Vanilla Chai Protein Shake

If you love protein smoothies and are looking for a fun new flavor, you’re going to love this vanilla chai protein shake. It’s a delicious shake made with vegan ingredients (if you use a plant-based protein) and is an easy recipe to make. 

You can enjoy this shake as a filling start to your day or as a hearty snack. 

You will find more of our best smoothie recipes here.

Why you’ll love this chai protein shake

This vanilla chai protein shake recipe tastes delicious! It’s a sweet treat that tastes like dessert but has about 20 grams of protein (depending on your powder). The chai flavor from the syrup sweetens this shake perfectly. 

It’s a creamy and nutritious shake that has flavors similar to a tasty chai tea latte.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Torani Chai Tea Syrup – This syrup makes adding the flavoring of chai spices so simple. Feel free to adjust the amount if you like a sweeter or less sweet shake. Many grocery stores now carry this syrup, but if you can’t find it, you can order it online. 
• Unsweetened Almond Milk – I prefer the taste of almond milk in this recipe, but if you want to substitute coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk, those will work too. 
• Frozen Banana – Adding a banana to this shake helps to make it nice and creamy and adds a natural sweetness. Make sure you slice your banana before freezing. It’s difficult to cut once frozen. 
• Ice Cubes – Ice cubes will help with the thickness of the shake as well as make sure it’s nice and cold. 
• Black Tea – You’ll brew a cup of tea (from black tea bags or loose leaf) and add it to this shake. This helps to round out the chai flavor and adds a bit of caffeine content. 
• Vanilla Protein Powder (Optional) – Use your favorite vanilla-flavored protein powder in this recipe. If you don’t need the protein, you can leave this ingredient out. 
• Ground Chia Seeds (Optional) – I’ve been enjoying the healthy fats and thickening texture of chia seeds in my protein shakes. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use ground flax seeds, or leave these out. 

Directions

First, prepare your cup of black tea and let it cool. You don’t want it hot when you add to the blender or it will melt the ice quickly.

Add all the ingredients into your blender, starting with the liquids first and the ice cubes last. 

Blend on high for 45-60 seconds, until completely blended. 

Enjoy!

I have been enjoying using Chia seeds more lately. I usually add them to my shakes and in the morning I add some to my water bottle. They are full of Anti-Oxidants. Make sure you buy Ground Chia Seeds.

What is Chai Made up of?

Common Ingredients of Chai Tea.

1. Spices: The Indian flavors of Chai are a blend of black tea, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, it is a beautiful balance of smooth and spicy.

2. Milk: The Western Version of Chai is made with cow’s milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.

3. Sweetener: You can use sugar, honey, agave, brown sugar, etc. The Indian tradition would be turbinado sugar or demerara sugar.

4. Tea: Typically you would use black tea, such as Assam or Darjeeling

What does Chai Mean

Legend has it that the origin of chai dates back more than 5,000 years when a king in what is now India ordered a healing spiced beverage be created for use in Ayurveda, a traditional medicinal practice in which herbs and spices are used for healing.

The heat from the ginger and black pepper was believed to stimulate digestion; the antiseptic properties in cloves were thought to help relieve pain; cardamom was used as a mood elevator; cinnamon supported circulation and respiratory function, and star anise was known to freshen the breath.

The above was cited from Teatulia.com

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