Pumpkin Spice Chai and 6 More Cozy Autumn Teas

In short: pumpkin spice chai is black tea brewed with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove and real pumpkin pieces. Brew it strong, 1 heaping teaspoon per cup at 212°F (100°C) for 4 to 5 minutes, then add steamed milk for a café-style latte at home. If you want the same cozy mood without caffeine, try a pumpkin herbal blend, a spiced apple tea or a rooibos chai.

When the leaves turn and the evenings get darker, most of us want something warm and spiced in the mug. Here are seven autumn teas we brew all season, how each one tastes, and how to get the best cup from it.

What is pumpkin spice chai?

Classic masala chai is strong black tea simmered with warm spices. Pumpkin spice chai keeps that base and leans into the flavors of a pumpkin pie: cinnamon and clove up front, a little ginger heat, and the soft, round sweetness of dried pumpkin.

It is not a syrup and it is not a powder. Our Pumpkin Spice Chai is a loose leaf blend you can see: black tea leaves, cinnamon pieces, ginger, cardamom pods, clove buds, pumpkin pieces and pumpkin seeds. Because the spices are whole or cut, the flavor stays bright and you control the sweetness yourself.

7 cozy teas for autumn

1. Pumpkin Spice Chai

The star of the season. The black tea gives it body, so it stands up to milk and a little maple syrup. Brew it a minute longer than a plain black tea, because the spices need time to open up. A cup of black tea typically has around 40 to 70 mg of caffeine, so this is a morning or early-afternoon tea.

2. Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Perfect Pumpkin Pie is the caffeine-free twin. It is an herbal blend with pumpkin flavor and warm spices, and it tastes creamy even before you add milk. This is the one to reach for after dinner or with a slice of real pie. Browse more blends in our herbal teas collection.

3. Warm Apple Cider

Warm Apple Cider is a fruit tea of apple pieces, hibiscus, rosehips and elderberries with cinnamon and anise. It is sweet, a little tart and smells like a cider stand at a fall fair. Steep it hot, or brew it double strength and pour it over ice for an autumn iced tea.

4. Traditional Masala Chai

If you like your chai bold and spicy rather than sweet, go back to the classic. Simmer it on the stove with milk for the most authentic cup. Our masala chai guide walks through the stovetop method step by step.

5. Pu'erh Maple Chai

Ripe pu-erh brings a deep, earthy, almost cocoa-like base, and maple gives it a gentle sweetness. It is smoother than a black tea chai and can be steeped two or three times.

6. Coconut Vanilla Chai

Built on rooibos, so it is naturally caffeine-free with a honeyed, slightly woody taste. Vanilla and coconut make it a natural fit for oat milk lattes. See more in our rooibos tea range.

7. Caramel Almond Apple

Honeybush, apple pieces and a caramel note make this taste like baked apples with a crumble topping. Great on its own, no milk or sugar needed.

How to brew autumn tea blends

Spiced blends are forgiving, but a few numbers help:

Fruit and herbal teas will not turn bitter, so you can steep them longer for a fuller cup. Black tea chai can turn harsh after about 6 minutes, so set a timer.

Pumpkin spice chai latte at home

You do not need an espresso machine for a café-style latte.

1. Add 2 heaping teaspoons (6 g) of Pumpkin Spice Chai to an infuser or small teapot.
2. Pour over 4 oz (120 ml) of water just off the boil and steep for 5 minutes. This makes a strong concentrate.
3. Meanwhile, heat 6 oz (180 ml) of milk or oat milk until steaming, then froth it with a whisk or frother.
4. Strain the tea into a large mug and stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of maple syrup or brown sugar.
5. Top with the frothed milk and finish with a pinch of cinnamon.

For an iced version, let the concentrate cool, pour it over ice and add cold milk.

Tips for the best fall cup

• Brew it strong for milk. Milk softens flavor, so use a little more tea rather than steeping longer.
• Sweeten after brewing. Maple syrup, honey and brown sugar all suit pumpkin spice; add them to the hot tea so they dissolve.
• Mix and match. Half Pumpkin Spice Chai and half Perfect Pumpkin Pie gives you a lighter-caffeine cup with the same flavor.
• Store it sealed. Keep spiced blends in an airtight tin away from light and heat so the cinnamon and clove stay fragrant.

Frequently asked questions

Does pumpkin spice chai have caffeine?

Yes. Pumpkin spice chai is made with black tea, so it has caffeine, typically around 40 to 70 mg per cup depending on how long you steep it. For a caffeine-free option, choose Perfect Pumpkin Pie or a rooibos chai.

Is there real pumpkin in pumpkin spice chai?

Our Pumpkin Spice Chai contains real dried pumpkin pieces and pumpkin seeds along with whole and cut spices. The pumpkin adds a soft, rounded sweetness rather than a strong vegetable taste.

Can I make pumpkin spice chai without milk?

Yes. Brewed straight, it tastes like a spiced black tea with a gentle pumpkin finish. Milk makes it creamier and closer to a café latte, so it comes down to your taste.

What is the best caffeine-free fall tea?

Perfect Pumpkin Pie, Warm Apple Cider, Coconut Vanilla Chai and Caramel Almond Apple are all caffeine-free. They work well as evening cups and are easy to share with the whole family.