Chai tea is a spicy, pungent drink made from some of the world's most medicinally active herbs. There are thousands of chai recipes – many of which come from India – but the basic components of chai include black tea, cinnamon, ginger, clove, cardamom and black pepper. While each of these ingredients has its own powerful health benefits, their synergy creates a potent tea that may help support digestion, prevent cancer, lower blood sugar and promote cardiovascular health.

Many of the component herbs in chai tea are considered powerful anti-inflammatory agents. The World's Healthiest Foods website notes that the main constituent in cloves, called eugenol, is a potent anti-inflammatory used to relieve gum pain and general inflammation. According to an article published in the “Journal of Medicinal Food” in 2005, ginger has broad anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful as a natural alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Cinnamon also has known anti-inflammatory action in the body, according to an article published in “Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition” in October 2010.

Chai tea is chock-full of antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Black tea is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent damage to the cells and tissues of the body caused by free radicals. Ginger tea is a potent antioxidant that may protect the body from certain forms of cancer, including colo-rectal cancer, and it may help to treat ovarian cancer, according to the World's Healthiest Foods website. The main active constituent of black pepper, piperine, is also a strong antioxidant, preventing oxidative damage, according to research published in “Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition” in 2007. Another chai spice, cardamom, has shown antioxidant effects against nonmelanoma skin cancer and may help lower blood pressure and reduce other cardiovascular risks.

Chai tea is traditionally taken after meals, due to its

. Black pepper supports the pancreas in secreting digestive enzymes, which speed the time it takes the body to digest heavy foods like fats and protein. Ginger is a renowned digestive herb that can curb nausea and support healthy digestion, according to The World's Healthiest Foods website. Cinnamon is also widely used as a digestive stimulant, according to "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth."