How Much Sugar Is in Sweet Tea?
A cup of sweet tea has about 22 g of added sugar — brewed tea itself has none, so the sweetness is entirely sugar stirred in, often while the tea is still hot.
in 1 cup (240 ml) · about 5.2 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 22 g
- Per 100 g
- 9 g
- Type
- Added sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 5.2 tsp
A big chunk of a day's sugar in one serving.
Plain brewed tea has essentially no sugar on its own — the roughly 22 g per cup in sweet tea comes entirely from sugar dissolved into the pitcher, typically while the tea is hot so it fully dissolves. A large restaurant glass can easily carry double that.
Because it reads as 'just tea', sweet tea's sugar is easy to lose track of, especially with free refills. Unsweetened tea with a splash of juice or a small measured amount of honey gives you control over exactly how much sugar you're adding.
How sweet tea compares
Out of 205 everyday foods and drinks we track, sweet tea ranks #44 for sugar per serving — more than 79% of them.
- Kit Kat23g
- Swedish Fish23g
- Sweet tea (this page)22g
- Gummy bears22g
- Hot chocolate22g
Bars show sugar per serving. Tap any food to see its full breakdown.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Order unsweetened and add your own light sweetener at the table
- Iced tea with a splash of fresh lemon instead of sugar
Frequently asked questions
- How much sugar is in a large sweet tea?
- A standard cup (8 fl oz) runs about 22 g; a large restaurant glass (16–20 fl oz) can carry 45 g or more, since the sugar concentration stays the same as the volume grows.
- Is unsweetened tea a good swap for sweet tea?
- Yes — plain brewed tea has no sugar. If you want sweetness, add a small measured amount yourself rather than drinking a pre-sweetened pitcher.
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Sugar values from Typical nutrition label; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-09.