Iced coffee has become an incredibly popular drink in recent years. As people look for ways to customize and enhance their iced coffee experience, adding ingredients like honey has become a popular choice. But is mixing honey into iced coffee actually good? There are pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Adding Honey to Iced Coffee
There are several potential benefits that come along with adding a bit of honey to your iced coffee:
It Can Sweeten Without Added Calories
One of the best things about using honey to sweeten iced coffee rather than plain white sugar is that honey contains fewer calories per teaspoon. On average, one teaspoon of honey contains around 22 calories while a teaspoon of white sugar contains 16 calories. This means you can lightly sweeten your iced coffee and cut down on unnecessary calorie intake.
It Adds Natural Flavor
Honey has a wonderfully rich, mildly floral flavor. When stirred into chilled coffee, it can lend a more complex, nuanced sweetness compared to plain sugar. The honey taste comes through subtly, rounding out the coffee’s natural roasted flavors.
It’s A Healthier Choice Than Sugary Flavor Syrups
Often people add sugary bottled flavor syrups to iced coffee as a way to make it taste sweeter. Options like chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and hazelnut syrups quickly spike the sugar and calorie counts. Honey, on the other hand, is an all-natural sweetener without any added artificial flavors. So you can achieve a flavor boost without the same unhealthy drawbacks.
It May Provide Antioxidants
In addition to sugars, honey contains small amounts of antioxidant compounds like phenolic acids and flavonoids. Some research suggests that these may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Adding a bit of honey to your coffee could give it some subtle antioxidant potential.
Cons of Adding Honey to Iced Coffee
At the same time, there are a few downsides that can come with pouring honey into iced coffee:
It’s Still Added Sugar
While honey may be marginally better than plain white sugar or sugary syrups, at the end of the day, it still counts as added sugar. If you’re trying to watch your overall sugar intake for health reasons, honey isn’t necessarily the best choice to sweeten coffee.
It Can Cause the Drink to Crystallize
Depending on the type of honey used and the temperature of the coffee, adding honey may cause the drink to crystallize once chilled. This can give it an unpleasant, grainy texture that ruins the smooth iced coffee experience.
The Flavor Isn’t For Everyone
While many people enjoy the subtle floral sweetness of honey, others may find it overpowering or too strong when paired with coffee’s bitter flavor profile. The honey influence may make your iced coffee taste unpleasant if you don’t like that particular sweet flavor.
It’s Less Convenient Than Sugar or Syrups
Having to stir honey into each cup of iced coffee you make can feel like an inconvenient extra step compared to just pouring in pre-sweetened creamer or using prepared syrups. Some may find it annoying to have to keep honey on hand solely for their iced coffee rather than just using conventional sweeteners.
Best Practices for Adding Honey to Iced Coffee
If you do want to experiment with mixing a bit of honey into your iced coffee drinks, here are some tips to get the best results:
– Use raw, unpasteurized honey for stronger flavor and nutritional value.
– Start with small amounts like 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 8-12 oz coffee so the honey flavor isn’t overwhelming.
– Stir the honey while the coffee is hot to help it dissolve evenly before chilling.
– Use coarser ground coffee that won’t become bitter when sweetened.
– Consider adding a splash of milk or cream to help cut the honey’s thickness.
– Store your honey-sweetened coffee in the refrigerator to prevent crystallization issues.
Nutrition Facts of Honey vs. Sugar in Iced Coffee
Here is a nutrition comparison between using 1 teaspoon of honey versus 1 teaspoon of sugar to sweeten a typical 12 oz serving of iced coffee:
| Nutrition Facts | Honey (1 tsp) | Sugar (1 tsp) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 22 | 16 |
| Total Carbohydrates | 6 g | 4 g |
| Sugars | 6 g | 4 g |
As you can see, the honey adds slightly more calories and carbohydrates compared to plain sugar. But the differences are fairly small in a 12 oz coffee.
Recipes for Iced Coffee with Honey
If you want to get on board with the honey in iced coffee trend, try out some of these tasty recipe ideas:
Simple Honey Iced Coffee
Ingredients:
– 3/4 cup cold brew coffee concentrate
– 1/4 cup milk of choice
– 1 tsp honey
– Ice
Directions: Combine coffee concentrate, milk, and honey in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir until honey dissolves. Enjoy!
Honey Vanilla Latte Iced Coffee
Ingredients:
– 1 shot espresso
– 1/2 cup cold milk
– 1/2 tsp honey
– 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
– Ice
Directions: Pull espresso shot over ice into a tall glass. Add milk, honey, and vanilla. Stir gently 3-4 times. Top with more ice if needed. Dust with cinnamon.
Sparkling Honey Lemon Iced Coffee
Ingredients:
– 1 cup fresh brewed coffee, chilled
– 1/4 cup lemon juice
– 1 tbsp honey
– 1 cup sparkling water
– Lemon slice garnish
Directions: In a tall glass, stir together chilled coffee, lemon juice and honey until combined. Add ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon slice.
The Bottom Line
Adding a bit of honey to your iced coffee can provide some nice flavor enhancement and mild health perks compared to plain sugar or bottled syrups. But it also comes with some drawbacks like potentially causing crystallization. Overall, using honey in moderation can be a tasty way to switch up your iced coffee routine. But it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
As with any diet choice, your best bet is to experiment and see if your tastebuds enjoy the honey and iced coffee combination. Sip mindfully and find the best sweetener balance that satisfies your cravings!