Quick Answer
A grande (16 oz) Starbucks Passion Tea lemonade contains 180 calories. A venti (20 oz) contains 230 calories. The calories come from the liquid cane sugar and fruit juice concentrates added to sweeten the brewed tea.
Detailed Nutrition Information
Starbucks passion tea lemonade is a refreshing iced tea drink made with passion fruit and lemon juices, along with liquid cane sugar to sweeten it. The ingredients provide flavor and calories.
Here is the nutrition information for a grande (16 oz) and venti (20 oz) passion tea lemonade from Starbucks:
| Size | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Sugars (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grande (16 oz) | 180 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Venti (20 oz) | 230 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
As you can see, the passion tea lemonade is low in fat and protein, with 0 grams of each per serving. The calories come mainly from the sugars.
A grande contains 44 grams of sugar, which is equal to about 11 teaspoons. A venti contains 56 grams or 14 teaspoons of sugar.
The ingredients list shows that the sugars come from liquid cane sugar and fruit juice concentrates (passion fruit and lemon). So the calories are coming from the added sugars used to sweeten this drink.
Calorie and Sugar Differences in Sizes
Starbucks provides the nutrition information for both a grande (16 oz) and venti (20 oz) passion tea lemonade.
Here is a comparison of the calories and sugars in these two sizes:
– Grande (16 oz) – 180 calories, 44g sugars
– Venti (20 oz) – 230 calories, 56g sugars
Going from a grande to a venti size increases the:
– Calories by 50 calories
– Sugars by 12 grams
So the venti does contain more calories and sugars than the grande, since it is a larger drink size. The increase from grande to venti is about 28% more calories and 27% more sugars.
This calorie and sugar difference is important to be aware of if you are closely monitoring your calorie or sugar intake. Choosing the smaller grande size can help limit the calories.
Calories Compared to Other Starbucks Drinks
To put the 180-230 calories in a Starbucks passion tea lemonade into context, let’s compare it to some other Starbucks beverages.
Here is how the calories compare in a grande (16 oz) size of these popular Starbucks drinks:
– Passion tea lemonade: 180 calories
– Iced coffee: 5 calories (with no milk or sweetener)
– Caffè latte: 150 calories
– Cappuccino: 90 calories
– Coffee frappuccino: 300 calories
– Vanilla sweet cream cold brew: 200 calories
The passion tea lemonade is moderately high in calories compared to other iced and blended Starbucks drinks. It contains more calories than iced coffee, cappuccino, and regular brewed coffee, which have minimal calories on their own.
However, the passion tea lemonade has fewer calories than very high calorie Starbucks drinks like the coffee frappuccino and sweet cream cold brew.
So at 180 calories for a grande, the passion tea lemonade provides a refreshing iced tea option with a moderate amount of calories compared to other menu choices.
Tips for Lightening Up the Passion Tea
Some easy ways to reduce the calories in a Starbucks passion tea lemonade include:
– Order the smaller grande (16oz) size instead of the venti (20oz). This cuts 50 calories.
– Ask for less liquid cane sugar syrup to be added. The less sugar syrup pumped in, the fewer calories.
– Request extra ice. The ice displaces some of the liquid, lowering the calories.
– Ask for unsweetened passion tea instead. Then add your own zero-calorie sweetener to control the sweetness.
– Request sugar-free syrups instead of the regular syrups to avoid those calories.
– Top with a splash of nonfat milk instead of heavy cream to cut calories.
– Try an unsweetened iced passion tea, then add lemon slices and stevia at your table.
Keep in mind that some modifications may alter the flavor from the original passion tea lemonade recipe. But these tips provide low calorie options to enjoy this Starbucks beverage while controlling calories.
Does Passion Tea Lemonade Have Caffeine?
Yes, the Starbucks passion tea lemonade does contain caffeine. The caffeine comes from the brewed black tea used to make the passion tea.
According to Starbucks, a grande passion tea lemonade contains 45mg of caffeine. A venti contains 60mg of caffeine.
To compare, this is the amount of caffeine in some other Starbucks drink sizes:
– Brewed coffee (grande): 360mg
– Iced coffee (grande): 260mg
– Latte (grande): 150mg
– Cappuccino (grande): 150mg
So you can see the passion tea lemonade is on the lower end for caffeine content compared to brewed coffee and espresso drinks at Starbucks.
However, the 45-60mg of caffeine in passion tea lemonade is still a moderate amount. For reference, the FDA recommends limiting caffeine intake to 400mg per day.
So if you are sensitive to caffeine or limiting your intake, the passion tea provides a lighter caffeinated option compared to coffee drinks. But it does contain a caffeinated tea base.
Does Passion Tea Lemonade Have Health Benefits?
Passion tea lemonade does provide some potential health benefits:
– Vitamin C – The passion fruit and lemon juice contain vitamin C. This vitamin acts as an antioxidant and aids immune health.
– Polyphenols – Brewed tea contains polyphenols, which are micronutrients with antioxidant effects.
– Hydration – As an iced tea, passion tea lemonade helps hydrate the body.
However, the high sugar content counteracts some of these benefits. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men. The 44-56 grams of sugar in passion tea lemonade exceeds these daily recommendations.
Overall, while passion tea lemonade does provide some nutrients from the fruit juices and brewed tea, the high amount of added sugar is a negative health factor. Choosing sugar-free versions or added less sugar syrup can help improve the nutritional profile.
Is Passion Tea Keto-Friendly?
The standard passion tea lemonade recipe from Starbucks is not keto-friendly, due to the high sugar content.
