Caffeine-Free Chai Without Rooibos: A Spice-Only Chai from Bali
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If you love chai but want to skip caffeine in the evening, you've probably noticed that most "caffeine-free chai" is made with rooibos. Rooibos is lovely, but it has its own strong, honeyed flavour – and some people simply don't enjoy it. There's another way: a chai made only from spices and herbs.
What is a spice-only chai?
Traditional masala chai is black tea simmered with spices. Take away the tea, and you're left with the part most people actually crave: warm ginger, sweet cinnamon, floral cardamom, clove, black pepper and star anise. Our Serenity Chai adds two Balinese touches – lemongrass and pandan leaf – for a fresher, softly sweet finish.
How does it compare?
- Black-tea chai: malty, bold, contains caffeine.
- Rooibos chai: caffeine-free, with a distinct earthy, honey-like rooibos base.
- Spice-only chai: caffeine-free, lighter body, and the spices are the star.
How to brew it
Tea bags
Steep 1 tea bag in 200–250 ml just-boiled water for 5–7 minutes. Longer steeping gives a spicier cup.
Loose leaf
Use 1–2 teaspoons per 250 ml, steep 5–7 minutes and strain.
An easy evening chai latte
- Simmer 2 tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose leaf) in 100 ml water for 5 minutes.
- Add 150 ml milk or oat milk and warm gently – don't boil.
- Sweeten with honey, coconut sugar or maple syrup.
- Strain into a mug and finish with a pinch of cinnamon.
Spice-only chai has a lighter body than black tea, so brewing it strong is the key to a creamy latte.
Prefer a morning version?
Power Chai uses the same spice blend with black tea, for a classic caffeinated chai.
Products in this article
- Serenity Chai (20 tea bags) – caffeine-free, rooibos-free
- Serenity Chai Loose Leaf (50 g)
- Power Chai (20 tea bags) – the black-tea version
We ship from Bali to Australia, the United States, Japan and worldwide.