At Art of Tea, we have a deep love and appreciation for all things tea – and some of our iced teas have won awards at international tea competitions. But sometimes, our customers ask us: does tea ‘count’ as water? Does tea help you hydrate? In the past, some have argued that tea actually doesn’t have a net-hydrating impact on the body. As your source for all things tea, we wanted to answer this question once and for all.

Is Tea Hydrating?

In a word: yes. Both iced and hot tea hydrate you and help deliver water to the body. So why all the confusion? It all starts with caffeine.

All tea blends except herbal or caffeine-free tea contain some form of caffeine. Whether white tea, green tea, or black tea, tea leaves contain a small amount of caffeine. They don’t contain nearly as much as coffee, but it’s still significant: a cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine, while a cup of tea has roughly 30 or 40.

Caffeine is a diuretic: a substance that causes the body to urinate. For a time, some believed that the diuretic effect of the caffeine in tea offset the hydration – in short, that drinking tea caused you to urinate more water than you absorbed into the body.

Thankfully, though, this isn’t the case. Tea is a low-caffeine drink, so the diuretic effect is minimal. On the whole, tea gives your body much more water than it causes your body to lose. So drinking hot tea or iced tea helps to hydrate your body overall.

That said, caffeinated teas aren’t for everyone. Some people experience insomnia, headaches, or even drowsiness from consuming caffeine. Ultimately, it’s all about listening to your body to see if you react well to caffeinated or caffeine-free teas.

Shop Loose Tea Online Today

If you’re looking for high-quality teas to caffeinate, hydrate, or relax you, Art of Tea can help! We source only the finest loose leaf teas from the most prestigious tea-growing regions in the world, ensuring an exacting standard of quality that guarantees world-class tea in every cup. Browse our full inventory of teas today to find one you love, then order online and have it shipped directly to your home. We can’t wait to help you experience the wonderful world of tea!