7-Eleven Stores Add Chai Tea Latte

IRVING, Texas – 7-Eleven, Inc. is spicing up its hot beverage lineup with a rich, new tea-based Chai Tea Latte. Subtly flavored with a sweet and spicy blend of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, the new hot beverage combines black tea, milk and sweetener to create the traditional warm beverage from India.

“We worked several months with flavor scientists to develop an exclusive chai recipe that offers the best balance of sweet and spice,” said Michelle Cram, 7-Eleven senior category manager of hot beverages, in a press release.

Although it is known as a specific type of spiced tea in the Western world, the word “chai” is the translation of the English word “tea” and used in much of the world. The traditional Indian drink, masala chai, is the closest beverage to the chai latte that has become popular in the United States. “Masala” means a mixture of spices and, with “chai,” describes the beverage made with black tea, spices and milk

Chai and products flavored with similar spice blends have been growing in popularity and have experienced a dramatic uptick recently – almost 40% growth over the past four years. It is particularly popular among women, millennials, Gen Z and Hispanic consumers, and double-digit increases are expected to continue over the next few years.