Iced Tea (Ready-to-Drink)

part of: Tea

Iced tea is one of the most popular packaged beverages worldwide, offering a convenient, refreshing alternative to soft drinks. Most commercial versions are made from black tea, though green tea varieties are also common. They range from lightly sweetened to quite sugary, and often feature added flavours like lemon, peach, or mango.

In Australia, iced tea has grown steadily in popularity as a lighter option alongside juices and soft drinks. It’s widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and cafés. Some brands lean into a more natural, less-sweet profile, while others are closer to a flavoured soft drink.

The drink has deep roots in the American South, where sweet iced tea is a cultural staple, but versions exist across many cultures — from Japanese bottled teas to European fruit-infused blends.

Farmed

photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Black tea leaves are brewed in large batches using hot water, then cooled. The brewed tea is blended with sweeteners, flavourings, and sometimes preservatives or acids for shelf stability. The finished product is pasteurised and bottled or canned for distribution. Some premium brands use cold-brew methods for a smoother flavour.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 0kcal

Protein 0g

Carbs 0g

Fat 0g

Fibre 0g Sugar 0g

Mass Distribution

16 fl oz is about 473 g.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈10.15kg

Freshwater ≈2600.15L

Land ≈8.15m²

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from

Tea, leaves

In the kitchen

Used as

chilled ready-to-drink tea

Goes well with

lemon mint peach honey ginger

Classic dishes

Arnold Palmer
Long Island Iced Tea
Sweet Tea

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

Where to next

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