Lipton Iced Tea contains varying amounts of sugar depending on the specific variety. Some Lipton Iced Tea products are unsweetened and contain 0g of sugar, while others contain significant amounts of added sugar. Determining the sugar content requires looking at the nutrition facts label for the specific Lipton product.
Quick Overview
Lipton offers a range of iced tea products including:
- Unsweetened Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea – 0g sugar
- Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda – 0g sugar
- Lipton Brisk Iced Tea – 27-32g sugar per 12oz serving
- Lipton Sweetened Iced Tea – 30g sugar per 8oz serving
So some Lipton Iced Tea is sugar free, while other varieties contain significant amounts of added sugar. Checking the nutrition label is the best way to know if a particular Lipton product is sugar free or not.
Nutrition Details
Here is more detailed nutrition information on the sugar content of popular Lipton Iced Tea products:
Unsweetened Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea
Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea contains no sugar. The nutrition facts for the diet Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea list 0g total sugars per 8oz serving.
| Serving Size | 8oz (240ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 0 |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
So the Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea is a sugar free option.
Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda
Lipton Diet Iced Tea is sweetened with Splenda instead of sugar. The nutrition facts show it contains 0g total sugars per 8oz serving.
| Serving Size | 8oz (240ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 0 |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
So the Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda is also sugar free.
Lipton Brisk Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk Iced Tea is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and contains significant added sugar. There are 27-32g total sugars per 12oz can, depending on the flavor.
| Serving Size | 12oz (355ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Total Sugars | 27-32g |
So while tasty, Brisk Lipton Iced Tea is high in added sugar.
Lipton Sweetened Iced Tea
Lipton Sweetened Iced Tea is also high in added sugar, with around 30g per 8oz serving as sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.
| Serving Size | 8oz (240ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Total Sugars | 30g |
So Lipton Sweetened Iced Tea contains significant added sugar as well.
Sugar Free Options
When looking for a sugar free iced tea from Lipton, the best options are:
- Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Iced Tea
- Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda
These two varieties contain 0g total sugars per serving and no added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
High Sugar Options
The Lipton Iced Tea products that contain the most added sugars are:
- Lipton Brisk Iced Tea – 27-32g sugars per 12oz
- Lipton Sweetened Iced Tea – 30g sugars per 8oz
These two products are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and contain significant added sugar content per serving.
Checking the Label
The best way to determine if a particular Lipton Iced Tea is sugar free or not is to read the nutrition facts label and check the total sugars content.
Iced teas that list 0g total sugars and no added sugars are the sugar free options. Varieties that list high grams of total sugars contain added sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup.
Some people consider any product with artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame to not be truly sugar free. Others simply look for 0 grams of sugar. Reading the full ingredient list provides the full details.
Sugar Free Diet
When following a sugar free or low sugar diet, the Lipton sugar free iced tea options are:
- Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea
- Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda
These two Lipton products contain 0g added sugars so fit into a sugar free diet. The other Lipton teas with high fructose corn syrup do not fit into a sugar free or low sugar meal plan.
Diabetes Diet
For people with diabetes monitoring carbohydrate and sugar intake, the sugar free Lipton Iced Tea options are good alternatives:
- Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened has 0g net carbs and sugar
- Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda has 0g net carbs and sugar
Lipton Brisk and Sweetened Iced Tea should be avoided on a diabetic diet due to their high sugar content from added high fructose corn syrup.
Weight Loss Diet
When trying to lose weight, Lipton’s sugar free iced tea options are the best choice:
- Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea – 0 calories and 0g sugar
- Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Splenda – 0 calories and 0g sugar
The sugar sweetened Lipton teas should be minimized when trying to reduce calorie intake for weight loss.
Is Lipton Iced Tea Healthy?
Lipton Iced Tea can be a healthy beverage choice when you opt for the unsweetened or diet varieties that are sugar free and low in calories. Teas contain antioxidants that can benefit health.
However, the presweetened Lipton Brisk and Sweetened Iced Tea contain a lot of added sugars in the form of high fructose corn syrup, which reduces the nutritional value. The high sugar content provides empty calories and minimal health benefits.
Benefits of Sugar Free Iced Tea
Drinking unsweetened or diet iced tea has several health benefits:
- Hydration – Helps you meet daily fluid needs
- Antioxidants – Tea contains polyphenol antioxidants that may protect cells
- No sugar – Does not spike blood sugar or provide empty calories
- Fewer calories – Sugar free varieties are very low calorie
Downsides of Sweetened Iced Tea
Heavily sweetened iced tea has some potential health downsides:
- Blood sugar spike – Large amount of added sugars increase blood glucose and insulin
- Weight gain – Extra calories from sugar can lead to fat gain
- Tooth decay – Sugar feeds oral bacteria that cause dental cavities
- Crashing – Sugar highs can lead to fatigue and mood crashes
Is Lipton Iced Tea Keto Friendly?
On a ketogenic low carb high fat diet, the sugar free Lipton Iced Tea options are keto friendly choices:
- Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea – 0g net carbs
- Lipton Diet Tea with Splenda – 0g net carbs
These two unsweetened Lipton Teas fit into a keto diet. However, the sugary Lipton Brisk and Sweetened Iced Teas are too high in carbs and sugar to be keto compliant.
Tea and Weight Loss
Drinking unsweetened or diet iced tea can help promote weight loss in a few ways:
- Low/no calories – Less energy intake supports calorie deficit
- Hydration – Helps reduce water retention and bloating
- Caffeine boost – Provides energizing lift for workouts
- Antioxidants – May help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
However, sweetened iced tea adds excess sugar calories which can hinder weight loss. Moderation is key.
Sweet Tea vs Unsweet Tea
| Sweet Tea | Unsweet Tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Added Sugars | High | None |
| Calories | High | Very Low |
| Carbs | High | Very Low |
| Benefits | Taste | Low sugar, low calorie |
Sweet tea is much higher in added sugar, calories, and carbohydrates than unsweetened tea. However, many people enjoy the taste profile of sweet tea. Moderating intake is key if choosing sweet tea.
Making Sugar Free Iced Tea
It’s easy to make your own homemade sugar free iced tea:
- Brew tea bags or loose tea with hot water. Use black tea or herbal tea.
- Steep for 5-10 minutes depending on desired strength.
- Remove tea bags or strain loose tea leaves.
- Let tea cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator.
- Pour over ice and enjoy!
To add more flavor, try adding:
- Wedges of lemon, lime, or orange
- Fresh mint or basil leaves
- Ginger root slices
- Cinnamon sticks
For an easy way to track sugar and make sure your homebrew iced tea is sugar free, use a sugar tracker app. This provides sugar counts for whatever ingredients you use.
Conclusion
Lipton offers both sugar free and sugary varieties of iced tea. Choosing an unsweetened or diet Lipton tea provides the benefits of antioxidants from tea without added sugars or calories. Reading nutrition labels closely can help identify truly sugar free options versus sugary versions when selecting Lipton Iced Tea products. Making your own custom sugar free iced tea at home is also a great option.
