Many use concentrates or powders – Starbucks' popular chai latte is made with pumps of chai concentrate. These versions of chai often contain high amounts of sugar, which will cancel out any of those health benefits the tea offers, Crumble Smith warns. “Sugar in and of itself is highly inflammatory.

Chai tea is a fragrant, spicy tea that may help boost heart health, aid digestion, and help with weight loss. You'll get the most health benefits from your tea by opting for a minimally sweetened version. In many parts of the world, “chai” is simply the word for tea.

Yes, the chai tea at Starbucks is sugar free. However, the chai tea latte is not sugar free because it has pumps of chai syrup. So, if you are ordering a chai tea, you want to make sure you are getting the hot, brewed, chai tea.

Chai is a much healthier drink than coffee because it contains less caffeine. A typical cup of chai contains about 20-50mg of caffeine, where a cup of coffee contains as much as 180-200mg of caffeine. Caffeine can be beneficial in small doses, but too much caffeine can be detrimental to your health.