Spiced chai tea — hot or iced — is a great alternative to coffee if you need an afternoon pick-me-up but don't want as much caffeine as you'd get from a cup of coffee. Yes, you could go to your local coffee shop to get your chai fix, but why not save your hard earned cash and mix up a batch at home?
Made up of a mixture of black tea and spices, one cup of brewed chai tea has about half the amount of caffeine as coffee does. The spices and black tea in chai also contain natural antioxidants and polyphenols that help reduce the risks of cardiovascular problems and aid in the prevention of certain types of cancer, among other health benefits.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2011.