Bengal Spice tea is a popular herbal tea blend with ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and other warming spices. It’s often enjoyed without milk or sweeteners, allowing the robust spices to shine through. But some people do prefer adding a touch of honey, sugar or stevia to enhance the flavor. So does Bengal Spice tea contain sugar inherently, or do you need to add it yourself?
About Bengal Spice Tea
Bengal Spice is an herbal tea blend produced by Celestial Seasonings. It features a mixture of the following ingredients:
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Black pepper
- Cardamom
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Natural flavors
As you can see, it contains common warming spices but no actual tea leaves. The ingredients lend it a robust, aromatic flavor profile that is reminiscent of chai tea. But there is no inherent sugar in the blend itself.
Nutritional Information
Here is the nutritional information for one tea bag (1.5g) of Bengal Spice herbal tea according to Celestial Seasonings:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 0 |
| Total fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Total carbs | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, Bengal Spice tea contains 0 grams of sugar per serving. So there is no inherent sugar in this product. The sweetness some people detect likely comes from the natural flavors and spices like cinnamon. But no extra sugar has been added by the manufacturer.
Does Bengal Spice Tea Taste Sweet?
While there is no actual sugar in Bengal Spice tea, some people do report that it tastes mildly sweet. This sweetness comes from the cinnamon and other warming spices used in the blend.
Cinnamon contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde that activates sweetness receptors on the tongue. So even though no sugar has been added, cinnamon can create a perception of sweetness when you drink the tea.
The combination of spices like cardamom, cloves, and ginger also complement the flavor. So while not overtly sugary, Bengal Spice does have a warming, subtly sweet taste.
Do You Need to Add Sugar?
Since Bengal Spice tea contains no inherent sugars, you don’t need to add sugar for it to taste good. Many people enjoy it unsweetened to fully savor the strong spices.
However, some people do prefer adding a little sweetener. Options like honey, sugar, stevia or agave nectar can complement the existing flavors. The sweetener rounds out the spice notes and may make the tea more palatable depending on your preferences.
Here are some serving suggestions if you want to sweeten your Bengal Spice tea:
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of organic cane sugar
- 1 packet of stevia
- 1 teaspoon of agave nectar
Keep in mind that any sweeteners you add will increase the calorie and carbohydrate content per serving. But a small amount of honey or sugar can enhance the flavor if you find the tea too spicy unsweetened.
Risk of Added Sugars
While adding a moderate amount of sweetener to Bengal Spice is likely fine for most people, there are some potential downsides of added sugar to consider:
- Increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease
- Higher daily calorie intake leading to weight gain
- Potential dental problems like cavities
- Spiking of blood sugar levels
- May take away from the true flavors of the tea
Moderation is key if you do want to sweeten your tea. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) per day for men.
Making Bengal Spice Tea
Here is a simple recipe for making hot Bengal Spice tea:
Ingredients
- 1 Bengal Spice tea bag or 1 tsp loose leaf tea
- 8 oz hot water
- Optional sweetener like honey, sugar, etc.
Instructions
- Heat water to boiling.
- Place Bengal Spice tea bag or loose tea in cup.
- Pour hot water over tea.
- Steep for 5-7 minutes.
- Remove tea bag or strain loose tea.
- Add sweetener if desired.
- Enjoy your Bengal Spice tea!
Adjust the steeping time and amount of tea to achieve your preferred spice flavor strength. Try it with and without added sweetener to see which you prefer.
The Bottom Line
Bengal Spice tea contains no inherent sugar in the ingredients. However, its warming spices like cinnamon create a subtly sweet flavor profile that some people enhance by adding extra sweeteners. While not necessary, honey, sugar, or stevia can complement the existing spice flavors. Just be mindful of overdoing added sugars. Moderation is key to enjoy the health benefits of this robust herbal tea.