People have been making and drinking tea for centuries, and they do that for a good reason. Tea has various benefits, it has antioxidants that might reduce the risks of cancer, consists of polyphenols that protect your heart, and other nutrients that improve your immune system.
The good news for expecting women is that a cup of tea prevents morning sickness and shorten labor. Chai tea is one of the most popular types of teas available on the market. However, is it safe for pregnancy? This article will explain more about chai tea and its effect on pregnant women.
Is chai tea safe when you are pregnant?
Chai tea, also called masala chai is a spicy and fragrant beverage that has its origins from India. This delicious drink includes black tea with a mixture of herbal seasonings also has caffeine. When chai tea is consumed in moderation, experts believe that it is safe for pregnant women.
Most studies agree that drinking less than 200mg of caffeine per day should be safe for expectant women. It’s not only caffeine in herbal teas that you should be looking out for because fennel, licorice root, and star anise can affect your hormones, meaning they have some risks while you’re pregnant.
Star anise and fennel are also safe when consumed in small amounts during pregnancy. While chai tea is considered safe to consume for pregnant women, it’s advisable to check with your doctor.
Chai tea ingredients
The main ingredient of chai tea is black tea, but some manufacturers also offer other varieties of chai tea that have white or green tea leaves. Ginger, cardamon, and black pepper are included to provide spicy flavors to the beverages.
Other ingredients may comprise of saffron, star anise, clove, cinnamon, rose, fennel seed, nutmeg, almond, or licorice. All these ingredients are considered safe for pregnant women when used in moderation.
If you are carrying a high-risk pregnancy, it’s a good idea to take precautions. You should consider drinking decaffeinated chai tea formulas to avoid the dangers associated with the consumption of caffeine. Small amounts of fennel and star anise are safe when you take in moderation, but you can choose chai teas that don’t have these hormone-affecting elements.
Vahdam
Vahdam is Assam CTC organic chai tea and crushed spices such as Cardamom pods, Black Pepper, and Cinnamon. This is Indian traditional leaf tea with a rich flavor and has 100% natural ingredients.
It’s suitable to drink it with or without milk. This tea is fresh and has the best aroma and taste because the leaves are vacuum sealed and packed between 24 and 72 hours after harvesting.
If you love exotic and fresh spices from India, you are likely going to enjoy consuming Vahdam tea. The flavor is slightly malty and it also has the flavor of fresh cardamoms, black pepper, and clove. While this tea stimulates your mind and body, it is also known to boost your immunity.
Pros
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It’s a high-quality chai tea and is smooth with a nice flavor.
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The spices are fresh and have sharpness with the right blend.
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It stimulates your mind and body.
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You can drink it with milk or without milk.
Cons
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You need time to experiment because it has dried ingredients.
Davidson's Tea Bulk
Davidson’s Tea Bulk comes in a pack of a 16-ounce tea bag. You rest assured that you have a high-quality chai tea as it’s USDA certified organic and it’s also Fair Trade Certified. It has an appealing flavor that will keep you excited and contains caffeine. This chai tea consists of ingredients including cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
Davidson’s Organics has gone to another level where the tea leaves are packed in a paper stand up pouch that has aluminum foil so that the freshness is intact. The chai tea is ideal if you want to protect your mind and body through its flavors.
Pros
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It comes is a paper stand up pouch with aluminum foil to keep its freshness.
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It’s USDA approved organic and Fair Trade Certified.
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It protects your mind and body.
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It has fresh ingredients to give your nice flavors.
Cons
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The flavor might not be favorable to some people.
Tazo Organic Chai
Tazo Organic Chai has a pack of 24 tea bags weighing 2.3 ounces. This is one of the best chai teas if you are looking for strong tastes.
One tea bag of this chai tea is enough to have a strong flavor and it doesn’t go away even after adding some milk and a small amount of sugar. It has fresh spices of crushed spices to give you a delicious cup of tea. Because it has a strong flavor, it takes a while to finish the pack of 24 tea bags.
Pros
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It has a strong flavor that remains even after adding milk or sugar.
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You only need one tea bag to have a nice blend.
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It has the right blend of spices and aroma.
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It’s a high-quality chai tea with fresh spices.
Cons
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Some people find the taste to be on the weaker side.
Chai Tea Latte Mix
Chai Tea Latte Mix is packaged in one weighing 10 oz bags. This is a decaffeinated vanilla chai tea that tastes deliciously. You can drink it hot, steamed, frozen, or iced. The good news is that it doesn’t have hydrogenated oils or transfat.
It’s Kosher certified to give you peace of mind while drinking it. With its natural and artificial flavors, all you need is just to add water. This tea has honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger, ensuring that you have the right combination of flavors.
Pros
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It provides a good standard of spice chai latte.
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It’s a tasty drink and easy to make.
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It’s a convenient powder that enables you to make a drink quickly.
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The spices are great and mild.
Cons
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The pack holds only10 oz of chai tea powder, which might not last long for heavy drinkers.
Vanilla Spiced Chai
Vanilla Spiced Chai is made in the United States and comes in a 3lb stand-up bag. There is no sugar added in the chai tea to keep it natural, and it has an exotic mix of spices and black tea. You can make and drink it hot or blended. This chai tea is easy to make because you just add milk or water. It’s gluten-free and doesn’t have trans fats.
Pros
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It’s vanilla chai latte mix with a clear taste of spiced tea.
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You don’t need to add sugar.
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Tastes great and easy to make.
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It’s gluten-free and it doesn’t have trans fats.
Cons
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While it has a nice flavor, some people feel otherwise.
The Verdict
Teas and herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA. While there hasn’t been any concrete evidence showing the effects of chai tea on pregnancy, some experts believe well-known brands are safe. Alternatively, you can choose to drink milder teas or reduce your intake if you want to take some precautions. The chai teas reviewed above are all safe and make sure to read the product description before taking your cup of tea.
