The Healthiest Sugar Substitutes for Tea

If you want to sweeten tea without added sugar and minimal side effects such as bloating and stomach upset, allulose is our favorite. Sold in both liquid (syrup) and powder format, it is easy to use and delicious.

Many people enjoy some type of sweetener in their cup of tea. Whether you are drinking your tea hot or cold, a little touch of sweetness can really enhance the flavor.

• How do you sweeten your tea in the most natural way possible?

• What are the best-tasting sugar-free options?

• Are there alternatives that will not impact a person’s blood sugar levels?

We have answers to all of your questions.

8 Sugar & Sweetener Options

When sweetening beverages such as tea, there are many options out there. Some sweeteners will compliment the flavor of beverages better than others. The first consideration is what you are sweetening.

Green tea has a slightly different taste than black tea, which is also different than herbal tea. The sweetener you choose might change based on what you are drinking.

• Agave Nectar: A more accurate name for this sweetener is agave syrup, derived from a succulent called the agave plant. While agave has a low glycemic index, it is high in fructose. Most nutritionists agree that there are more healthy sugar alternatives than this.

• Brown Sugar: The molasses from sugar cane is used to make brown sugar. Typically used in baking, it is not usually used to sweeten beverages, but it certainly could be.

• Coconut Sugar: Sometimes called coconut palm sugar, it comes from the sap of coconut trees (not from the coconut). This natural sweetener has nutrients, but they are negligible.

• Honey: Another natural sugar substitute is honey, made by bees and gathered by beekeepers.

• Maple Syrup: Although maple syrup is fairly high in calories and carbs, it is sweeter than sugar, and you can use less to achieve the desired level of sweetness. Available in a thick liquid form and derived from the sap of maple trees, it is delicious in certain types of tea.

• Monk Fruit: Also called luo han guo fruit extract, monk fruit is much sweeter than sugar. It is an excellent alternative to sugar, with fewer calories, carbs, and a lower glycemic index than other options.

• Allulose: A low-calorie sugar that is naturally found in small quantities in certain foods, such as wheat, raisins, and figs. This option is not metabolized by the body in the same way as regular sugar, making it a desirable option for people looking to reduce their calorie or sugar intake.

• Artificial sweeteners: Examples of zero-calorie sweeteners include aspartame, stevia, xylitol, erythritol, etc.

• White Sugar: The white sugar that we bake with, also called table sugar, is very sweet and often used in coffee and tea. People hoping to add sweetness to their tea without added calories often lean toward substitutes for this refined sugar.

What is the Healthiest Way to Sweeten Tea?

When searching for the healthiest way to make your iced cold sweet tea or just flavor your hot tea, you really need to clarify your needs.

To some people, healthy means the least processed and most natural sweetener they can find, which might cause them to lean toward honey or maple syrup.

Someone who has diabetes, however, is probably leaning toward a sweetener that has a low glycemic index.

A person hoping for weight loss may want to decrease sugar intake and search for sweeteners low in calories and carbohydrates. As you can see, there is no clear-cut answer.

Allulose is a clear winner if you are seeking a plant-based sweetener with a high level of sweetness, no bitter aftertaste, low calories, and a low impact on blood sugar.

What is the Difference between Artificial Sweeteners and Sugar Substitutes?

Although most people use those terms interchangeably, artificial sweeteners are technically a type of sugar substitute.

What is a sugar substitute? A sugar substitute is a sweetener that tastes sweet but does not contain actual sugar.

There are three types of sugar substitutes: artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and novel sweeteners.

• Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are the three most common artificial sweeteners.

• Sugar Alcohols:  Sugar alcohols are created synthetically and include erythritol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and others.

• Novel Sweeteners: Derived from natural sources, examples include allulose, monk fruit, and stevia.

What Sweetener Tastes Most Like Sugar in Tea?

If you like the sweet taste of regular sugar but want fewer calories, there are some sugar substitutes you should try. These new products don’t have the super sugary taste of aspartame (sold under the brand name Equal), saccharin (brand name Sweet ‘n Low), and sucralose (Splenda).

• Allulose: Naturally occurring in many foods, allulose is manufactured to give an amazing taste without all of the calories of sugar.

• Erythritol: Both the FDA and World Health Organization approved erythritol. It is known for being sweet with a low glycemic index.

• Monk Fruit: Monk fruit occurs in nature and tastes a lot like natural sugar.

if you want to try out an allulose option, check our Keto Goods allulose syrup, which includes the following benefits:

• Ketogenic properties (no glycemic impact!)

• Zero calories per serving

• Zero net carbs

• Full-flavored sweetening properties

• Non-GMO

• No Additives

• No aftertaste

• No digestive discomfort

• Naturally occurs in figs, kiwi, and jackfruit

Allulose is FDA approved and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA