Parents fitting a drink into a short break
A ready-to-mix chai latte tin avoids steeping tea, while tea bags avoid measuring powder. Choose between them by checking whether the latte’s milk ingredients and added sugar fit your household.
Who is each format for?
Parents considering caffeine
Herbal chai described by its maker as caffeine-free is distinct from chai made with black tea. Check the exact blend as well as its caffeine description: NHS pregnancy advice says to avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root.
Households setting up tea storage
If you already prefer tea bags or loose chai, a separate jar can keep your chosen tea together. An empty storage jar does not include the chai itself.
What should you check before choosing?
Choose the drink format first, then check its ingredients and whether you need a separate container.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Drink Me Chai latte powder is mixed with hot water or milk; tea bags need brewing. Check which steps you want during a short break. | I want a hot drink without preparing loose tea, but I can choose whether mixing powder or brewing a bag fits my routine. |
| Caffeine and ingredients | Check whether the product contains black tea or is described as caffeine-free. NHS guidance sets a maximum of 200 mg caffeine a day during pregnancy and advises avoiding herbal teas containing liquorice root. | If I am pregnant, I need to count caffeine from all food and drinks and check herbal ingredients too. Pukka Vanilla Chai contains liquorice root, despite its caffeine-free description. |
| Milk and sugars | Read the ingredients and serving instructions. Tesco and ASDA list milk ingredients and 9.6 g sugars for a 15 g serving of Drink Me Chai made with water; making it with milk changes the finished drink. | Our household needs to distinguish a sweetened, milk-containing latte powder from brewed black tea before choosing a regular cupboard drink. |
| Container | Distinguish a tin containing chai powder from a pack of tea bags and an empty glass storage jar. Confirm what the container includes before ordering. | I want either a drink in a lidded container or a separate place to store tea I have chosen, not an empty jar mistaken for chai. |
Common chai buying mistakes
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Assuming instant chai latte is plain tea
Drink Me Chai powder contains milk ingredients, sugar and instant black tea. Tesco and ASDA list 9.6 g sugars for a 15 g serving made with water, so it differs from brewing spiced tea and adding your own milk.
Compare the ingredients and nutrition per serving. If you want to add milk or sweetener yourself, check the ingredients of black chai tea bags or loose tea instead.
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Expecting a storage jar to contain chai
Twinings’ small and large ribbed glass tea jars are empty accessories. They provide storage, not a drink.
Choose the chai you want to brew first, then decide whether a separate jar would be useful.
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Assuming caffeine-free means suitable during pregnancy
Pukka describes its Vanilla Chai herbal blend as caffeine-free but lists liquorice root. NHS pregnancy guidance advises avoiding herbal teas containing liquorice root; black-tea chai also counts towards the NHS maximum of 200 mg caffeine a day during pregnancy.
Check the exact blend’s ingredients and, for caffeinated drinks, consider caffeine from the rest of the day rather than judging by the word “chai”.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different chai formats; a brand’s inclusion here does not mean every product in its range has the same ingredients.
Drink Me Chai
Its Spiced Chai Latte is a powdered drink supplied in a 250 g tin.
- Mixes with hot water or milk rather than requiring tea to steep.
- Contains milk ingredients, sugar and black tea. Tesco and ASDA list 9.6 g sugars per 15 g serving made with water.
Pukka
Pukka describes its Vanilla Chai herbal tea bags as a caffeine-free chai-style blend.
- A tea-bag format for someone who wants an infusion rather than latte powder.
- The blend contains liquorice root; NHS guidance says to avoid herbal teas containing it during pregnancy.
Twinings
Twinings lists black chai teas and, separately, empty glass tea-storage jars.
- Its chai range includes tea-bag options, while the jars offer separate tea storage.
- Buying one of its empty jars does not supply chai tea.
Clipper
Clipper Indian Chai is a brewed-tea option made with black tea and spices.
- Its listed ingredients include black tea, cinnamon, orange peel, cloves and fennel seed.
- Because it contains black tea, it is not a caffeine-free herbal infusion.
Teapigs
Teapigs Chai Tea is a brewed blend containing Assam black tea and spices.
- The listed ingredients include cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and vanilla alongside black tea.
- Teapigs says this chai naturally contains caffeine; it is not a ready-to-mix latte tin.
Joybuy chai and storage options
These options cover a ready-to-mix chai latte, herbal chai tea bags and empty jars for storing tea separately. Check the drink and the storage accessory as separate purchases.
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Drink Me Chai Spiced Chai Latte 250g
A ready-to-mix powder in a tin for a short break when you do not want to steep tea. It contains milk ingredients, added sugar and instant black tea, so check the label if milk or caffeine affects your choice.
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Pukka Vanilla Chai 20 Herbal Tea Sachets 40g
A herbal tea-bag choice rather than an instant latte or a jar. Pukka describes the blend as caffeine-free, but it contains liquorice root; NHS guidance says to avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root during pregnancy.
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Argon Cork Ball Lid Glass Jars, Set of 3
Three 500 ml glass jars with cork-ball lids and tea, coffee and sugar labels for separate dry-goods storage. The jars are empty; buy your preferred chai separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chai latte tin the same as a chai tea jar?
No. Drink Me Chai Spiced Chai Latte is powder supplied in a 250 g tin, whereas Twinings’ glass tea-storage jars are empty. Choose the drink format first; a separate jar is only for storing tea you have chosen.
Is Pukka Vanilla Chai suitable during pregnancy because it is caffeine-free?
No. Pukka lists liquorice root in this herbal blend, and NHS pregnancy guidance says to avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root. Its caffeine-free description does not change that ingredient-specific advice.
How should I assess black chai during pregnancy?
Count black chai towards your total caffeine intake. NHS guidance says not to have more than 200 mg caffeine a day during pregnancy; an ingredient list alone cannot tell you the exact amount in a serving of a particular chai.
What should I consider when choosing chai while breastfeeding?
Consider caffeine across your drinks and food, not just the chai. NHS guidance says caffeine can reach a baby through breast milk and that a high intake may make the baby restless or keep them awake. If you choose a caffeine-free herbal blend, check its other ingredients as well.
What should I check when the chai arrives?
Read the pack’s ingredients, allergen information, serving instructions and nutrition values before using it, particularly if you chose between a milk-containing latte powder and a tea infusion. Check pregnancy-relevant herbal ingredients on the exact blend too.