Does Starbucks have decaf chai tea?

Chai tea provides a great alternative to coffee if you prefer less caffeine in your beverage. However, does Starbucks have decaf chai tea for those who want even less caffeine? Read on to know more.

Since reducing my coffee intake, chai tea has been a favorite. The spices in the tea warm up my days and give me just enough caffeine to get going. For those opting to go caffeine-free, chai tea isn’t the go-to drink since it does contain caffeine. So, is there a decaf chai tea on the Starbucks menu? The answer is no; the only option is regular tea, though the caffeine content in the black tea used is already relatively low. Before you get disappointed, there’s more about decaf chai tea you should know.

Table of Contents

Why can’t you get decaf chai tea at Starbucks?

One thing to note is that decaf doesn’t mean that a beverage has zero caffeine; it only means less caffeine. For a drink to be considered decaf, it should have 10 percent caffeine content or even as low as two percent for tea. Black tea and black tea concentrate used in making your chai tea contain caffeine but in low amounts. Starbucks doesn’t offer decaf chai tea because the tea decaffeination process removes the caffeine and some antioxidants and polyphenols, making the tea less potent than your regular tea.

That is not to say you should abandon decaf chai tea altogether. It still has similar health benefits with the added advantage of having less than 2mg of caffeine which is a trace amount. Therefore, consider getting the Starbucks Teavana chai teabags containing spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger if you want caffeine-free drinks. Another alternative is trying Starbucks herbal blends such as lemongrass, passion tango, and hibiscus. These alternatives do not contain caffeine.

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks chai tea?

The Starbucks chai tea has 40mg of caffeine no matter the sizing options. This aspect is unique since most other beverages tend to have increased caffeine content as you increase the cup size. The reason for this is that each drink comes with two teabags, and the size determines how intense of a flavor you get.

What drinks can be made decaf at Starbucks?

The drinks available at Starbucks that can be made decaf are any americano, espresso shot, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, latte, and flat white drinks. The reduced caffeine doesn’t compromise the taste of any of the drinks mentioned.

Final thoughts

The chai tea remains a favorite for me since the caffeine content is the same no matter what size you get the standard two teabags. When ordering your chai tea, something to keep in mind is that the latte alternative does have more caffeine. I learned that the hard way after having a jittery morning.