With the cooler weather (and the fact that I can’t stand anything pumpkin flavored), I have been on a chai craze. If you’re a chai connoisseur like me, you know that the milk + tea drink can vary greatly in spiciness, sweetness + milk-to-chai ratio at each coffee shop.
So we asked our followers on Instagram: Who has the best chai in GVL?
Here are a few responses we received:
“I’m amazed no one has mentioned Aryana Afghan Restaurant! Real, authentic chai that tops any coffee shop.” – @meg.randall
“@chasing.tea BY FAR. They brew an amazing chai blend instead of using a syrup” – @ivyandbranch
“@gratefulbrewgvl or @baristaalley are the best!!” – @alyssa.christine
“Caviar & Bananas for chai that tastes like real masala chai.” – @kucahome
“Okay, I’d like to consider myself an expert at this because I’ve literally gotten a chai latte from I think everywhere in Greenville (including my salon - s/o @thebeautifulco 😘)! Hands down, it HAS to be @thevillagegrind! My seasonal favorite is a hot pumpkin pie chai (with whipped cream) but the hazelnut & lavender are great all times of year. @tandem_cc & @swamprabbitcafe come in as very close seconds. And if anyone says Starbucks, ignore them because THEY DON’T KNOW 😂” – @Kimtrovert
Then, we visited the top 10 picks + tried each drink to bring you the ultimate guide to Greenville’s iced chais.
Read my reviews on each one then take our poll to vote for your favorite.
First, here’s my rating key.
Disclaimer: All my chai tea lattes were made with almond milk.
Price ($)
Milk options (like almond, skim, oat, etc.)
Spiciness (1-3 scale)
Sweetness (1-3 scale)
Balance + final verdict (milk-to-chai ratio + my thoughts about the overall experience)
Spill the Beans
Price: $5.22
Milk options: Whole, skim, almond
Spiciness: 0-1
Sweetness: 3
Final verdict: Creamy and sweet with just a touch of spice.
Port City Java
Price: $3.40
Milk options: Soy, whole, breve (half & half), almond
Spiciness: 1
Sweetness: 2 (Can add vanilla for extra sweetness)
Final verdict: This is a very creamy drink – highly recommend for people getting into chai tea.
Chasing Rabbits Tea Company
Price: $5
Milk options: Whole, almond, soy, coconut
Spiciness: 3
Sweetness: 1
Final verdict: It has so much flavor and is so cool that the tea is steeped freshly and then created into the latte. Bonus: You can choose from spice chai, vanilla chai, chocolate chai, or chocolate raspberry chai.
Steam Coffee & Cream
Price: $4
Milk options: Whole, fat-free, almond, half and half
Spiciness: 2
Sweetness: 3
Final verdict: Loved the option to add flavor for $0.50 – I went with the spiced honey.
Due South Coffee
Price: $4.50
Milk options: Whole, almond, oat, soy
Spiciness: 1
Sweetness: 3
Final verdict: Good balance of sweet and spicy.
Barista Alley
Price: $4.50
Milk options: Whole, almond
Spiciness: 2
Sweetness: 2
Final verdict: It’s more spice than sweetness, simple + refreshing.
The Village Grind
Price: $5.40
Milk options: Whole, almond, oat
Spiciness: 0-1
Sweetness: 3
Final verdict: This would be great for someone looking for a creamy, sweet latte with very little spice.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
Price: $4.59
Milk options: Local happy cow milk, coconut, almond, oat
Spiciness: 3
Sweetness: 1
Final verdict: Very strong spice flavors. For those who enjoy a spicy chai this is the one to try.
Caviar & Bananas
Price: $4.30 (small)
Milk options: Whole, breve, 2%, nonfat, almond, coconut, soy
Spiciness: 2
Sweetness: 2
Final verdict: Specific spice notes stand out, providing the perfect edge.
Vote here for your favorite spot –
