A 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea contains about 220 calories. The exact calorie count can vary slightly depending on the specific brand and recipe, but most 24 oz lightly sweetened twisted teas contain around 200-250 calories.
Quick Answer
A 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea contains approximately 220 calories.
Calories in Twisted Tea
Twisted tea is a flavored iced tea that contains alcohol, commonly around 5% alcohol by volume. The alcohol content provides some additional calories, but the majority of calories in twisted tea comes from added sugar or other sweeteners.
Here is a breakdown of the typical calories found in 24 oz of slightly sweet twisted tea:
- Carbohydrates (from added sweeteners): 150-200 calories
- Alcohol (at 5% ABV): 60-70 calories
- Tea (negligible calories)
Adding up the calories from carbohydrates and alcohol gives a total calorie count of around 220 calories for a typical 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea.
Calories from Carbohydrates
The main source of calories in twisted tea is added sugar or other carbohydrate-based sweeteners like honey or agave nectar.
A 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea likely contains 30-40 grams of carbohydrates. At 4 calories per gram of carbs, this equals 120-160 calories from the sweetener.
Types of Sweeteners
Common sweeteners used in twisted teas include:
- Sucrose (table sugar) – provides 4 calories per gram
- High fructose corn syrup – provides 4 calories per gram
- Honey – provides 3 calories per gram
- Agave nectar – provides 3 calories per gram
So for example, if a 24 oz twisted tea contains 40 grams of sucrose, it would provide 40 x 4 = 160 calories just from the added sugar.
Calories from Alcohol
The alcohol content of twisted tea also contributes significant calories. Most twisted teas contain around 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
At 7 calories per gram of alcohol, that 5% ABV equals:
- 24 oz = 710 grams liquid
- 5% of 710 grams = 35 grams alcohol
- 35 grams alcohol x 7 calories/gram = 245 calories
However, we have to adjust this number based on the fact that alcohol contains its own calories. The grams of alcohol displace an equal number of grams of water that would otherwise be in the twisted tea.
Since water has zero calories, we can subtract out the calories that would have come from that water if the alcohol wasn’t added. Specifically, we subtract:
- 35 grams alcohol x 0 calories/gram = 0 calories
Taking the total of 245 calories and subtracting the 0 calories for displaced water gives about 70 calories contributed from the alcohol content of a 24 oz twisted tea at 5% ABV.
Calories from Tea
The tea itself provides a negligible amount of calories in a 24 oz serving. Even unsweetened teas only contain about 2-3 calories per 8 oz serving. The tea leaves and water add natural flavor but no significant calories.
Total Calories
Adding up the calories from carbohydrates (150-200 calories), alcohol (60-70 calories) and tea (0 calories), gives a total calorie count for a 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea of:
220 calories
This calorie total matches well with the nutrition information panels of leading twisted tea brands like Twisted Tea, Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer, and others. Most report 210-230 calories per 24 oz can for their slightly sweetened/lightly sweetened varieties.
Calories in Diet Twisted Tea
Diet twisted teas use non-caloric artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or stevia instead of sugar or other caloric sweeteners. This brings the calorie count down significantly.
A diet twisted tea at 5% ABV would contain around:
- 0 calories from carbohydrates
- 70 calories from alcohol
Giving a total calorie count for a 24 oz diet twisted tea of:
70 calories
Twisted Tea Nutrition Facts
Here is an example nutrition label for a 24 oz slightly sweet twisted tea:
| Nutrition Facts | 24 oz | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 220 | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 36g | 14% |
| Protein | 0g | 0% |
| Fat | 0g | 0% |
*Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet
As you can see, a 24 oz twisted tea contains 220 calories, the majority coming from carbohydrates. There is minimal fat or protein. The carbohydrate and calorie totals represent about 15% of daily intake based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Twisted Tea
Here are some tips for reducing the calories in twisted tea if you want a lighter, lower-calorie option:
- Choose “diet” or “light”. Diet/light varieties replace sugar with non-caloric sweeteners.
- Water it down. Mix with seltzer or club soda to dilute the sweetness.
- Ask for less sweetener. Request light or half sweetness when ordering.
- Skip the alcohol. Non-alcoholic teas have about 80-90% fewer calories.
The Best Low Calorie Twisted Teas
Here are some of the lowest calorie twisted tea options:
| Twisted Tea Variety | Calories (24 oz) |
|---|---|
| Twisted Tea Half & Half | 100 |
| Twisted Tea Lightly Sweetened | 220 |
| Twisted Tea Diet | 70 |
| Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer | 100 |
The Half & Half and Bon & Viv varieties contain only around 100 calories for a 24 oz can due to very low sugar content. Diet Twisted Tea clocks in at just 70 calories thanks to its sugar-free recipe.
High Calorie Twisted Tea Options
On the other hand, these twisted tea options contain significantly more calories per serving:
| Twisted Tea Variety | Calories (24 oz) |
|---|---|
| Long Island Style Twisted Tea | 327 |
| Twisted Tea Original / Fully Sweet | 300 |
Long Island style twisted tea contains more alcohol at around 8% ABV, adding nearly double the alcohol-based calories. The original and fully sweet varieties have up to 50% more sugar than lightly sweetened options.
Twisted Tea Calories Compared to Beer
Compared to beer, twisted tea is moderately lower in calories:
| Beverage (12 oz) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Twisted Tea | 110 |
| Budweiser Beer | 145 |
| Coors Light Beer | 102 |
Per 12 oz serving, twisted tea has moderately fewer calories than a regular beer like Budweiser, but slightly more than a light beer like Coors Light. So twisted tea may be a good lower calorie swap if you’re drinking beer.
Twisted Tea vs. Hard Seltzer
Hard seltzers like White Claw and Truly tend to have similar calories and sugar content to twisted teas:
| Beverage (12 oz) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Twisted Tea | 110 |
| White Claw | 100 |
| Truly | 100 |
There’s not a major calorie difference between most hard seltzers and twisted teas. The seltzers may contain slightly less sugar due to their carbonation. Overall, they make good alternatives in terms of calories and alcohol content.
Conclusion
In summary, a 24 oz can of slightly sweet twisted tea contains about 220 calories. This comes mostly from added sweeteners like sugar or honey, along with around 70 calories from the 5% alcohol content.
Diet varieties can slash the calories down to 70 by using artificial sweeteners. And opting for “lightly sweetened” over “fully sweetened” can also make a significant dent. Watering down your twisted tea or choosing lower calorie beer alternatives can further reduce your calorie intake.
Overall, twisted tea sits in the moderate calorie range compared to full calorie beers. With the right variety and preparation method, it can be a relatively light malt beverage option.
