Do you like to cool down in the heat with a refreshing summer drink? Iced tea is a common favorite, and it may seem like a healthier choice compared to sodas. However, sweetened iced tea contains sugar, which can contribute towards empty calories and poor health outcomes.
Let’s analyze a nutrition facts label for an 18.5 fluid ounce bottle of store bought sweet iced tea. For one serving or 18.5 fluid ounces, there is 48 grams of added sugar, or almost 12 teaspoons. This is the same amount of sugar in 10 Oreo cookies!
Now that we have learned about the sugar in sweetened iced tea. Let’s talk about how to make a healthier version of this classic drink at home! The key ingredients are simply teabags and water. Follow the instructions below to enjoy iced tea out of your own fridge:
Choose your desired type of tea.
Common types of tea are green tea, black tea, and herbal tea. Black tea contains the most caffeine, followed by green tea. Herbal tea does not contain caffeine. For more information on caffeine, check out this post.
Add 1 tea bag to every 1-1.5 cups of water. Leave in the refrigerator overnight.
Because we are steeping the tea for a long time, we can use cold water to make the tea, which reduces its bitterness. You can make iced tea in large batches or individual cups. For a stronger tea, use less water or more tea bags.
Optionally, sweeten the tea with your sweetener of choice.
You can use honey, syrup, sugar, or other sweeteners, but be careful not to add too much. We recommend adding a little bit of sweetener at a time, stir well to mix, and adjust the sweetness, if needed.
Enjoy the tea as-is or over ice.
For a fruity flavor, add a few lemon slices or pieces of fruit.
What is your favorite type of tea? Share with us in the comments below!
