Twinings Chai Tea Review: Taste, Caffeine, Ingredients & More
Updated: Oct 5
Company/Brand Name: Twinings Of London
Category: Chai Tea / Masala Tea
Style: Indian-Inspired Chai / Masala Tea
Leaves: Black Tea
Flavor: Creamy With Lots Of Cinnamon & Spices
Overall: This tea can be enjoyed hot or cold and is great any time of day.
There are certain teas I immediately reach for when the weather turns cold, and Twinings Chai is one of them.
Chai has that warm, cozy combination of black tea and spices that just seems made for a cold morning. Twinings' version is also incredibly easy to find, inexpensive, and simple to prepare—which makes it a good introduction to chai if you've never tried it before.
I've had plenty of chai teas over the years, and Twinings Chai isn't the strongest or most complex chai I've tasted. But that's also part of its appeal. It's smooth, pleasantly spiced and very easy to drink.
Add a little milk and it almost reminds me of a drinkable snickerdoodle.
Here's my complete Twinings Chai Tea review, including what it tastes like, what's in it, how much caffeine it contains and how I like to prepare it.
What Is Twinings Chai Tea?
Twinings Chai is a flavored black tea inspired by traditional spiced chai.
According to Twinings, the blend combines black tea with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and clove flavors.
That gives the tea a warm, spicy aroma without making it overwhelmingly spicy.
It's important to distinguish the regular Twinings Chai tea bags I'm reviewing here from a chai latte.
The regular tea bags are primarily black tea and spices. A chai latte usually combines chai with milk and often sweetener. Twinings also sells separate Chai Latte K-Cup products, so don't assume the nutrition or ingredients are the same between the two products.
What Does Twinings Chai Tea Taste Like?
The first thing I notice is the aroma.
It's warm, sweet and spicy, with cinnamon standing out immediately. The ginger, cardamom and clove round everything out without overpowering the black tea.
The flavor itself is relatively smooth.
If you've had a strong traditional masala chai, Twinings may taste mild by comparison. I wouldn't buy this expecting an intensely spicy chai.
That's not necessarily a bad thing.
I actually think its mildness is one reason Twinings Chai works so well as an everyday tea. It's approachable enough to drink plain but has enough spice to stand up to milk.
For me, adding milk is where it really comes alive.
The combination of cinnamon, warming spices, black tea and creamy milk gives me that "drinkable snickerdoodle" impression I mentioned earlier.
If you prefer sweeter chai, a little honey or sugar works nicely too.
Twinings Chai Tea Ingredients
Twinings currently lists the ingredients in its regular Chai tea as:
Black tea
Natural chai, cinnamon and ginger flavors with other natural flavors
Cardamom
Clove
That ingredient list is another reason it's important not to confuse the regular Twinings Chai tea bags with Twinings Chai Latte products.
If you're checking ingredients because of an allergy or dietary restriction, I always
recommend checking the package you're actually purchasing since formulations can change.
Does Twinings Chai Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes. Twinings Chai contains caffeine.
The reason is simple: its base is black tea.
Herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile can naturally be caffeine-free, but black tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant and naturally contains caffeine.
Twinings does make a separate Decaffeinated Chai, so look specifically for the decaf version if you're trying to reduce your caffeine intake.
How Much Caffeine Is in Twinings Chai Tea?
Twinings doesn't give a specific caffeine number for every cup of its regular Chai, but its caffeine guide estimates 31–45 mg of caffeine per 7-ounce serving for flavored black tea.
The actual amount in your cup can vary.
Things such as the tea blend and steeping time can affect caffeine extraction, so it's better to think of 31–45 mg as an approximate range rather than an exact number for every cup.
For comparison, that generally makes a cup of Twinings Chai a more moderate source of caffeine than a typical cup of coffee.
If you're particularly sensitive to caffeine, Twinings also offers a decaffeinated version.
How to Brew Twinings Chai Tea
Twinings recommends a very simple preparation:
Bring fresh water to a boil.
Pour the boiling water over one tea bag.
Steep for about 3–4 minutes.
Remove the tea bag.
Enjoy it plain or add milk and sweetener to taste.
I wouldn't over-steep it trying to create a stronger chai. Leaving black tea in hot water for too long can introduce more bitterness.
If I want a richer drink, I'd rather use less water or add another tea bag.
My Favorite Way to Drink Twinings Chai
Personally, I think Twinings Chai is better with milk.
