Our food, beverage and nutrition experts share their top iced tea recommendations.
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A refreshing sip of iced tea can be just what you need to stay energized throughout the day. Packed with antioxidants and flavor — and oftentimes a dose of caffeine — tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world behind water. But finding a high-quality iced tea brand with premium ingredients that actually tastes great can be tricky. That's why Good Housekeeping's team of food, beverage and nutrition experts rounded up our top taste-tested picks for the best iced teas on the shelf.
Our team taste-tests all different types of teas year-round, so we gathered up our favorites that excelled in both nutrition and taste. We looked for options with quality ingredients that tasted like freshly brewed iced tea. Since our registered dietitians were involved in curating this list, we focused on unsweetened and lightly sweetened options to keep added-sugar counts low but flavor profiles high. That being said, we did include some sugary favorites if you're looking to indulge in them in moderation.
You can learn more about how we chose the best iced teas at the end of this guide. Looking for other beverage recommendations? Check out our guide to the best sparkling waters and the best low-calorie alcoholic drinks.
Brewed from real tea leaves steeped in water and bottled without added sugar or color, Pure Leaf's Unsweetened Black Tea is refreshing and tastes freshly brewed. It is made from ethically sourced, high-quality tea leaves from Rainforest Alliance Certified tea estates. But if you're looking for something slightly sweetened, Pure Leaf also makes a subtly sweet line that our registered dietitians say is a great compromise (each bottles has only 5 grams of sugar).
"I'll pick up a bottle of Pure Leaf Unsweetened Iced Tea whenever I'm having guests over — it's a great base for a big-batch cocktail, mixed with a splash of bourbon and lemonade," says Good Housekeeping Deputy Food Editor Trish Clasen Marsanico. "And I'm always happy to see a bottle in my fridge on hot summer afternoons. Its crisp, clean taste doesn't get diluted when poured over ice. I also love that there's no sugar added."
Just keep in mind that the tea comes in individual bottles only, not a large jug or gallon size, so you'll need to buy a few cases if entertaining for a larger party.
This ready-to-drink unsweetened iced tea is brewed from antioxidant-rich mamaki leaves (a plant native to Hawaii) as well as other good-for-you botanicals such as hibiscus. It's naturally caffeine-free and all the flavors will take you on a refreshing trip straight to the islands: pineapple mint, mango hibiscus, lemon rose and guava ginger.
“I love boosting my day with a can of mango hibiscus, my absolute favorite Shaka Tea flavor," says Alyssa Jung, senior editor for the Hearst Health Newsroom supporting Good Housekeeping, Prevention, and Woman’s Day. "The brightness of mango wakes up my senses, and hibiscus lends a hint of tang and has a natural sweet note to it.” The cans are great for everyday, but you may need to splurge on multiple cases if hosting a big crowd.
We're big fans of the loose and bagged teas from The Republic of Tea, since the company sources premium tea leaves and offers an impressive lineup of single and blended brews. That's why we were excited to discover the brand's bottled, pre-made iced teas. They're pricier than others on our list, but the quality is undeniable. This fun sampler case features an assortment of unsweetened green, black and Darjeeling teas made with premium tea leaves and brewed to perfection in glass bottles.
"There’s something about drinking out of a glass bottle that elevates the experience,” says Jung. “I can’t choose a favorite flavor, but my pro tip is to swirl together some of the Pomegranate Green Iced Tea and Passion Fruit Green Iced Tea to create a lovely sweet-yet-tangy sip. I also like mixing the Blackberry Sage Black Iced Tea with a bit of sparkling water or prosecco for a little treat."
Although this iced tea comes only in individual bottles, the brand does offer iced tea bags for larger pitchers, which we enjoyed in our tests.
We tried to keep our top choices on the more health-conscious side, but there is nothing like a good traditional sweet tea on a warm summer day. Our top sweet tea pick is from Milo's, since it's made with just a few simple ingredients — filtered water, pure cane sugar and tea — and is free of preservatives. Made in the U.S., this delicious tea is simple and classic.
"The aroma of real, brewed tea is so refreshing in this category. It's definitely sweet, but it's just sugar and tea, which is nice," says Good Housekeeping Deputy Editor Sarah Wharton. Taste testers raved about this classic tea, and we also like that it comes in many different sizes including a large gallon for entertaining.
Certified organic and bursting with antioxidants, this flavorful green tea has a passionfruit flavor and features organic acerola cherry extract for a small dose of immune-supporting vitamin C. You can also try it as a classic green tea, lemon flavored or peach flavored.
Our dietitians love that the brew delivers on flavor without any added sugar. Their sweetened line has quite a bit of added sugar, but Steaz's zero-calorie line is a tasty sugar-free choice if that is what you're looking for (keep in mind that it does include stevia). Steaz iced teas are only available in individual cans, so you'll need to pick up a few cases if bringing to a party.
Made from high-quality tea leaves, this unsweetened black tea from Gold Peak tastes home-brewed. It can be hard to find, as you'll see most shelves stocked with their traditional sweet variety instead, but it's quite budget-friendly and available for delivery via Amazon. Best of all, it comes in multiple sizes ranging from single-serve bottles to large two-liter bottles that are perfect for entertaining.
