Brewed tea has near zero calories — only 1 kcal per 100 g. A dose-response meta-analysis of 39 cohorts (Chung et al., Adv Nutr 2020) found each daily cup linked to a 4% lower CVD mortality. The calorie cost is essentially zero unless sweetened.
How should I track Tea, instant, unsweetened, prepared with water?
Liquid calories from Tea, instant, unsweetened, prepared with water are easy to overlook because drinks do not trigger the same fullness signals as solid food. A meta-analysis (Wehling & Lusher, Am J Clin Nutr 2021) confirmed that people underreport beverage intake more than solid food. Most people pour 30–50% more than the label serving size without realizing it. Use a kitchen scale to weigh your glass or bottle once — you will know your exact pour going forward. This one calibration step can save you from hundreds of untracked calories per week.