Does Chai Have Caffeine? Chai Tea, Chai Lattes and Caffeine-Free Chai

Part of our Mushroom Coffee guide library.

Chai, or masala chai, is black tea brewed with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves, usually with milk and sweetener. If you reach for a chai latte in the afternoon instead of another coffee, here is how much caffeine you are getting from tea bags, coffee-shop lattes and concentrates, how chai compares with coffee, and which chai has no caffeine at all.

What you'll learn

• Whether chai tea and chai lattes have caffeine, and how much
• Caffeine in chai tea bags, concentrates and a Starbucks Chai Latte
• How chai compares with coffee, green tea and a dirty chai
• Which chai is caffeine-free or low in caffeine

Caffeine in chai at a glance

Brand figures are from each company's U.S. website, checked on October 25, 2026. Starbucks notes its caffeine figures are approximate. Dunkin' does not publish a caffeine figure for its chai latte.

Does chai tea have caffeine?

Yes, unless it is made with an herbal base. Traditional chai is black tea plus spices, and the caffeine comes from the tea: Tazo, for example, notes that most of its chai products contain black tea, which naturally contains caffeine (Tazo). Plain brewed black tea has about 47 mg per 8-ounce cup (USDA), and chai tea bags from Tazo and Twinings fall in the 31 to 45 mg range per cup (Tazo; Twinings).

How much caffeine is in a chai latte?

Usually 20 to 60 mg, depending on the brand and size. A grande Starbucks Chai Latte has about 55 mg hot and about 60 mg iced (Starbucks; Starbucks). Concentrates vary a lot: Oregon Chai Original lists 19 mg per 6-ounce serving (Oregon Chai), while Tazo puts its Classic Chai Latte concentrate in its highest caffeine tier, 61 mg or more (Tazo). Milk adds no caffeine, so a bigger cup only has more caffeine if it contains more chai.

Does chai have more caffeine than coffee?

No. Chai usually has about half the caffeine of coffee or less. An 8-ounce cup of brewed black tea has about 47 mg, compared with about 95 mg in an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee (USDA; USDA). Per 12 ounces, the FDA lists about 71 mg for black tea, 37 mg for green tea and 113 to 247 mg for brewed coffee (FDA).

See also how much caffeine is in tea and how much caffeine is in coffee.

How much caffeine is in a dirty chai?

A dirty chai is a chai latte with a shot of espresso added, so it has the chai's caffeine plus about 63 mg per shot (USDA). By our estimate, a grande chai latte (about 55 mg) with one shot comes to roughly 118 mg, more than an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee. See how much caffeine is in a shot of espresso.

Is there caffeine-free chai?

Yes. Chai made with rooibos or other herbal teas instead of black tea has no caffeine: Oregon Chai's Caffeine Free concentrate, made with rooibos, lists 0 mg per serving (Oregon Chai), and herbal teas contain no caffeine (USDA). Bigelow notes that herbal tea is the only truly caffeine-free option (Bigelow).

Decaf chai is lower in caffeine, not caffeine-free: decaf tea typically has about 1 to 8 mg per 8-ounce cup (Bigelow), and USDA lists about 2 mg for brewed decaf black tea (USDA).

Is chai a good afternoon drink at work?

It can be a gentler choice than a second large coffee. A grande chai latte has about 55 mg of caffeine (Starbucks), roughly half of a typical coffee, so it gives a smaller lift that is less likely to keep you up. A meta-analysis suggests finishing a typical coffee, about 107 mg of caffeine, at least 8.8 hours before bed (Gardiner et al., 2023), so even chai is best kept to earlier in the afternoon if you sleep lightly.

• Watch the sugar. Coffee-shop chai lattes and many concentrates are sweetened; check the nutrition panel or ask for fewer pumps.
• Switch to rooibos chai late in the day if you want the flavor without the caffeine.
• Count your total. The FDA cites 400 mg a day for most healthy adults, so chai plus coffee, tea and soda all add up (FDA). See how much caffeine is too much.

How to make lower-caffeine chai at home

• Mix the base. Brew half black tea and half rooibos to roughly halve the caffeine while keeping a tea flavor.
• Use decaf black tea with your usual spices.
• Go fully herbal with rooibos, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves simmered in milk.
• Try a golden version. For a spiced, caffeine-free afternoon drink, see our turmeric tea and golden milk guide.

Common myths (quick reality check)

• Myth: Chai is caffeine-free because it is a spiced tea. Reality: Most chai is made with black tea, which contains caffeine. Only herbal chai, such as rooibos chai, is caffeine-free.

• Myth: A chai latte has as much caffeine as a coffee. Reality: Usually much less. A grande Starbucks Chai Latte has about 55 mg, while an 8-ounce brewed coffee has about 95 mg.

• Myth: Decaf chai has no caffeine. Reality: Decaf tea still has a little, typically about 1 to 8 mg per 8-ounce cup.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does chai tea have caffeine?

Yes, most chai does, because it is made with black tea. An 8-ounce cup brewed from black tea has up to about 47 mg. Herbal chai made with rooibos is caffeine-free.

How much caffeine is in a chai latte?

Usually about 20 to 60 mg. A grande Starbucks Chai Latte has about 55 mg hot and 60 mg iced.

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks Chai Latte?

About 55 mg in a grande (16-ounce) hot Chai Latte and about 60 mg in a grande Iced Chai Latte, according to Starbucks.

Does chai have more caffeine than coffee?

No. Chai usually has about half the caffeine of coffee or less: about 47 mg in 8 ounces of black tea versus about 95 mg in 8 ounces of brewed coffee.

Does chai have more caffeine than green tea?

Usually yes, because it is made with black tea. Per 12 ounces, the FDA lists about 71 mg for black tea and about 37 mg for green tea.

Does a dirty chai have a lot of caffeine?

More than a regular chai latte. Adding one espresso shot (about 63 mg) to a grande chai latte comes to roughly 118 mg by our estimate.

Is there a chai with no caffeine?

Yes. Chai made with rooibos or other herbal teas has no caffeine, such as Oregon Chai Caffeine Free, which lists 0 mg per serving.

Can I drink chai in the afternoon?

Many people do, because it has less caffeine than coffee. If you sleep lightly, have it earlier in the afternoon or switch to a rooibos chai.

Related guides

• How much caffeine is in tea?
• How much caffeine is in a shot of espresso?
• Caffeine in soda
• How much caffeine is too much?
• Coffee alternatives

Disclaimer and when to seek help

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners, and OurJrney is not affiliated with them. Caffeine figures come from each company's published information on October 25, 2026, and may change. Talk to your health care provider about caffeine if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, have a heart condition, anxiety or high blood pressure, or take medication.

References

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: black tea, brewed (FDC 173227), decaffeinated black tea (FDC 174871), herbal tea (FDC 173232), brewed coffee (FDC 171890) and espresso (FDC 171891).
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?" Content current as of August 28, 2024.
3. Gardiner C, Weakley J, Burke LM, et al. "The effect of caffeine on subsequent sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2023;69:101764. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101764
4. Official product information from Starbucks, Oregon Chai, Tazo, Bigelow and Twinings, linked in the text. Accessed October 25, 2026.