On a ketogenic or “keto” diet, only about 5% or less of total daily calories should come from carbohydrates. The 44-56g of sugar in a grande or venti passion tea equates to 176-224 calories just from the added sugar alone, exceeding most people’s daily carb limit on keto.
However, you can order passion tea lemonade from Starbucks in a keto-friendly way by requesting the following modifications:
– No liquid cane sugar
– No fruit juice concentrates
– Sugar substitutes like stevia or Splenda instead
– Low carb milk options like almond or coconut milk instead of regular dairy
– Extra ice to water down the sweetness
With these changes, you can enjoy the refreshing flavor of passion tea while staying low carb and in ketosis. Just be sure to communicate the customizations clearly when ordering.
Comparable Drinks From Other Chains
Some comparable passion tea and lemonade drinks from other major chains include:
Panera Bread
– Passion Papaya Green Tea (140 calories)
McDonald’s
– Sweet Tea Lemonade (220 calories)
Chick-fil-A
– Passion Tea Lemonade (140-260 calories)
Taco Bell
– Passion Fruit Tea Lemonade (150 calories)
As you can see, passion tea lemonades from other restaurants tend to range from 140 to 260 calories for a medium to large sized drink. The Starbucks version fits right within that range.
So when choosing a passion tea lemonade, Starbucks aligns with other major chains in terms of ingredient composition and calorie content. The Starbucks version provides a familiar, on-trend flavors with a moderate calorie count.
Copycat Recipe to Make at Home
You can recreate a lightened up version of Starbucks passion tea lemonade at home with this slimmed down recipe:
Ingredients:
– 3 cups brewed passionfruit black tea, chilled
– 1 cup water
– 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
– 2 tablespoons honey or zero-calorie sweetener
– Ice
– Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions:
1. Brew 3 cups of passionfruit black tea and chill completely in the refrigerator.
2. Mix together the chilled tea, lemon juice, sweetener, and water. Taste and adjust sweetener if desired.
3. Fill a glass with ice. Pour tea mixture over ice.
4. Garnish with a lemon slice. Enjoy!
Tips:
– Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener to reduce calories and carbs.
– Add more or less lemon juice to taste.
– To make a lighter drink, use more water for dilution and less sweetener.
Enjoy this lighter passion tea lemonade at home without all the extra sugars found in the Starbucks version! Adjust the recipe to your taste preferences.
Is Passion Tea Lemonade Vegan?
The standard Starbucks passion tea lemonade recipe is vegan, since it does not contain any animal products.
Here are the vegan-friendly ingredients in Starbucks passion tea lemonade:
– Brewed black tea
– Passion fruit juice concentrate
– Lemon juice concentrate
– Cane sugar syrup
– Water
There are no milk, cream, eggs or other animal ingredients used in making the original passion tea lemonade.
However, some customers do customize their drinks with non-vegan additions like:
– Dairy milk
– Sweet cream
– Whipped cream
– Caramel drizzle (contains dairy)
So if ordering passion tea lemonade at Starbucks, simply avoid adding any non-vegan milk or cream options and the drink will remain 100% plant-based and vegan-friendly.
Price of a Passion Tea Lemonade
The price of a Starbucks passion tea lemonade typically ranges from $3-$4 based on size:
– Tall (12 oz): $3.25
– Grande (16 oz): $3.75
– Venti (20 oz): $4.15
These regular menu prices may vary slightly by location. Expect to pay in the range of $3-$4 for any size passion tea lemonade from Starbucks.
Upcharges will also apply for modifications like:
– Non-dairy milk: +$0.50
– Additional flavor shots: +$0.50 each
– Sweet cream foam: +$1.00
When ordered through the Starbucks app, prices tend to be $0.50 less per drink. So mobile ordering can help save on your passion tea lemonade!
Nutrition Facts vs. Ingredients List
When looking at the nutrition information and ingredients list for Starbucks passion tea lemonade, you get slightly different information:
Nutrition Facts: Provide the macro/calorie breakdown – calories, fat, carbs, protein, and key micronutrients.
Ingredients: List every single ingredient contained in the drink.
The nutrition facts tell you the drink contains 180 calories and 44g sugars in a grande. But the ingredients list gives more insights into precisely what ingredients are providing those calories and sugars.
The Starbucks passion tea lemonade ingredients list reveals the sugars come from liquid cane sugar syrup and passionfruit/lemon juice concentrates.
So both pieces provide useful but different data. The nutrition facts quantify the macronutrients and calories. The ingredients list details what’s contributing to that nutritional makeup. Evaluating both provides the complete picture.
Conclusion
Starbucks passion tea lemonade is a refreshing iced tea drink flavored with passionfruit and lemon. It contains 180 calories in a grande size, or 230 calories in a venti.
The calories come predominantly from the added sugar syrups used to sweeten the brewed tea, providing 44-56 grams of sugar per drink.
Ordering a smaller size, reducing the pumps of syrup, or requesting modifications like sugar-free sweeteners or extra ice can lower the calories. At home, you can make a lighter copycat version with black tea, lemon juice, and low-calorie sweetener.
While passion tea lemonade does contain some nutrients from the fruit juices and tea, the high amount of added sugars outweighs these benefits. Watering down the sweetness helps improve the nutrition profile.
Overall, indulging in passion tea lemonade from Starbucks in moderation can add a flavorful, on-trend beverage to your diet as long as you account for the 180+ liquid calories from the added sugars. Opting for smaller sizes or less sugar helps better control the calories while still enjoying the bright, fruity flavor.
