Dirty Chai Latte Vs Chai Latte Powder: What's The Difference?

Tempting to the point of addiction. Those are the words that best characterise these two beverages. Both have exploded in popularity to the point of near-obsession around the world.

Aren't they essentially the same thing, though? Absolutely not.

Despite their apparent parallels, the flavour and amount of caffeine in these beverages couldn't be more different.

Of the two beverages, one has significantly more caffeine and a more robust flavour. If you want to know what sets dirty chai apart from chai latte powder, you'll want to keep reading. You'll find two delicious recipes down below as well.

What is Dirty Chai?

The story goes back to the 1990s when a barista accidentally gave a tourist an espresso shot in his spiced chai latte. The traveler took a chance and tried the beverage, and he was blown away by how delicious it was.

An incarnation of Dirty Chai appeared!

This unique and tasty drink is made with a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and spices. It's perfect for those who don't enjoy having their mouths on fire. In order to profile the flavour, it has the smoothness of milk and the aroma of a fragrant coffee.

The best part is that the dirty chai latte can be customised to your liking by adding two or even more shots of caffeine to the recipe.

People commonly use allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger as spices. Black pepper is the most popular type of pepper because it has a robust and unique smell when burned.

This beverage is perfect for getting your day going. One of its many appealing qualities is that you can enjoy it either hot or cold. You can make it iced by adding milk that has been steamed, and you can also add ice. Finally, if you'd like, you can sweeten it further.

What is Chai Latte?

Almost any coffee shop worth its beans will have spiced chai lattes (masala chai) on the menu. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom are added to steamed milk. Foam can be used as a garnish to enhance its uniqueness further.

The actual recipe, meanwhile, can change from café to café. I don't even know what that means. OK, it is that easy. Every coffee shop has its own unique recipe and blend.

Coffee drinkers often get their espresso lattes and spiced chai lattes mixed up. Although most people think they are interchangeable, these beverages taste pretty different.

Espresso lattes have a robust flavour because they combine espresso with steamed milk. Tea is used to make spiced chai latte, which is then bubbly and has a milder flavour.

The Difference Between Dirty Chai and Chai Latte

Now that you have a clear picture of both drinks, we'll this article will go into more detail about the variations between dirty chai and chai lattes, as well as the techniques used to make them.

1. Taste

The flavouring is the primary distinction between a chai latte and dirty chai. The traditional way to make a chai latte is with strong espresso and a mix of teas and spices. This gives the drink its signature balance of tastes.

Traditional chai doesn't taste like coffee, but dirty chai has an espresso shot in it. Those who prefer something other than bitter coffee but want an extra energy boost without an overpowering flavour will find chai latte powder a great option.

2. Caffeine Content

This drink probably wouldn't be as popular as it is now if it didn't have a number of signature syrups and sweeteners added to it. All of these beverages share a common thread of comforting, spicy tones. The "dirty" version, on the other hand, has an extra dose of caffeine.

Additionally, chai latte powders are typically brewed much more potently than regular, pure tea. The same logic applies to chai tea lattes; they have more vital ingredients.

The caffeine content also varies widely between the two. Compared to the 50–70 mg of caffeine in a regular chai latte, there is 160 mg in a dirty chai latte. Like most types of tea, the caffeine content of a chai latte is noticeably lower than that of regular coffee.

3. Calories

While neither of these beverages is exactly low in calories, they are still preferable to many other types of coffee beverages, especially carbonated beverages. The ingredients play a significant role, too.

Each 12-ounce serving of dirty chai latte has about 200 calories, while each 20-ounce serving has about 340 calories. Considering that a 12-ounce serving of chai latte powder has about 190 calories, the difference is insignificant.

Final Thoughts

Dirty chai and chai latte powder are both versions of the same drink, but they taste and are made very differently. The majority of the common spices used in preparing dirty chai are espresso, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and sweetened condensed milk.

But the only thing in a spiced chai latte is brewed tea with ground spices like cinnamon, ginger root, white pepper, cloves, cardamom, and, of course, nutmeg.