5 teas to satisfy your sweet tooth
At the end of a long hard day and a chilly winter commute, you deserve to treat yourself to something sweet. Cookies and candy always seem to add up too fast, so instead, arm yourself with some guilt-free teas inspired by dessert. They’re tasty enough to calm your sweet tooth after dinner, but they don’t actually contain any sugar or calories. To the contrary, they’re full of phytochemicals and antioxidants that are actually good for you. Here are five of our favorite dessert-worthy teas.
- Organic Peppermint Bark Tea. If your go-to December snack is a piece of chocolate peppermint bark, then this herbal tea should make for a good stand-in. The Republic of Tea only offers it seasonally, so snatch up some for yourself before it disappears. The green rooibos tea is infused with organic cocoa and peppermint, culminating in bold, sweet sip totally free of caffeine, so you can feel free to indulge after dinner.
- Chocolate Spice Tea. If just a hint of cocoa isn’t enough to tame your sweet tooth, then perhaps this full-fledged Chocolate Spice tea from Numi will do the trick. Its medley of cacao and Chai spices warms up your tastebuds, augmented by ginger and allspice, and then cardamom and cinnamon finish the parade of flavors. Steep a cup after dinner if you find yourself craving a cookie or slice of cake from last month’s holiday celebrations; this is a much healthier alternative.
- Wild Sweet Orange Tea. Maybe your candy of choice lands more in the realm of Skittles and Starburst than M&Ms or peppermint patties. In that case, Tazo’s Wild Sweet Orange tea should be your go-to. The starring ingredient, of course, is fresh orange peel—which Tazo sources from OJ companies in order to cut down on worldwide waste. Fragrant rose petal syrup enhances the flavors of the orange zest, while lemongrass augments the existing citrus undertones. Then spearmint adds an extra layer of invigorating sweetness to the tea.
- Hard Candy Tea. Hard Candy Tea from David’s Tea is basically a lollipop in a cup. Hints of sour cherry, kiwi, and coconut converge, culminating in a tea that’s equal parts sweet, tangy, and refreshing. Undertones of apple, cranberries, and even marigold blossoms enhance the foundational flavors. The tea does have a splash of sugar, but only 10 calories per cup, and no caffeine.
- Caramel Vanilla Cuppa Cake Tea. If you’re looking for a sweet tea that has enough caffeine to replace your morning cup of coffee, Caramel Vanilla Cuppa Cake tea is it. This black tea has about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee, so it can provide the jolt you need in the morning along with a touch of sweetness. Instead of sugar, the Caramel Vanilla Cuppa Cake tea enlists carob bits, sweet blackberry leaves, and natural caramel and vanilla flavors to recreate a classic dessert in your cup.