McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is the most nutritionally straightforward beverage on the entire McDonald’s drinks menu. Zero calories, zero sugar, zero fat, zero allergens and more caffeine than most people expect from a tea served at a fast-food restaurant. It’s made from the same orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea blend as the Sweet Tea, freshly brewed in-store, just without the medium invert sugar added.
If you’re ordering it to avoid calories and sugar, you’re making the right call. This guide covers what’s actually in it, how much caffeine you’re getting, what EQUAL® and SPLENDA® are doing on the ingredient list, and one significant competitor error worth knowing about.
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea
Small – $3.79 | 70 cal
Medium – $4.69 |100 cal
Large – $4.99 |140 cal
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Overview
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is freshly brewed orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea served cold over ice, without any sweetener. Available in four sizes extra small, small, medium, and large it’s one of the few McDonald’s beverages with both four size options and zero calories across all of them.
| Detail | Info |
| Available | Year-round, all day |
| Sizes | Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large |
| Starting Price | ~$1.00 – $1.69 (Extra Small) |
| Calories (all sizes) | 0 kcal |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Caffeine | ~50–90 mg (varies by size) |
| Allergens | None declared |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten-Free | Yes |
| Sweetener options | EQUAL®, SPLENDA®, or sugar packet (optional, on request) |
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Ingredients
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is a simple, zero-calorie drink made with brewed black tea and ice, with optional add-ins like sweeteners or sugar if requested.
- Brewed Black Tea: Made from filtered water and orange pekoe & pekoe cut black tea; gives a strong, bold tea flavor with no allergens.
- Ice: Just frozen water used for chilling the drink; contains no calories or additives.
- EQUAL® Sweetener (optional): Zero-calorie artificial sweetener made with aspartame and Ace-K; very sweet, used instead of sugar.
- SPLENDA® Sweetener (optional): Zero-calorie sucralose-based sweetener; provides sweetness without raising calories.
- Sugar Packets (optional): Regular granulated sugar that adds calories and sweetness depending on amount used.
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Nutrition Facts
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 0 kcal | — |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | — |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 10mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Total Sugars | 0g | — |
| Added Sugars | 0g | 0% |
| Protein | 1g | 1% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 45mg | 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0mcg | 0% |
The nutrition label is essentially empty — which is the entire point. Zero calories, zero fat, zero sugar, zero sodium to speak of (10mg is trace-level, from the tea and filtered water). The 1g of protein is a trace amount from amino acids naturally present in black tea. The 45mg potassium and 10mg calcium are small but real contributions from the tea leaves.
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Price
| Size | Approx. Price |
| Extra Small | ~$1.00 – $1.49 |
| Small | ~$1.00 – $1.69 |
| Medium | ~$1.29 – $1.99 |
| Large | ~$1.49 – $2.29 |
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is among the lowest-priced beverages on the McDonald’s menu, comparable to Sweet Tea pricing. At participating locations, it may appear on value pricing tiers. Prices vary by location. McDelivery® adds service fees. McDonald’s app users can order through Mobile Order & Pay.
Caffeine Content
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea contains caffeine from the brewed black tea the same tea used in Sweet Tea, and therefore the same caffeine level before sweetener addition.
| Size | Approx. Caffeine |
| Extra Small | ~25–45 mg |
| Small | ~50–80 mg |
| Medium | ~70–110 mg |
| Large | ~90–140 mg |
The caffeine range is broader than for espresso-based drinks because brewed tea’s caffeine varies based on steeping time, water temperature, and the specific batch. Black tea generally contains 40–70mg per 8 oz serving; larger sizes contain proportionally more.
