Sweet Tea vs. Soda: Which Is Better?

Sweet tea and soda are two drinks that are not very nutritious yet are popular among people of all ages. Given all of the attempts to minimize use of both products, consumers may wonder: which is better: sweet tea or soda?

Sweet tea is somewhat superior than soda. The drawback of both sweet tea and soda is their high sugar content, which may contribute to a variety of health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Sweet tea often has less sugar and calories. Soda also includes carbon dioxide gas, which may cause stomach bloating.

But I know how enticing such drinks can be after you’ve just ordered some nice junk food, and let’s be honest: everyone can enjoy them in moderation. So, in order for you to learn more about sweet tea and soda, I have thoroughly compared them. Finally, you may choose which one you will eat in the future.

Sweet Tea vs. Soda: Differences

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, sweet tea and soda are diametrically opposed. Sweet tea has a delicate taste; you can instantly taste the sugar, and it typically has a floral flavor that may be peach, lemon, or blue fruits. Furthermore, since it is low in acidity, sweet tea is classified as a soft drink.

Soda, on the other hand, is a stronger beverage since it includes carbon dioxide gas and, like a carbonated drink, leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Soda is more acidic than sweet tea, and you can taste the bitterness.

Uses

Each product has its own method of being consumed, and to be honest, they are not all that comparable. Of course, both may be drunk to hydrate oneself on a hot summer day, but they are rather different.

Soda works well in alcoholic drinks. Only vodka and gin pair nicely with soda, yet the number of drinks using soda is relatively significant. Another time when soda is consumed is while eating burgers and french fries.

This is the one time I prefer Coke above anything else. Soda is the greatest companion to pizza and burgers. Sweet tea, on the other hand, is too sugary to be eaten with salty food and does not achieve the ideal balance.

Instead, pair sweet tea with a fresh fruit salad, chocolate muffins, or simply handmade cookies.

Nutrition

In terms of macronutrients, carbohydrates and sugar are the most prevalent in both drinks. Soda has two more grams of carbohydrates and 2.5 grams of sugar per 100ml than sweet tea.[1]

Overall, soda contains 42 kcal higher than sweet tea, which has 31 kcal. Please keep in mind that the components in sweet tea are water, cane sugar, and freshly brewed tea, therefore there aren’t many dietary benefits you can get from this product. [2]

Aside from the chemicals listed above, soda includes additional preservatives that make this beverage unhealthy and should not be consumed on a daily basis.

• RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About the 3 Most Popular Orange Sodas

Sugar Content

The sugar content of soda and sweet tea is the most important factor. Unfortunately, we do not comprehend the vast amount of sugar we consume and how much it endangers our health as we age.

As a result, it is prudent to be aware of and check the sugar level of drinks and canned foods purchased at supermarkets. For example, in the instance of soda, we take 9.95 grams of sugar per 100 grams of drink.

Sweet tea has just 7,5 grams of sugar. However, such amounts are less than the recommended sugar level for a day.

Caffeine 

You may be surprised to learn that sweet tea and soda contain caffeine as well. Caffeine levels differ from one brand to the next. To illustrate, take a look at the most popular soda, Coca-Cola, and the most popular sweet tea, Lipton Ice Tea.

Even in this case, soda has a bigger amount, since Coca-Cola has 2,8 grams per oz. Lipton Ice Tea contains 1.25 mg of caffeine per oz.

Caffeine helps you focus and be more productive in energy beverages like Red Bull, but the amount is significantly higher, 8,5 mg per oz. Caffeine does not have the same impact in sweet tea and soda and is used primarily to enhance the texture and flavor.

Popularity

Soda comprises a large family of popular drinks such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, and Sprite. The over $58 billion in income generated by the sale of such drinks demonstrates the popularity of soda.

Despite this, consumers have selected healthier alternatives in the previous decade as a result of good food education, and soda consumption has plummeted by 25%.

It is difficult to quantify the amount of sweet tea eaten since tea is the most consumed beverage after water. However, people prefer fresh and organic tea over sugary tea. Furthermore, a sizable proportion prefers to drink tea without any sugar at all.

Is Sweet Tea Healthier Than Soda

So, is sweet tea better than soda? It’s difficult to answer. I’m not going to choose any of them. Artificial sugar in drinks is harmful to your health. The amount of sugar in both is very high and unneeded for humans to operate; on the contrary, it has largely negative consequences when ingested in excessive numbers.

When the sugar levels in both drinks are compared, sweet tea has less and does not include gases that might irritate your stomach.

However, avoiding such drinks to the greatest extent possible is the finest thing you could have done for your health. Drink them in moderation and instead go for organic tea or homemade lemonades.

Sweet Tea Vs. Diet Soda: Which Is Better?

Diet soda has nearly no calories, in fact, it has less than one, and it has no nutritional value such as sugar or carbohydrates.[3]

Sweet tea, on the other hand, contains 31 calories and 7.5 grams of sugar. As a result, considering it from this perspective and knowing that the sugar in sweet tea is in huge proportions and not healthy, I would choose diet soda. This manner, you get the Coke flavor without consuming any sugar.[4]

However, just because diet Coke has no calories does not imply that it is not hazardous to your health. If you drink too much of it, it may cause serious complications such as decreased bone density, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes.

Is Sweet Tea Better Than Soda for Your Teeth?

High acid drinks may cause dental issues, such as weakening and discoloring the tooth. These issues arise at a pH of 5.5, while drinks such as sweet tea and soda have a pH range of 2.5 to 5.2. Because the lower the pH, the more acidic a substance is, soda and sweet tea are both harmful in this scenario.

Although soda contains carbonation (or gases) that dry out our mouths, reducing saliva levels reduces protection. So we may claim that the detrimental effects of soda and sweet tea are more intense; it all depends on the amount of sugar.

Unsweet Tea Vs. Soda: Which Is Better?

Is sweet tea better than soda in terms of science? Unsweetened tea is healthier for our bodies than any sort of beverage. Unsweet tea is most likely just water with a fruit flavor or fresh herbs. Soda, on the other hand, is high in sugar and preservatives.

Unsweetened tea is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, but soda’s high sugar content is detrimental. Furthermore, unsweet tea may include caffeine and have adverse effects such as keeping you up at night, whilst soda gas may cause stomach cramps and bloating.

Overall, if you must choose between the two, choose unsweet tea, which you can sweeten with honey, over soda, which includes a lot of unhealthy sugars.