Sweetest Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade Recipe (+ Low Carb Tips)

This keto sweet tea lemonade recipe packs a super sweet, lemony punch. Trust me. 

If you have a sweet tooth, but need to lower your sugar, you’re in for a treat.

But can you really drink sweet tea lemonade on keto?

Yes, with a few minor tweaks here and there, you can! The trick is to keep the taste up and the carbs down. The right low carb sweetener does the trick. And we’re lucky that lemons are very keto friendly, but you can go overboard. So we’re going to toe the line for the most tastebud popping delight possible.

(And for those of you 21 or older, stay tuned until the end for a “twisted” surprise.)

Let’s get to it!

How to Make Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade

Keto sweet tea lemonade is made in two parts that are combined at the end.

First, we have the keto sweet tea recipe. (Which is delicious all on its own FYI.) And second, we have the keto lemonade mixture.

Add them together and you’ll enjoy a super sweet, near calorie free summer beverage.

Pro Tip: Double (or triple) everything for a mega-batch.

1. Make the Keto Sweet Tea

Begin by boiling 3 cups of water in a tea kettle or pot. Remove from heat and add 3 bags of plain black tea. Steep for a minimum of 3-5 minutes, or steep up to 15 minutes for a bolder taste.

Once steeped — while the water is still very warm — add the low carb equivalent of a ⅓ cup of sugar (see below for sweetener suggestions and conversions) and let dissolve. 

Mix briefly, pour into a pitcher, and then place the pitcher in the fridge to cool.

Old Southern Tip: Add a pinch (⅓ tsp) of baking soda to the mixture to reduce the tea’s bitterness. This is especially helpful since keto sweeteners can have a bitter aftertaste for some, and this will help cut down on that.

You’re halfway there!

2. Make the Keto Lemonade Mixture

Warm, but not enough to boil, 1 cup of water in a small pot. Add the low carb equivalent of ⅓ cup of sugar (see below for sweetener suggestions and conversions) and let dissolve.

Add this mixture to one cup of cool or lukewarm water in a small pitcher. Squeeze in the juice from 3 lemons.

We’re getting close!

3. Mix the Two Together

Pour one mixture into the other. Chill, if you have time, or pour into a glass with ice. Garnish with a straw and lemon slice and — Voilà! — time to enjoy.

What Should I Use to Sweeten My Tea on Keto?

With many different low carb, keto-friendly sweeteners out there, it’s best to find the one you prefer.

Here are a few great options, especially for keto sweet tea — with conversion ratios.

1. Stevia Glycerite: Stevia is a tried and true keto sweetener. Some people can find the aftertaste bitter, but the glycerite version can reduce bitterness for most palettes. Heads up, though, this stuff is sweet with a capital “S” — GREAT for those with a sweet tooth.

Conversion Ratio: 6-9 drops of stevia equals 1 cup of sugar

2. Monk Fruit: Monk fruit is another tried and true keto sweetener that’s extracted from the Monk Fruit. Most monk fruit is combined with a little bit of another keto sweetener called erythritol, a sugar alcohol, for a rounded out flavor.

Conversion Ratio: The Lankato brand (linked above) reports a 1:1 ratio

*However, reviews have recommended a 2:1 monk fruit to sugar ratio. So be sure to keep that in mind and experiment. 

3. Xylitol: Xylitol is a great net zero, sugar alcohol sweetener used in many chewing gums and toothpastes.

Conversion Ratio: Most brands recommend a 1:1 xylitol to sugar ration

How to Serve Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade

Keto sweet tea lemonade is best served in a large, ice filled glass with a fresh lemon slice.

Adding several slices of lemon to the pitcher is also a nice touch.

Are There Carbs in Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade?

Keto sweet tea lemonade is almost carb free. The only carbs come from the lemon juice, and that’s it! Lemons are quite low carb for a fruit.

An average lemon contains approximately 3-4 grams of carbohydrate in the form of fructose, depending on size.

So a single batch of the keto sweet tea lemonade (3 lemons) contains approximately 9-12 grams of carbs (or 18-24 grams of carbs for a double batch). 

This equates to a super low 1.8 to 2.4 grams of carbs per serving.

Can I Order Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade at Starbucks?

Unfortunately, at this time Starbucks does not have a keto-friendly lemonade option.

But you can definitely order keto sweet tea without the lemonade at Starbucks.

When ordering at Starbucks, ask for a plain black iced tea with no sugar, and substitute a sugar free syrup of your choice.

How to Make Keto Twisted Tea Lemonade

Boy do we have a treat for those of you 21 and over!

Twisted Tea is a popular tea-based alcoholic beverage. Twisted Tea, however, has a whopping 23 grams of sugar per serving! And it is definitely not keto-friendly or low carb.

Not to worry — Keto Twisted Tea to the rescue!

The best part is that you already know how to make it.

Simply take the recipe above and add one more step. After the steps listed above add a ½ cup of vodka to the single batch (or 1 cup to the double) for a delicious keto sweet tea cocktail. 

Garnish this delicious adult beverage with a tiny umbrella and you’re halfway to relaxing on a beautiful white sand beach. Or, more realistically, just soaking it up as the talk of the neighborhood BBQ.

RECIPE CARD

Keto Sweet Tea Lemonade to the Rescue

Not every carb-heavy beverage translates well into a delicious low carb option.

That’s why keto sweet tea lemonade really shines!

An easy to make, super low carb, and extra delicious beverage option like this deserves to be on your next grocery list. So add the ingredients now. You’ll thank us later.

(And let us know what you think in the comments.)