You’ve been on coffee overload ever since midterms, so before heading into finals, give your over-caffeinated body a break. Sip on a tasty alternative: iced chai. A mix of milk and black tea brewed with aromatic spices like cinnaMonday, ginger, cardamom and vanilla, masala chai hails from India but has become a coffee shop staple and yuppie fave. Check out the sweetest and spiciest Evanston has to offer and get hopped up on the chai bandwagon.

KAFEIN – The popular hangout (1621 Chicago Ave.) makes a chai that even the spice-averse can enjoy, with a tea-to-milk ratio that resembles a White Russian. Whether this is good or bad, you decide. A 16-ounce cup costs $3.55, and for a few cents more, bust convention by making it a white chocolate, caramel, or amaretto chai.

ARGO – This tea chain (1596 Sherman Ave.) cranks out a subtly spicy chai that’s refreshing and light. A small chai goes for $2.95, while health nuts can order it sugar-free for 30 cents more. They also offer a less spicy, earthier green chai, or a South African rooibos version with red tea and cloves.

TAZO (D.I.Y.) – Give your credit card a break and go D.I.Y. with your chai. Borders Café (1700 Maple Ave.) sells 32-ounce cartons of Tazo Chai Concentrate for $5.99. The liquid mix – the same kind Starbucks uses as the base of their drink – lasts at least a week and is simpler than instant coffee: shake, mix equal parts tea with milk, drink, repeat.