Beverages, tea, instant, lemon, sweetened, prepared with water
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a refreshing, ready-to-drink beverage made from instant lemon tea powder mixed with water. It delivers a bright, sweet-tart lemon flavor with a smooth, thin texture. Nutritionally, it's a light, low-calorie treat primarily composed of simple sugars.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 98% carbs · 2% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its perfect balance of sweet and sour, offering a nostalgic, comforting taste of summer. Its versatility makes it a staple for quick refreshment at home, picnics, or as a base for cocktails.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content (over 8g per 100g) can contribute to blood sugar spikes and offers little nutritional benefit beyond calories. To mitigate this, consider diluting it further with water or ice, or pairing it with a source of protein or fiber to slow sugar absorption. Those monitoring sugar intake should treat it as an occasional treat.
Key benefits
- Quick and convenient hydration
- Provides a rapid source of simple carbohydrates for energy
- Very low in fat and protein
- Offers a flavorful alternative to plain water
- Typically contains negligible sodium
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The concept of instant tea powder was commercially developed in the 1950s, but it wasn't until the 1970s that it gained widespread popularity as a convenient household staple.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 91.2 g |
| Energy | 35.0 kcal |
| Energy | 147 kj |
| Protein | 0.01 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.06 g |
| Ash | 0.13 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.10 g |
| Total Sugars | 8.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 2.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.02 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 1.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 0.00 mg |
| Potassium, K | 15.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 2.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.01 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.12 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.10 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 116 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.01 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| 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 K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 3.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.01 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 | 0.01 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 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 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 freshly brewed lemon tea?
No. Instant lemon tea is made from a processed powder containing tea extract, sugar, lemon flavoring, and sometimes citric acid. Freshly brewed tea uses actual tea leaves and has a more complex flavor profile.
Does it contain any real lemon juice?
Most commercial instant lemon tea mixes use lemon flavoring and citric acid for tartness rather than significant amounts of real lemon juice, which is why the fiber and vitamin C content is negligible.
Can I control the sweetness?
Yes. When preparing it from powder, you can use less of the mix or dilute it with more water. For pre-made versions, look for 'unsweetened' or 'diet' varieties, or mix it half-and-half with plain sparkling water.
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 0.35 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.1 g fiber · 8.3 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: 0.13 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.