Masala Chai calories
per cup, not per 100 g
65 kcal 1 cup — taken as 150 g — has about 65 calories, with 2.0 g protein, 7.9 g carbohydrate and 2.7 g fat. Two come to 129 kcal, three to 194 kcal.
Per 100 g, masala chai carries 43 kcal and 1.3 g protein.
Serving assumed: 1 cup ≈ 150 g — about 60 ml of full-cream milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar per cup. Change the portion and every number below changes with it.
Masala Chai calories by portion
The whole point of this site: an Indian portion, not a laboratory 100 g. Everything below scales linearly from the 150 g serving.
| Portion | Grams | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fibre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 150 g | 65 kcal | 2.0 g | 7.9 g | 2.7 g | 0.0 g |
| 2 cups | 300 g | 129 kcal | 3.9 g | 15.9 g | 5.4 g | 0.0 g |
| 3 cups | 450 g | 194 kcal | 5.9 g | 23.8 g | 8.1 g | 0.0 g |
| 1 large mug | 250 g | 108 kcal | 3.3 g | 13.3 g | 4.5 g | 0.0 g |
| 1 cutting glass | 100 g | 43 kcal | 1.3 g | 5.3 g | 1.8 g | 0.0 g |
Figures in kilocalories — the "calories" on a food label. Carbohydrate is available carbohydrate; fibre is listed separately and is included in neither the carbohydrate column nor the energy figure.
Full nutrition per 100 g
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 1 cup (150 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 43 kcal | 65 kcal |
| Protein | 1.3 g | 2.0 g |
| Carbohydrate (available) | 5.3 g | 7.9 g |
| Fat | 1.8 g | 2.7 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0.0 g | 0.0 g |
What it takes to burn off 1 cup of masala chai
Minutes of activity for a 70 kg adult to spend 65 kcal, using MET values from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities. This is a scale check, not a licence — appetite rises with activity and the two do not cancel neatly.
Calculated as MET × 3.5 × 70 kg ÷ 200 kcal per minute. Full working on the method page, and the whole activity dataset at BurnLab.
Where masala chai sits in an Indian plate
Among the 14 beverages entries on this site, masala chai ranks 8th for protein (1.3 g per 100 g) and 10th for energy density (43 kcal per 100 g). The protein leader in the group is badam milk at 3.8 g.
Protein supplies 12% of its energy — respectable, but a plate built only on this will run short. Dal, curd, paneer or eggs close the gap cheaply. There is very little fibre here — 0.0 g per 100 g.
A realistic day matters more than any single dish. If you are building a meal, the thali builder adds several foods and their real servings together in one total.
Questions
How many calories are in 1 cup?
About 65 kcal for 1 cup, taken as 150 g (about 60 ml of full-cream milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar per cup). Two come to roughly 129 kcal and three to 194 kcal. Per 100 g, masala chai carries 43 kcal.
How much protein is in masala chai?
1.3 g per 100 g, which works out to 2.0 g in 1 cup. That is 12% of the energy in this food, and ranks 8th of 14 in the beverages group on this site.
Is masala chai good for weight loss?
At 43 kcal per 100 g it is on the lighter side, so portion size is forgiving. Protein is moderate, so pair it with dal, curd or a non-veg side to stay full. No single food makes or breaks a diet; the total for the day does.
Why does this differ from other calorie sites?
Two reasons. First, most sites publish a per-100 g figure from a US database and leave you to guess what a roti or a katori weighs; this page states the serving weight up front. Second, home-cooked Indian food varies enormously with oil and ghee — the figures here assume about 60 ml of full-cream milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar per cup. A restaurant version can be 30 to 60% higher.
Similar foods
Four more from beverages, and three from elsewhere with a similar energy density.
Nutrient values are averages for the stated preparation, based on the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (ICMR–NIN) and standard recipe analysis. Energy is reconciled against the macronutrients with Atwater factors on every build. General information only — not medical or nutrition advice. Home-cooked Indian food varies enormously with oil, ghee and portion size; every value here is an average for a stated serving, with the assumption shown.