“When I’m in the mood for a simple iced tea, this brand is always a solid choice. It has a smooth taste that satisfies without sugar, but it’s also a blank canvas for creating a refreshing mocktail by adding my own sliced fruit, herbs or a splash of 100% juice (try it with pomegranate juice),” says Jung.
Lightly caffeinated, this balanced iced green tea from Tazo features a blend of organic green tea, organic lemongrass, organic spearmint, organic lemon verbena and organic lemon oil. The flavors are fresh and crisp, and the green tea itself is prominent but not too strong.
It's sweetened with organic cane sugar: A 12-ounce serving comes out to about 18 grams of added sugar. For a sweetened iced tea, we found it to have the perfect balance without being overly sweet. That being said, the single-serve bottles can be hard to find, but the larger bottle pictured here is 42 ounces — perfect for bringing to a small gathering or enjoying throughout the week.
"Half and half" (iced tea + lemonade; not the dairy kind!) is a tried-and-true beverage, but most versions are loaded with excessive amounts of added sugar and/or artificial sweeteners. But this excellent option from Spindrift's line of unsweetened iced teas delivers on that classic half-and-half flavor without all the junk. The ingredients include carbonated water, lemon juice and brewed black tea – that's it – and we think that the sparkling water elevates the half-and-half experience.
"It’s lightly bubbly and only slightly sweet from fresh lemon juice, plus it delivers that traditional iced black tea taste that I know and love,” says Jung. Marsanico is also a fan of the brand’s Mint Green Tea Sparkling Water, praising its earthy but bright and cool notes and perfect touch of mint. The Mango Black Tea was also a standout in our taste tests. Spindrift is available only in individual-size cans, but they are great for throwing in a cooler and taking with you to the beach.
“Not all green teas are created equal," Jung explains. "Depending on the leaves and brewing process, the flavor can range from smooth and almost neutral to robust and smokey.” “Ito En is a well-known Japanese iced tea brand that you’ve probably seen in the beverage fridges at your local Asian supermarket, and it’s one of the best pre-made green teas out there."
You can find this high-quality unsweetened green tea in this plain variety or as an unsweetened Jasmine Green Tea and unsweetened Matcha Green Tea. But Jung loves that the original unsweetened iced green tea from the brand has a very balanced flavor that makes it a great option for green tea newbies and lovers alike.
It even comes in a larger bottle if you're entertaining or want to keep your kitchen stocked with the tea, but keep in mind that the flavor may be stronger than other green teas on the market since it is so pure.
What’s better than a nice cold iced tea? A chilly swig of sparkling iced tea. The bubbly infusion is a fun way to mix up how you hydrate. Minna brews unsweetened green tea, black tea and rooibos tea (an herbal brew native to South Africa) that has a gentle carbonation. All tea is a good source of beneficial flavonoids, making it an ideal thirst quencher and pick-me-up.
“I try to drink at least one cup of green tea each day, and I can’t go 24 hours without some sparkling water — so Minna is my dream sip!" says Jung. "I enjoy every flavor, but Pineapple Passion Fruit Green Tea is my go-to. It has a little natural sweetness from the tropical fruit flavors, and I can still taste the slight grassiness that I love from green tea."
Just note that, like most cans on this list, it does not come in a larger size.
Our food, beverage and nutrition experts took into account flavor, tea variety and additional ingredients when narrowing down the best iced tea options on the market. We featured bottled versions that are easy to take with you on-the-go, and highlighted which brands make larger sizes that are perfect for entertaining.
We included both affordable iced tea options, as well as some that are a more premium selection for the true tea connoisseur. You'll notice that there is a mix of sweetened and unsweetened varieties on this list. Our registered dietitians say that it is best to stick with unsweetened and lightly sweetened beverages but that it's okay to sensibly indulge in sugary ones from time to time.
The best iced tea brands are packed with flavor and high-quality ingredients and, most importantly, taste freshly brewed. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when making your selection:
✔️ Type: Just like traditional teas, iced options come in different varieties, including green teas, black teas and herbal teas. We recommended only bottled options on our list, but many of the brands we highlighted also make bagged ice tea varieties for pitchers.
✔️ Flavors: An unsweetened tea will offer the flavor most true to the tea itself. If you're looking for a hint of flavor without the sweetness, try iced tea options that include a bit of lemon, hibiscus, pomegranate or other natural fruity ingredients. Keep in mind that flavored teas tend to be sweetened or lightly sweetened, so you'll want to take a close look at the ingredients and added sugar content.
✔️ Sweetness: We included primarily unsweetened options on our list, which you can lightly sweeten yourself if you prefer. But we also added some more indulgent sugary options to be enjoyed in moderation. Although most iced tea doesn't contain many calories, sugary options may result in a higher-calorie product.
✔️ Caffeine: If you'd rather avoid the caffeine, look for naturally decaffeinated herbal iced teas or decaf versions of other teas. Green tea generally has less caffeine than black tea, but both green tea and black tea have considerably less caffeine than coffee.
As director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, Stefani Sassos handles all nutrition content, product testing and evaluation. She stays up-to-date on the latest research to provide evidence-based reporting on all things diet and nutrition, and she also runs large-scale tests and analyses for products ranging from protein bars to supplements.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. She is also Good Housekeeping’s on-staff fitness and exercise expert. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
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