How Many Carbs in Unsweetened Tea?
Tea is a delicious and healthy beverage enjoyed by many, with unsweetened varieties having zero calories and zero carbs in them. But did you know that there are actually trace amounts of carbohydrates in certain types of unsweetened tea? Here is a closer look at what you need to know about the carb content of unsweetened tea.
Does Unsweetened Tea Have Any Carbs?
Unsweetened tea does contain trace amounts of carbohydrates. This is due to the fact that even plain and pure varieties of tea contain naturally occurring small amounts of carbohydrates.
Studies have found that 8 ounces of unsweetened black tea contains a trace amount of carbs — between 0.02 and 0.08 grams. Green tea, on the other hand, contains a slightly higher amount of carbs — between 0.2 and 0.3 grams.
What Does This Mean?
Generally, the trace amounts of carbohydrates found in unsweetened tea are not significant to worry about. Most people can safely ignore the carb content of tea, as it doesn’t usually have a meaningful impact on blood sugar levels.
If, however, you are watching your carb intake for a specific health reason or you are trying to follow a very-low-carb diet, then you should be sure to count the carbs from the tea against your carb limit for the day.
Examples of Unsweetened Tea Varieties
If you are looking for some types of unsweetened tea to enjoy, here are a few popular options:
- Black tea
- English breakfast tea
- Green tea
- White tea
- Herbal teas
- Rooibos tea
Most of these teas can be enjoyed plain, with no added sweetener. If you’d like to sweeten them, you can do so with artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners such as honey or stevia.
In conclusion, it is important to note that although unsweetened tea does contain trace amounts of carbohydrates, it should not be a major concern for most people. Enjoy your tea plain or sweetened as you please — just be mindful of your carb intake if you are following a specific diet.