Unsweetened Iced Tea vs Sweet Tea The Complete Comparison
These two drinks start from identical base material the same orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea, brewed fresh in the same equipment. The only difference is the addition of medium invert sugar to the Sweet Tea. The result is a dramatic nutritional divergence:
| Feature | Unsweetened Iced Tea | Sweet Tea (Small) |
| Calories | 0 | 170 |
| Added Sugar | 0g | 40g (80% DV) |
| Total Sugar | 0g | 40g |
| Caffeine | Same (~50–80mg small) | Same (~50–80mg small) |
| Allergens | None | None |
| Price | Comparable | Comparable |
| Sweetener | None | Medium Invert Sugar |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes |
| Gluten-Free | Yes | Yes |
The Unsweetened Iced Tea and Sweet Tea are the clearest trade-off on the McDonald’s beverage menu: identical taste structure, identical tea, identical caffeine 170 calories and 40g of added sugar separating them. For anyone choosing based on health outcomes, the unsweetened version is the obvious choice. The Sweet Tea wins only if you specifically want or need the sweetness.
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Allergens
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea has one of the cleanest allergen profiles on the menu, with no major U.S. food allergens in its standard or optional ingredients.
- Brewed Black Tea: Contains only water and orange pekoe & pekoe cut black tea; no milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, or sesame.
- Ice: Frozen water only; no allergens.
- EQUAL® Sweetener (optional): No allergens, but contains aspartame (includes phenylalanine, important for PKU).
- SPLENDA® Sweetener (optional): No allergens and no phenylalanine.
- Sugar (optional): Plain granulated sugar; allergen-free.
Overall, the drink is naturally free from the major allergen groups, making it one of the safest beverage choices for allergy-sensitive customers.
Is McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Vegan?
Yes. Water and orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea are both plant-derived. No animal products, no dairy, no honey, no gelatin. The two optional artificial sweeteners (EQUAL® and SPLENDA®) are synthetic compounds containing no animal-derived ingredients, though some strict vegans note their animal-testing regulatory history the same consideration that applies to artificial dyes.
Sugar packets use refined white sugar, which may or may not have been processed through bone char filtration depending on the supplier. For strict vegans concerned about bone char, the SPLENDA® option is the straightforwardly vegan sweetener choice (sucralose production does not use bone char).
Is McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea Gluten-Free?
Yes. Black tea and water contain no gluten, wheat, barley, or rye. This is one of the most unambiguously gluten-free items on the McDonald’s menu. EQUAL® and SPLENDA® are also gluten-free. McDonald’s does not certify any item as officially gluten-free due to shared preparation environments, but for a beverage made from two ingredients with no shared equipment concerns, the cross-contact risk is minimal.
Customization Options
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea can be adjusted in several simple ways to control sweetness, strength, and flavor while keeping the drink calorie-free by default.
- Sweetener Choice: Choose EQUAL® (aspartame, PKU warning), SPLENDA® (sucralose, no PKU concern), or sugar packets (adds ~15–16 calories each).
- Ice Level: Light ice gives stronger tea flavor, extra ice keeps it colder but slightly dilutes taste, no ice gives full tea volume.
- Lemon: Optional lemon wedge adds a fresh citrus note and slightly brightens the flavor with minimal calories.
- Size Selection: All sizes are 0 calories unless sweetened; choice affects tea volume and caffeine strength only.
- Half-and-Half Option: Mixing with Sweet Tea creates a balanced drink with moderate sweetness and reduced sugar compared to full Sweet Tea.
FAQs
Conclusion
McDonald’s Unsweetened Iced Tea is one of the cleanest and simplest drinks on the entire menu just brewed black tea and ice, with zero calories, zero sugar, and zero allergens. It is freshly brewed throughout the day and delivers a strong, bold tea flavor without any additives, making it ideal for anyone controlling calories, sugar intake, or dietary restrictions.
The only factor to note is caffeine (about 50–80mg per small), which makes it a moderate energy boost but not ideal for caffeine-sensitive individuals. You can keep it pure for maximum health benefits, add SPLENDA® for sweetness without calories, or add lemon for a sharper, fresher taste. In every form, it remains one of the most reliable, affordable, and health-friendly beverage choices available at McDonald’s.
I am Daniel Brooks, a Chief and Food Specialist with strong experience in food blogging. I write expert articles about McDonald’s to provide accurate updates, reviews, and insights.
