What Is Sweet Tea Made Of?
The ingredients can vary depending on who makes it, but the main recipe for sweet tea consists of adding sugar or syrup to black tea while it’s still brewing. The sweetener doesn’t have to be added when the tea is still brewing and can be added after when the tea is still hot.
After brewing the black tea and adding a sweetener, the tea is usually cooled and served ice cold. Other ingredients can be added including, lemon, peach, or mint.
What Makes Something Gluten Free?
For something to be gluten-free, it has to be free of any gluten (big surprise). Gluten is a protein found in wheat and grains that can have a negative impact on some people’s gut health. For example, people with celiacs have an immune reaction to gluten that causes damage to the small intestine.
It is still possible to not have celiac and be gluten sensitive, which is why so many people try to avoid it in their diets. Thankfully, many commercially available foods are labeled as being gluten-free or not, helping to determine if they are safe to eat.
Is Sweet Tea Gluten Free?
Since sweet tea is made from black tea, then it is naturally gluten-free as long as no extra ingredients are added. It’s best to read the label on any teas you use to ensure they’re actually gluten-free.
Be sure to double-check the type of tea you’re using as well since some teas aren’t naturally gluten-free. For example, herbal, matcha, chai, and malted tea may all contain gluten. The reason some teas aren’t gluten-free is that some are made with grains such as barley.
Is Sweet Tea Good For You?
Sweet tea isn’t exactly rich in nutrients. Other than the vitamins and nutrients present in the tea used, there’s not much else to consider as healthy. In fact, a large portion of the calories present in sweet tea comes from the sugar added. The amount of sugar will depend on the kind of sweetener you use and the amount though, but regardless it’s not the healthiest drink on the market.
However, there is one main benefit to drinking sweet tea, antioxidants. Black tea (the root of sweet tea) is a great source of antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage.
Does Sweet Tea Have Caffeine?
Sweet tea does have a small amount of caffeine in it as most teas do. The amount of caffeine in sweet tea isn’t that much, especially compared to coffee.
A 16oz. glass of sweet tea will contain roughly 41mg of caffeine. Compared to a similar 16oz. serving of coffee at 190mg of caffeine, sweet tea has only a fraction of the caffeine coffee does.
If you’re a coffee addict and trying to cut back, then maybe sweet tea is a great alternative to slowly weening off and avoiding any headaches.
Does Sweet Tea Need To Be Refrigerated?
Technically, sweet tea needs to be refrigerated if you want to keep it fresh for longer. Not refrigerating your sweet tea will speed up its expiration, leaving you with bad tea sooner.
The timeframe on when your tea will go bad depends on a lot of factors, but refrigerating is recommended to lengthen its lifespan. Also, sweet tea is commonly served cold, so refrigerating is a must if you want your sweet tea to taste good.
Summary
Sweet tea is a delicious treat enjoyed by many! This slightly caffeinated drink is naturally gluten-free but should still be checked for any additional ingredients that may contain gluten.
