Tea, iced, instant, black, pre-sweetened, dry
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a powdered, pre-sweetened black tea concentrate designed for instant iced tea. It dissolves quickly into cold water, delivering a sweet, brisk, and often slightly tannic tea flavor with a smooth, non-gritty texture. Nutritionally, it is almost entirely carbohydrates, specifically added sugars, providing a quick energy source but minimal other nutrients.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 98% carbs · 2% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its unbeatable convenience and the nostalgic, refreshing taste of classic sweet tea, especially in hot climates. It's a cultural staple in the Southern United States and a go-to for instant refreshment worldwide.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is the very high sugar content (95g per 100g), which can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and contributes empty calories. To counteract this, practice strict portion control (use half the recommended scoop), dilute it with more water than suggested, or pair it with a source of protein or healthy fat (like nuts or yogurt) to slow sugar absorption.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates
- Extremely convenient and fast to prepare
- Offers a consistent, familiar sweet tea flavor
- Shelf-stable and portable for on-the-go use
- Contains minimal fat and protein
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'instant' tea powder was popularized in the 1950s and 60s as a way to make iced tea without the wait of brewing and cooling, revolutionizing home and restaurant beverage service.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 0.13 g |
| Energy | 401 kcal |
| Protein | 0.12 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.73 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 98.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.70 g |
| Total Sugars | 95.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 2.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.21 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 3.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 2.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 169 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 5.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.03 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.60 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.13 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.01 mg |
| Folate, total | 1.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 1.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 1.1 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 |
| 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) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 35.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 1.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.10 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 | 0.08 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.22 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.15 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.06 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 Cookies, animal crackers (includes arrowroot, tea biscuits) — USDA does not publish this profile for Tea.
| Tryptophan | 0.10 g |
| Threonine | 0.19 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.26 g |
| Leucine | 0.47 g |
| Lysine | 0.24 g |
| Methionine | 0.12 g |
| Cystine | 0.15 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.20 g |
| Valine | 0.30 g |
| Arginine | 0.26 g |
| Histidine | 0.14 g |
| Alanine | 0.21 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.29 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.3 g |
| Glycine | 0.23 g |
| Proline | 0.76 g |
| Serine | 0.36 g |
FAQ
Is instant iced tea the same as brewed tea?
No. Instant iced tea is a processed powder made from tea extract, sugar, and often additives like citric acid and natural flavors. Brewed tea is made by steeping actual tea leaves in hot water.
Why does it sometimes have a slightly bitter aftertaste?
The bitterness can come from the tannins in the black tea extract, which become more pronounced when the tea is over-concentrated or when the powder is not fully dissolved.
Can I use this to make hot tea?
While designed for cold water, you can dissolve it in hot water. However, the flavor profile is optimized for iced tea, so it may taste overly sweet or different from traditionally brewed hot tea.
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 4.01 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.7 g fiber · 95.3 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: 0.03 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.