI

Chai definition

Chai, or spiced tea, became popular in South Asia in the early twentieth century.  It is made from boiling black tea, ideally a full-bodied type such as Assam, in milk and water with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and peppercorns.  The word chai is the Hindi word for tea.

What is black tea?

After water, black tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Black tea is a drink made from the oxidised leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.  First discovered in China, tea is now grown in several tropical regions across the world. Chocolate Chai contains Sri Lankan (Ceylon) black tea.

What is Ceylon tea?

Ceylon tea is tea cultivated on the island of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon.  Offering a variety of flavour and colour due to the range of altitudes that it is grown on, Ceylon tea is known for its versatility.

What are the benefits of black tea?

Aside from being the perfect drink to be consumed in just about any situation you could think of, a simple cup of black tea can also have some amazing health benefits:

• Heart health – animal studies have shown that an antioxidant present in black tea called theaflavin can help reduce cholesterol, thereby supporting your heart health.
• Blood sugar – theaflavin also helps to lower blood sugar levels, good news for those at risk of diabetes.
• Gut health – black tea has antimicrobial properties that can help improve your gut health, thereby strengthening your immune system.
• Anti-cancer properties – the polyphenols contained in black tea are thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer as they can have an inhibiting effect on cancerous cells.
• Energy boosting – black tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine has been proven to help focus as it facilitates alpha activity within the brain. It is one of the main reasons as to why it is often reported that tea gives a more stable boost of energy in comparison to coffee.

Are there any side effects of black tea?

Black tea naturally contains the stimulant caffeine.  Excessive consumption (more than 4-5 cups per day) may result in symptoms including jitteriness, headache, difficulty in sleeping or an irregular heartbeat. If you think you may be sensitive to caffeine, or if you are pregnant, we recommend that you consult your healthcare professional about the quantity of black tea you should consume.

What does Chocolate Chai taste like?

Like traditional chai, Chocolate Chai warms the tip of the tongue, particularly with the addition of chilli.  While chai is often served with added sugar or honey, the subtle chocolate flavour stands out if you go easy on the sweetener. Chocolate Chai is delicious when served topped with frothy milk.

Blends with Benefits

Every Twist Tea blend is created from the finest, ethically sourced whole-leaf ingredients.  Our plastic free Chocolate Chai bags are hand blended in the UK and hand packed in plastic free packaging.  What sets us apart from the competition are the functional herbs, botanicals and spices added to many of our blends reputed to offer health and wellbeing benefits.

Brewing Instructions

Infuse in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Best served with milk and sugar or honey.

Ingredients

Sri Lankan Black Tea (55%), Spices (33%) (Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, Cloves, Chilli), Cocoa (12%) (Cocoa Shells, Cocoa Nibs), Natural Flavouring.

Dietary Information

No added sugar, gluten free, soya free, vegetarian, wheat free, dairy free.

Allergen Information

Packed in an environment that contains nuts.

Can’t get enough of chai? View our other chai blends. 

Are you a commercial customer and wish to order Chocolate Chai in bulk?  Please visit our trade page for more information.