Early version. Nutrient values from USDA FoodData Central; dietitian review in progress. Not medical advice.

How healthy is black tea?

Is black tea healthy? Yes, plain tea is a healthy drink. Black tea scores 16/100 on the HowHealthyIs Score: 100 g provides 1 kcal. Plain black tea has no calories and provides polyphenols and a moderate amount of caffeine. Its low score reflects that it has almost no nutrients, not that it is unhealthy. Source: USDA FoodData Central.

  • Low calorie
Score explained

The score compares nutrient density per 100 kcal across every food we cover (NRF9.3 method). Black tea ranks higher than 16% of them.

Counts in favor (% daily value per 100 kcal)

  • Potassium4%
  • Magnesium4%
  • Iron1%
  • Protein0%
  • Fiber0%
  • Vitamin A0%
  • Vitamin C0%
  • Vitamin E0%
  • Calcium0%

Counts against

  • Saturated fat0%
  • Added sugars0%
  • Sodium1%

Raw NRF9.3: 8 minus 1 = 7. The score is not a verdict on whether to eat a food; portion, the whole meal and your own health matter more. Full methodology

How many calories are in black tea?

Calories2kcal
Protein0g
Carbohydrates0.7g
Fat0g
Fiber0g
Sugars0g
Nutrition facts for black tea. Per 100 g and for the selected portion (237 g). %DV uses FDA Daily Values.
NutrientPer 100 gPer portion%DV
Energy and macronutrients
Calories1 kcal2 kcal
Protein0 g0 g0%
Carbohydrates0.3 g0.7 g0%
Fiber0 g0 g0%
Sugars0 g0 g
Added sugars0 g0 g0%
Fat0 g0 g0%
Saturated fat<0.1 g<0.1 g0%
Vitamins
Vitamin A0 µg0 µg0%
Vitamin C0 mg0 mg0%
Vitamin E0 mg0 mg0%
Minerals
Calcium0 mg0 mg0%
Iron<0.1 mg<0.1 mg0%
Potassium37 mg88 mg2%
Magnesium3 mg7.1 mg2%
Sodium3 mg7.1 mg0%

Source: USDA FoodData Central, "Beverages, tea, black, brewed, prepared with tap water" (FDC 173227). Values rounded.

Why is black tea good for you?

A typical portion does not supply 10% or more of the daily value for any of the nine nutrients we score.

Good ways to use it

  • A low-calorie hot drink
  • Unsweetened iced tea

What should you watch out for?

  • Drinking it with meals reduces iron absorption from plant foods.

Which drinks score higher?

Other drinks with more nutrition per calorie. Variety matters more than picking one winner.

Soy milk

54 kcal per 100 g

37

Source of protein, Low sugar

Coconut water

18 kcal per 100 g

74

Low calorie

Orange juice

45 kcal per 100 g

76

High in vitamin C, Contains added sugar

How does black tea compare?

Common questions about black tea

How many calories are in black tea?
100 g of black tea has 1 kcal. A typical portion, 1 cup (240 ml) (237 g), has about 2 kcal.
How much protein is in black tea?
Black tea has 0 g of protein per 100 g, or about 0 g in 1 cup (240 ml).
Is black tea good for weight loss?
Black tea is low in calories (1 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central, SR Legacy: "Beverages, tea, black, brewed, prepared with tap water", FDC ID 173227. fdc.nal.usda.gov
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (21 CFR 101.9).
  3. Fulgoni VL, Keast DR, Drewnowski A. Development and validation of the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index. J Nutr. 2009;139(8):1549-1554.
  4. Monteiro CA, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-941.

Review and updates

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More: Drinks ranked, foods high in potassium.