Rooibos Chai

Chai spices on a base that will not keep you up. Rooibos (South African red bush tea) takes ginger, green cardamom, and Ceylon cinnamon as readily as black tea does, so you get the full warmth of a classic chai with no caffeine at all. Brew it hot on the stovetop, with milk for a cafe-style cup or plain, any time of day. It is the chai to reach for in the evening.

Chai is the spice blend, not the tea underneath, which is why these spices work as well on rooibos as on black tea. We blend it fresh in small batches in Portland, so the spices stay bright in the tin.

Blend: rooibos, ginger, green cardamom, Ceylon cinnamon. Caffeine-free. No sugar, no preservatives. Vegan.

How do I brew it?
Use one teaspoon per eight ounces of water in a pan. Bring it to a rolling boil for two to three minutes. Add milk at a ratio of one part milk to three parts water, then boil for another two minutes. Strain, sweeten to taste, and serve.

Is rooibos chai caffeine-free?
Yes. Rooibos comes from a different plant than black or green tea and carries no caffeine, so the spices are the whole story.

Doesn't chai have to be black tea?
No. Chai refers to the spice blend of ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. That blend sits as well on a caffeine-free rooibos base, which is exactly what this is.

Will the rooibos come through, or is it all spice?
Both. Rooibos brings a naturally sweet, faintly woody base, and the ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon sit on top of it rather than burying it. If you want the base on its own, our plain rooibos is the same leaf without the spices.