Five Benefits of Drinking Chai

It’s probably not a secret that we love everything related to Chai, which means we often find ourselves deep in conversation about the beverage’s history, ingredients, and health benefits. 

For starters, Chai has been around for centuries in countries like Nepal and India, where it’s used to improve health and sip on. Depending on where you live, you might think of Chai as a mixture of ginger and black tea made with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, and cloves—many of our favorite ingredients. 

While our Chai concentrates take a non-traditional path by integrating regional flavors and ingredients from Portland and the Pacific Northwest, we use spices that offer the health and wellness benefits of those classic drinks. 

So, what are the health benefits of Chai? Keep reading to learn five reasons why our favorite drink is so good for you. 

1. Lowers Blood Sugar 

Many of the key ingredients we use in our tea concentrates—like Chai, cinnamon, ginger, and others—may lower blood sugar and promote better heart health. For example, health experts believe the combination of cinnamon and ginger in Chai could increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels. In turn, lower insulin can help process sugar in your blood easier, which helps with hypertension.

2. Improves Digestion

When our stomachs aren't feeling great, we drink Chai because it's known to improve digestion through ingredients like ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves, which have antibacterial qualities that reduce nausea. Assam tea and cardamom—two key ingredients we use in our Chai concentrates—are also praised for aiding digestion.

3. Eases Menstrual Symptoms 

In a study exploring the benefits of cinnamon, researchers found that women who took three grams during the first three days of a cycle experienced less menstrual pain. Similarly, another study also highlighted the benefits Chai has when alleviating other symptoms associated with PMS.

4. Loaded with Antioxidants 

The organic Assam tea we use in concentrates (like our Ginger Spiced Chai) is rich in plant-based antioxidants that protect blood cells against free radicals that cause damage or inflammation. Chai is also packed with a spice called Star Anise, which gives your body more antioxidants and added health benefits.

What’s more, the combination of antioxidants and spices can also boost your immune system, promote hair growth, and improve your skin.  

5. Tastes Great & Makes You Feel Good 

We might be biased, but we love starting our day with a cup of  Ginger Spiced Chai because it has just enough caffeine to keep us going while avoiding the jitters of coffee. We also love it because it’s so, so delicious.

While we leave traditional Indian Chai recipes to the cultures that do it best, the Chai we make uses family-inspired recipes to give it a signature flavor that reminds us so much of Portland. If you want something made in small batches that tastes like home, we have a Chai for you. 

How to Make Our Ginger Spiced Chai 

At Tanglewood, we bottle each of our unique chai beverages by hand in Portland, Oregon. Our tea and spice combinations are assertive and delicious, with ingredients sourced locally and selected carefully. 

So, how do you make a Chai using our concentrate? All you need to do is: 

1. Heat gently on a stove top or serve over ice.
2. Mix equal parts of your favorite milk with your choice of concentrate.