For many people, it’s hard to imagine their day without a cup of tea. It’s the second-most consumed beverage in the entire world, beaten only by water. While tea can be enjoyed both hot and cold, hot tea has a reputation for being particularly comforting.
True ‘tea’ comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, and there are many regional varieties of the species across the globe. The general categories of true teas include:
When most people think of teas, however, they also include herbal teas. There are countless types of herbal tea around the world. Some of the most popular include:
- Chamomile
- Hibiscus
- Peppermint
- Rooibos
The type of tea you’re drinking will have unique health benefits or risks, making it worthwhile to look into your chosen variety more carefully.
But what about hot tea in general? Are there broad health benefits, or risks, to drinking “hot teas” as a whole? Yes, in fact, there are a number of studies that have shown the temperature of a beverage may have important effects regardless of its specific contents.
Nutrition Information
While it would be tough to summarize the nutritional information of every type of tea on the market, there are a few general trends to note. First and foremost, tea is an ultra-diluted version of whatever ingredients you’re steeping.
If you’re making, say, a lavender tea, the beverage will certainly smell and mildly taste like lavender. However, only a very small fraction of the lavender’s nutritional characteristics will be found in the drink itself.
An 8 fluid-ounce mug of most types of tea will contain close to zero:
- Calories
- Protein
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Fiber
Similarly, the vitamins and minerals present will be in very small concentrations and will vary according to the type of tea you’re consuming.
One important factor to consider is the addition of sweeteners or milk. These additions may be added to the tea by the manufacturer or the consumer. Any added ingredients will alter the nutritional content of your drink.