You can certainly drink it plain, but milk softens the black tea and complements all those warming spices.
My simple version is:
1 Twinings Chai tea bag + hot water + a splash of almond milk.
You can use regular milk, oat milk or whatever you prefer.
If I'm in the mood for something sweeter, I'll add a little honey.
It's not the same thing as a coffee-shop chai latte, but it's an easy way to turn an inexpensive tea bag into something that feels much more indulgent.
Can You Make Twinings Chai Iced?
Absolutely.
Twinings even provides instructions for making its Chai as iced tea.
For an iced chai latte, brew the tea a little stronger than you normally would, let it cool and pour it over ice with your choice of milk.
A little sweetener can make it taste much closer to the iced chai drinks you'd buy at a coffee shop.
This is one of the things I like about having chai tea bags around—you can make a simple hot cup in the winter and turn the same tea into an iced drink when it's warm outside.
Is Twinings Chai Tea Healthy?
I wouldn't buy Twinings Chai because of promises that it will cause weight loss, "detox" your body or cure a particular health condition.
It's tea—not medicine.
Black tea naturally contains compounds called polyphenols, and tea has been studied extensively for possible health effects. However, research into many of the bigger health claims associated with tea is still ongoing.
I think there's a much simpler way to look at Twinings Chai.
A plain cup of brewed tea can be an enjoyable, low-calorie drink. What you add to it matters too. Turning it into a chai latte with lots of sugar, syrups or sweetened creamers creates a very different drink nutritionally.
So enjoy your chai because you enjoy drinking it. Any potential health benefits don't need to be the reason you put the kettle on.
Twinings Chai Tea vs. a Chai Latte
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing.
Twinings Chai tea is brewed black tea flavored with chai spices.
A chai latte combines chai with milk and usually some form of sweetener.
That's why drinking a plain Twinings Chai tea bag isn't the same nutritionally as ordering a large chai latte from a coffee shop.
You can, however, use Twinings Chai to make your own homemade chai latte.
Brew it strong, add warmed or frothed milk and sweeten it to your liking.
Is Twinings Chai Tea Good?
I think so—especially considering how accessible it is.
If you're expecting a powerful, authentic masala chai with intense spices, this probably won't be your favorite.
But that's not really what I think Twinings Chai is trying to be.
It's a convenient everyday chai.
What I like:
The cinnamon-forward aroma is wonderful. The spice level is approachable. It's inexpensive, easy to find and tastes particularly good with milk.
What I don't love:
I sometimes wish the spices were stronger. Experienced chai drinkers may find the blend a little mild.
My verdict:
Twinings Chai is an easy tea to keep in the cupboard, particularly during fall and winter. It's also one I'd recommend to someone who is curious about chai but isn't ready for an intensely spiced blend.
And if you have some almond milk around, try it.
You might understand exactly what I mean by "drinkable snickerdoodle."
Twinings Chai Tea FAQ
Does Twinings Chai tea have caffeine?
Yes. Regular Twinings Chai is made with black tea, so it naturally contains caffeine.
How much caffeine is in Twinings Chai?
Twinings' general guidance for flavored black tea is approximately 31–45 mg per 7-ounce serving. The exact amount can vary depending on the tea and how it is brewed.
Is Twinings Chai caffeine-free?
No. Regular Twinings Chai contains caffeine. Twinings does sell a separate decaffeinated Chai for people looking for a lower-caffeine option.
What spices are in Twinings Chai?
Twinings lists cinnamon and ginger flavors, cardamom and clove along with black tea and other natural flavors.
Can I put milk in Twinings Chai?
Definitely. In fact, that's my preferred way to drink it. Dairy milk, almond milk and oat milk all work well.
Is Twinings Chai the same as a chai latte?
No. Twinings Chai tea bags make a flavored black tea. A chai latte combines chai with milk and typically includes sweetener.
How long should Twinings Chai steep?
Twinings currently recommends steeping its Chai tea bag in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.
Can you drink Twinings Chai cold?
Yes. You can brew it and serve it over ice or combine stronger brewed chai with ice and milk for a simple homemade iced chai latte.
Final Thoughts
Twinings Chai isn't trying to reinvent chai.
And honestly, it doesn't need to.
It's affordable, widely available, easy to brew and has enough cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and clove flavor to make an ordinary cup of black tea feel much cozier.
I especially like it with milk on a cold morning.
If you're new to chai or simply want something easy to keep in the pantry, Twinings Chai is worth trying.
Comments