Beverages, tea, instant, unsweetened, powder
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a fine, dehydrated powder made from brewed tea leaves, designed for instant preparation. When mixed with hot water, it dissolves to create a clear, amber-hued beverage with the characteristic brisk, slightly astringent flavor of black or green tea, depending on the base. It's a calorie-light source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber, with virtually no fat.
Calorie split: 26% protein · 74% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its unmatched convenience and consistency, delivering a full-bodied tea flavor in seconds without steeping or brewing. It's a versatile pantry staple for quick iced teas, smoothies, or baking, and is deeply embedded in the fast-paced cultures of East Asia and beyond.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The instant processing can sometimes yield a slightly more bitter or less nuanced flavor than traditionally steeped tea. The high fiber content, while beneficial, can cause digestive discomfort if consumed in large quantities without adequate water. To counteract bitterness, use slightly cooler water (not boiling) and add a splash of milk or a plant-based alternative; for fiber, start with a smaller portion and increase gradually while staying well-hydrated.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of antioxidants like catechins and theaflavins.
- Contains L-theanine, which may promote calm alertness without jitteriness.
- Offers a convenient, shelf-stable way to consume tea's polyphenols.
- High in dietary fiber (8.5g per 100g), which can support digestive health.
- Naturally sugar-free and fat-free, making it a low-calorie beverage base.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of making instant tea often involves spray-drying brewed tea into a fine powder, a technique developed in the 1930s but not widely commercialized until the 1950s.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 5.1 g |
| Energy | 315 kcal |
| Energy | 1320 kj |
| Protein | 20.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.00 g |
| Ash | 16.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 58.7 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 8.5 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.5 g |
| Starch | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 118 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.3 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 272 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 239 mg |
| Potassium, K | 6040 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 72.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.7 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.55 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 133 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 5.3 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.98 mg |
| Niacin | 10.8 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 4.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.36 mg |
| Folate, total | 103 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 103 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 103 ug |
| Choline, total | 118 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 | 5714 mg |
| Theobromine | 71.0 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 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.08 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 instant tea powder as healthy as brewed tea?
It retains many of the beneficial antioxidants and L-theanine, but the high-heat drying process can degrade some delicate compounds. It's a convenient alternative, not an exact nutritional duplicate.
Why does my instant tea sometimes clump?
The powder is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from air). Store it in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. To dissolve, add the powder to a small amount of hot water first to make a paste, then dilute.
Can I use this powder in baking?
Yes, it's excellent for adding tea flavor to cakes, cookies, and frostings. Sift it with dry ingredients to prevent clumps and ensure even distribution.
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 3.15 kcal/g · 26% calories from protein · 8.5 g fiber · 5.5 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: 0.01 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.