Is iced tea hydrating? Here’s the truth

It’s light. It’s refreshing. It comes in a glass with extra ice and a lemon wedge if you're feeling fancy. Iced tea has long been the ultimate thirst-quencher on a hot day, but does it actually hydrate?

It might feel like the right move, but not all bevvy choices support your hydration the same way. So let’s break it down: what actually makes a drink hydrating, and where does iced tea land on that spectrum?

First things first: What makes a drink hydrating?

Water is the obvious hydration MVP, but staying hydrated is more than just downing a few glasses and moving on. Your body needs the right balance of fluids to function at its best and that balance affects everything from focus, energy, digestion, skin health and so much more.

You lose electrolytes all day long, even when you’re sitting at your desk, scrolling on your phone and sleeping. When you’re dehydrated, you might feel foggy and fatigued, you might experience headaches and sluggish digestion or you might just feel a little... off.

What makes a drink hydrating? It’s not just about how much water it contains — it’s about whether your body can absorb and hold onto that water. That’s where electrolytes come in. Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, support nerve and muscle function and make hydration work harder for your body and last longer.

Even mild dehydration can affect your day in ways you don’t expect. That’s why balanced hydration and replenished electrolytes aren’t just important for athletes — they’re important for everyone. Whether you’re running a 5K or running late for school pickup, you need to feed your body the right drinks to stay hydrated every single day.

Is iced tea good for hydration?

Yes, and also no. It depends on the type of iced tea and how much caffeine it’s packing.

Tea is mostly water, so it’s not completely off the hydration radar, but many varieties, especially black or green, contain caffeine. Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, which can cause your body to lose water instead of holding onto it — not exactly what you want when staying hydrated is the goal.

Again; hydration isn’t just about water intake. It’s about helping your body keep it, and that’s where iced tea tends to fall short. Most teas don’t contain the electrolytes your body needs to stay balanced. Even if you’re drinking iced tea on repeat, you’re probably not replenishing your hydration and electrolyte levels.

Not to mention the sugar situation! Many bottled or powdered iced teas are loaded with added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sure, they might taste great, but they’re not doing your body any favors—hydration or otherwise.

Meet your hydrating iced tea upgrade: TeaFreshers Variety Pack!

Meet a new kind of daily hydration — one that gives you that same fruity, refreshing iced tea taste you love, but without the added sugar or junk.

Ultima TeaFreshers are feel-good fruit + tea fusions with 6 daily electrolytes, 0 sugar, 0 calories, and 0 carbs. Each serving contains less than 2mg of caffeine—a fraction of the 40–70mg found in a typical cup of tea—so they hydrate without the jitters, crashes, or dehydrating effects of traditional teas. Plus, they come in four yummy, replenishing flavours..

We’re talking:

• Strawberry Acai Green Tea

• Lemon Black Tea

• Peach Green Tea

• Mango Dragon Fruit Green Tea

Ultima TeaFreshers are light, delicious, and made to help you stay on top of your hydration game—no sugar, no stress, no compromise.

They’re your sweet-but-not-too-sweet morning reset. Your post-lunch refresh. Your poolside sip. Your office hydration hero. Your everything-in-one bottle mix. They come in single-serve stickpacks, so you can take them anywhere. Stash one in your purse, gym bag or glove compartment and hydrate on the go!

How TeaFreshers compare to other drinks 

You’ve got options when it comes to daily hydration, but not all drinks work with your body the way you’d want them to. Brewed iced tea might offer the classic, refreshing sip you crave, but it may have too much caffeine and lacks the minerals your body needs to stay hydrated for the long haul. Bottled iced teas often come with a heavy pour of sugar or artificial stuff that can leave you feeling sluggish rather than satisfied. And while sports drinks do include electrolytes, they’re often loaded with sodium and designed for athletes or high-intensity workouts—not your day-to-day routine. 

TeaFreshers are made for everyday hydration. The school-run hustles. The afternoon slumps. The days where you think, ‘I should probably drink more water. ’ They deliver on taste and function without adding anything extra your body doesn’t need.

With 6 daily electrolytes, 0 sugar, and flavors that make hydration fun and tasty, Ultima TeaFreshers are the daily hydrator you’ve been waiting for.

TeaFreshers are a better way to hydrate every single day

If you’re drinking iced tea for the taste, enjoy it, but if you’re reaching for it thinking it’ll keep you refreshed, focused, and fully hydrated? It might be time for an upgrade.

Ultima Replenisher TeaFreshers give you the earthy, fruity tea flavors you love with hydration that delivers. They’re light, bright and easy to love, but underneath that fruit + tea fusion is a formula built to help your body absorb and retain water all day long. No sugar highs. No excess calories. No mystery ingredients.

Remember that hydration isn’t just about workouts and hot days—it’s about the hundreds of little moments when your body is quietly asking for more support: your groggy mornings. Your post-lunch bloat. The “why do I feel off?” feeling that hits around 3 p.m. When you feel those moments creeping in, don’t grab an iced tea—sip on a TeaFresher!

So if you’re ready to hydrate with intention and enjoy every sip while you’re at it, you know where to start—shop our Teafesher Variety Pack to sip on all four flavors! 

Our Ultima TeaFreshers contains less than 2mg of caffeine per serving, significantly lower than the 40-70mg found in a typical cup of tea.