Beverages, tea, instant, decaffeinated, lemon, diet
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a powdered, instant beverage mix designed to create a light, tart, and refreshing lemon-flavored tea without any caffeine. It dissolves quickly in hot or cold water, yielding a clear, golden-yellow drink with a distinct citrus zing and a clean, sweet finish. Nutritionally, it is almost entirely composed of carbohydrates from sweeteners, providing a quick energy source with negligible fat or protein.
Calorie split: 4% protein · 95% carbs · 1% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its bright, familiar lemon flavor that cuts through thirst and its sheer convenience—just add water for an instant, comforting drink. It's a nostalgic staple in many pantries, evoking the simple pleasure of a cool, sweet-tart beverage on a busy day.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary concern is the high carbohydrate content from sweeteners, which can contribute to rapid blood-sugar spikes, making it a poor choice for diabetics or those monitoring glycemic load. To mitigate this, consume it in small portions and consider pairing it with a source of protein or healthy fat (like a handful of nuts) to slow sugar absorption. Additionally, some individuals sensitive to citric acid or artificial flavors may experience digestive discomfort.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick, zero-fat source of energy from carbohydrates.
- Offers a caffeine-free alternative for evening or sensitive individuals.
- Convenient and portable for instant preparation.
- Low in sodium and contains no cholesterol.
- Can encourage fluid intake for those who find plain water unappealing.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'instant' tea powder was first commercially developed in the 1950s, but it didn't gain widespread popularity until the 1970s energy crisis made it a cost-effective alternative to bottled beverages.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 3.5 g |
| Energy | 338 kcal |
| Energy | 1412 kj |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.60 g |
| Ash | 7.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 85.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.9 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 21.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 8.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 125 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 140 mg |
| Potassium, K | 2568 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 412 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.89 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.12 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 30.4 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.34 mg |
| Niacin | 3.9 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.12 mg |
| Folate, total | 35.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 35.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 35.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 40.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 57.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 4.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, carbonated, tonic water — USDA does not publish this profile for Beverages.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is this the same as regular instant tea?
No, this is specifically a decaffeinated, lemon-flavored version. Regular instant tea may contain caffeine and lack added flavoring or sweeteners.
Can I use this in baking?
Yes, it can be used to add a concentrated lemon tea flavor to cakes, cookies, or frostings. Use it as a dry ingredient, often dissolving it in a small amount of liquid first.
Why is there so much carbohydrate but only 1.88g of sugar?
The majority of the carbohydrates likely come from bulk sweeteners like maltodextrin or dextrose, which are used as carriers and provide sweetness without being classified as 'sugars' on some nutrition labels.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.38 kcal/g · 4% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 1.9 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.16 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.