Portland might be famous for its coffee scene, but it’s also home to many producers of another beloved caffeinated beverage: chai. With so many homegrown options to choose from, making decisions in the grocery aisle can be tough. We tested seven local brands, both liquid concentrates and powders, and mixed each according to the directions on the package, complete with oat milk. See which ones you should stock at home.

Best Chais

Soul Chai Original Chai Masala Powder

After adding a smidge of sugar, this unsweetened chai powder shines. Testers made “mmm” sounds after taking their first sips, and praised it for its pepper-forward flavor and strong tea presence. “It’s tingly and gingery,” said one. “A-plus,” declared another. Another upside of the powder? The palm-sized 3 oz can holds 40 servings, taking up a tiny bit of space compared to the concentrate bottles, and it’s shelf-stable (most concentrates only last up to a couple weeks after opening). This chai’s graphic logo on its embossed tin is also a standout.

One Stripe Chai Original Masala Chai Concentrate

Testers liked the bold tea flavor and assertive tingly ginger of this concentrate, which comes delicately sweetened. The honey in it gives the chai a little body, making it seem extra creamy.

Good Chais

Smith Tea No. 33 Masala Chai Concentrate 

Unsurprisingly, this was the most tea-forward of the chai concentrates we tasted. Testers enjoyed the spicing and the bitter black tea that balanced out the moderate sweetness, but wished for more kick of ginger and heat.

New Seasons Rich and Gingery Chai Tea / Tanglewood Ginger Spiced Chai

New Seasons’ store brand chai is made by Tanglewood Chai, the house brand of essential Portland coffee shop Either/Or. As the name suggests, Tanglewood’s signature chai is known for being ginger-forward, and the New Seasons brand is no exception. Our only gripe: it’s a little on the sweet side.

Blue Lotus Chai Traditional Masala Chai

This powdered chai has a nice pepper-forward blend of spices, and we liked that it was made without sugar so chai drinkers can customize the sweetness level. (Without any sugar, it tastes flat.) Though the label suggests 100 servings at 1/4 teaspoon per 8 oz drink, those proportions leave it watery; we suggest 1/3 teaspoon.

Okay Chai

Portal Tea Company West Coast Chai Concentrate

This chai from Portal Tea (the new name of the local mini-chain formerly known as Tea Chai Te) features a good blend of spices, but we wished for more tea flavor—and less sugar. “It’s definitely serviceable,” said a tester.

Chai to Avoid

Oregon Chai Original Chai Tea Latte Concentrate

Oregon Chai is one of the oldest players in the local chai game, founded in Portland in 1994. Coffee shops nationwide, including Dutch Bros., use Oregon Chai concentrate. Its mass appeal is obvious: it’s super sweet, cinnamony, and very lightly spiced, almost like a marshmallow. But we couldn’t detect any of the more complex flavors we look for in chai, like bitter black tea and ginger.