Are you following a keto diet and looking for a warm and comforting beverage that won’t derail your progress? Look no further than tea! Not only is tea a low-carb and calorie-free beverage, but it also offers a wide range of health benefits.
From boosting metabolism to reducing inflammation, tea is a great addition to any keto diet.
However, with so many types of tea available, how do we know which is the best tea for keto? We’ve done the research, and in this article, we’ll reveal the top teas for keto including their benefits. Enjoy a delicious and healthy cup of tea without compromising your diet goals!
What is the keto diet and why is tea keto-friendly?
Before we look at the best teas for this diet, we must explain what the keto diet actually is. The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that aims to induce a state of ketosis in the body, where it burns stored fat for energy instead of glucose.
By reducing carb intake and increasing fat intake, the body is forced to use its stored fat as its main source of energy. This results in weight loss and improvements in blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels.
The keto diet emphasizes consuming foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, healthy fats, and low-carbohydrate vegetables while avoiding high-carbohydrate foods like grains, sugars, and processed foods. These help to preserve lean body mass and muscle strength while still losing significant weight.
Tea is a suitable beverage and a great choice for the keto diet because it is naturally low in net carbs and calories and can provide a range of health benefits.
Unlike sugary drinks like soda or fruit juice, tea does not contain added sugars or high-carbohydrate additives that can contribute to weight gain and affect blood sugar levels.
Health Benefits of Tea on the Keto Diet
Before we dive into the best tea options for keto dieters, let’s first discuss the benefits of adding tea to your diet. Tea is rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress in the body, a common issue that can arise in a high-fat diet.
Additionally, tea has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, which can help with weight loss and management.
Tea can also provide an energy boost without the use of sugary energy drinks, soft drinks or coffee drinks. Its caffeine content and other natural compounds can help increase alertness and energy levels which can often suffer when someone is on a diet.
Best Teas For Keto Diet
Now that we’ve established the benefits of tea on the keto diet, let’s take a look at the best types of tea for keto:
1. Black Tea
Black tea is a fully oxidized dark tea with a rich flavor that is often enjoyed on the keto diet with a milk alternative, heavy cream or lemon.
2. White Tea
White tea is a delicate and subtle tea made from the youngest leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant.
3. Herbal Tea
Herbal teas such as chamomile or peppermint are caffeine-free drinks made from a variety of herbs, fruits, and flowers with different flavors and properties.
4. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a partially oxidized tea with a complex and nuanced flavor that is often brewed using traditional Chinese tea ceremonies.
5. Pu-erh Tea
Studies have shown that Chinese Pu-erh tea has fat-burning properties when consumed regularly and it has often been referred to as a “diet tea”. This is a fermented tea with an earthy and smooth flavor.
6. Iced Tea
Cold brew ice tea is a refreshing and hydrating drink made by brewing tea and serving it over ice. It can be made using any type of tea and can be sweetened using keto-friendly sweeteners. It is particularly popular in summer.
7. Green Tea
Tasty green tea is a good type of tea for anyone on a high-fat diet. A cup of green tea is high in antioxidants with a range of health benefits.
8. Chai Tea
Chai tea is a spiced tea that originated in India and is typically made using black tea, milk, and a blend of aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. To make it keto friendly it can be made using a milk alternative such as almond milk.
9. Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is a black tea that is flavored with oil of bergamot, a citrus fruit that gives the tea a distinctive floral and fruity aroma. It is often enjoyed with a splash of milk or lemon and can be brewed hot or cold.
10. Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is a type of green tea that is made by grinding high-quality tea leaves into a fine powder called matcha tea powder. It has a bright green color and a slightly sweet and grassy flavor. Matcha tea is often used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
All of the above are good options for a low-carb diet and can be made using tea bags, unsweetened tea powders or pure loose leaf tea. A lot of people choose to enjoy these keto-friendly drinks with their regular morning meal or throughout the day.
These 10 teas are all better choices than trying a fad diet tea like Ballerina tea for weight loss.
What is Bulletproof Tea?
Bulletproof drinks are made by blending brewed tea or coffee with butter or ghee, along with other ingredients such as MCT oil or collagen powder. The purpose of adding fat to the tea is to promote a sustained energy level, mental clarity, and satiety.
A bulletproof tea recipe involves brewing tea for 3-5 minutes in hot water and then removing the tea bags. Next, add 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter or ghee to the tea, and optionally, 1 teaspoon of MCT oil, coconut oil or a scoop of collagen powder.
Using an immersion blender, milk frother, or regular blender, blend the tea and ingredients together until the mixture becomes frothy.
Finally, pour the tea into a mug and enjoy your homemade bulletproof tea. It’s important to note that the recipe can be adjusted according to your dietary needs and personal taste preferences, and unsalted butter or ghee should be used to avoid excess sodium.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try butter tea, a delicacy from Tibet made with yak butter and tea.
For the coffee drinker, bulletproof coffee can be made in the same way but by using brewed coffee instead of tea.
What can be added to tea on the ketogenic diet?
On a keto diet, it is best to avoid adding sugar, honey, or other high-carb sweeteners to tea. However, there are several options available to enhance the flavor of tea without adding many carbs.
A squeeze of lemon or lime can add some tanginess to the tea, while a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half can make it rich and creamy.
Tea lovers should avoid dairy milk as it is high in carbohydrates. Unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk are great keto-friendly options as they are low in carbs and high in healthy fats.
If a sweet taste is desired, keto-friendly sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit sweetener can be used. A few pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup can also enhance the flavor for those who enjoy sweet tea.
Additionally, adding spices like cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom can provide a warm, spicy flavor to the tea without any added carbs. It is important to check the nutrition label of any add-ins used to ensure that hidden sugars or carbs are not included, which could affect daily carb intake.
Tea is the perfect drink for the keto diet
For a regular tea drinker, it will be a relief to know that pure teas are actually some of the best drinks for the low-carb keto diet. Tea is a great alternative to diet sodas and energy drinks and there are many great keto tea recipes that can be enjoyed as a treat.
While plain tea has zero carbs and zero sugars it is important to be aware that any ingredients added to the tea, such as milk, cream, sugar, honey, or other sweeteners, can significantly increase carb intake.
Safe options include natural sweeteners like stevia or erythritol, or simply enjoy the tea without any added sugar or sweeteners.
