Beverages, tea, ready-to-drink, lemon, diet
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a crisp, zero-calorie ready-to-drink iced tea, flavored with lemon and sweetened with artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners. It delivers a refreshing, tart-sweet taste with the familiar astringency of black tea, but without the sugar or calories of traditional lemonade. Its nutrition profile is essentially negligible, offering hydration with a flavor boost.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 100% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for delivering the nostalgic, tangy-sweet flavor of homemade lemon tea without any of the guilt or sugar crash. It's a versatile, thirst-quenching staple for busy days, workouts, or as a simple pleasure.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners can leave a lingering aftertaste for some and may cause digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals. Those monitoring caffeine intake should be aware it contains tea-derived caffeine. Tip: Start with a small serving to assess tolerance, and consider it as an occasional treat rather than your primary hydration source.
Key benefits
- Zero calories and zero sugar, supporting weight management goals.
- Provides hydration with flavor, making it an alternative to plain water.
- Contains antioxidants from tea, like catechins and flavonoids.
- Convenient and portable for on-the-go consumption.
- Can satisfy a craving for a sweet, cold beverage without added sugars.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'diet' version of this beverage was popularized in the 1960s and 70s alongside the rise of diet sodas, capitalizing on the 'diet' craze while offering a perceived 'healthier' alternative to cola.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 99.5 g |
| Energy | 2.0 kcal |
| Energy | 9.0 kj |
| Protein | 0.00 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.00 g |
| Ash | 0.04 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.41 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 0.00 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 0.00 mg |
| Potassium, K | 37.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.01 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.09 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 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 |
| Choline, total | 0.00 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 | 8.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 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 |
| 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
Does diet lemon tea have any health benefits?
Its primary benefit is hydration with zero calories. It may contain antioxidants from the tea, but the amount is typically low. It's best viewed as a flavorful water alternative, not a significant source of nutrients.
Is the caffeine content high?
It contains moderate caffeine from the black tea base, typically 20-45mg per 355ml can, which is less than coffee but more than most sodas. Check the label, as it varies by brand.
Why does it taste so sweet with no sugar?
It uses high-intensity sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or acesulfame potassium, which are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar but provide no calories.
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 0.02 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 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: 0.03 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.