
This flavorful milky beverage is made from black tea, heavy cream, sugar, and a mix of spices - usually cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, and cloves. Chai teaĬhai tea is also called masala chai, which translates to “spiced tea.” These heavy ingredients give a single 8-ounce (240-ml) serving 160 calories ( 21).

Served either hot or cold, it mixes black tea, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk and is topped with either coconut milk or whole milk.

Thai tea is another version of milk tea that’s popular in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it’s important to read the label to check for added sugar.įor example, Snapple’s 16-ounce (475-ml) Lemon Tea packs 150 calories, and the same serving size of AriZona Iced Tea with Lemon Flavor boasts 140 calories ( 19, 20). In those cases, the total number of calories significantly increases. Nonetheless, some popular brands don’t differentiate between iced and sweet tea and may sell their iced teas sweetened. Remember that every teaspoon (4 grams) of sugar adds 16 calories to your tea. In contrast, unsweetened iced tea is consumed without it, and therefore doesn’t contain calories. While they’re both American staples, sweet tea is more common in Southern states, while unsweetened iced tea is typically served in the North.Īs its name suggests, sweet tea is sweetened with sugar - and its calorie content depends on the amount added. Their main difference is their added sugar content. Iced and sweet teas are cold versions of black tea that are usually flavored with lemon, peach, or mint. All the same, it’s estimated that 16 ounces (480 ml) of bubble tea packs 200–450 calories ( 18). Its calorie content varies greatly, as you can add ingredients to your liking. Just 1 ounce (30 ml) packs 122 calories ( 17).Īs boba tea has gained popularity, some shops have started adding jelly, egg pudding, and fruit juice as well ( 18).
Starbucks calorie calculator full#
Sweetened condensed milk is full fat cow’s milk that has been partly evaporated and sweetened with sugar, resulting in a thick, high calorie dairy product. It’s usually made from black tea, sweetened condensed milk, syrup or honey, and tapioca pearls. Bubble teaīubble tea, also known as boba or pearl milk tea, is a Taiwanese drink with small, chewy tapioca balls. These additives further increase the calorie content of your drink.įor example, Starbucks’ 12-ounce (355-ml) London Fog Tea Latte combines Earl Grey tea with reduced fat milk and vanilla syrup for a total of 140 calories ( 16). It has become very popular in tea shops and coffee chains, which tend to add flavored syrups as well. Therefore, its higher milk content packs more calories. Tea latte is a variation of milk tea prepared at a 1:3 ratio of tea to milk. Remember to consider your choice of sweetener, as some sugar substitutes can be used to sweeten without adding extra calories. However, you can reduce the count to 42 calories by merely switching to skim milk ( 14, 15). If you use 4 ounces (120 ml) of whole milk for an 8-ounce (240-ml) beverage, it will pack 75 calories from the milk alone. While black tea is most commonly used, you can use any type of tea to prepare milk tea. It’s typically sweetened with sugar or honey, and some recipes include spices like salt, cinnamon, and cardamom as well.

Milk tea is prepared with a 1:1 ratio of tea to milk - usually whole milk for extra creaminess. Still, if you add sweeteners or dairy, the number of calories increases. Some, such as hibiscus tea, even boast no calories at all ( 13). Like traditional teas, their calorie contents are considered insignificant. Some popular herbal teas include chamomile, peppermint, lavender, rooibos, and hibiscus, which are renowned for their therapeutic properties ( 12). Herbal teas are infusions made by brewing herbs, dried fruit, leaves, flowers, or buds from plants other than Camellia sinensis.

Yet, as sugar and honey are the most common ways to sweeten these teas, sprinkling in just 1 teaspoon (4 grams) of sugar adds 16 calories to your drink, while 1 tablespoon (21 grams) of honey adds 64 calories ( 11). When prepared only with hot water, their calorie count is as low as 2–3 calories per 8-ounce (240-ml) cup ( 3, 8, 9). White tea is considered a variety of green tea, as it’s minimally fermented. Green tea is non-fermented, while oolong and black teas are partly and fully fermented, respectively. These four teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, with their main being the extent to which their leaves are fermented, if at all ( 1). Here are some widely consumed teas - along with their estimated number of calories. Although tea itself has almost no calories, popularly added ingredients like milk and sugar may considerably increase its calorie count.
