Benefits, Downsides, and How to Make It

Recently invented in Taiwan, cheese tea is already a worldwide trend.

It’s made with a base of sweetened black or green tea, which can be served hot or cold, with or without milk, and in a variety of flavors.

The tea is then topped with a layer of cream-cheese foam, which usually consists of cream cheese, whipped cream, and sweetened condensed milk, and served with a sprinkle of salt.

Each sip contains the flavor of the sweetened tea and salty and sweet cream cheese topping. This tasty combination is why cheese tea has become so popular.

Summary

Cheese tea consists of green or black tea that’s topped with a layer of salted cream-cheese foam. It’s growing in popularity across the world.

Given that cheese tea is a relatively new way to enjoy tea, no studies have analyzed its health effects.

However, a great deal of research has been conducted on its main ingredients — tea, sugar, and dairy.

Below are some of the potential benefits and downsides of cheese tea.

Benefits

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the main ingredient in cheese tea is tea.

People have been reaping the benefits of tea for centuries, and decades of research support its health-promoting effects (1).

In particular, green tea is full of antioxidants called catechins. These compounds help reverse damage caused by free radicals, which are potentially harmful molecules that can cause cellular damage when levels become too high in your body (2, 3, 4).

One 2-week study in 32 people who drank 3 cups (700 ml) of either water or green tea daily found that those who drank green tea had nearly 30% more antioxidant activity in their skin (5).

Furthermore, black tea is rich in antioxidants called black tea polymerized polyphenols (BTPPs), which may help reduce blood sugar, high blood pressure, inflammation, and your risk of cancer (6).

Cheese tea also contains full-fat dairy in the form of cream cheese and whipped cream.

Although saturated fat intake was once thought to cause heart disease, research has shown that there is not a strong link between the two (7).

In fact, full-fat dairy products like cream cheese have been linked to a reduced risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes and heart disease (8, 9, 10).

One study in over 1,300 people observed that those who reported the highest intakes of full-fat dairy were about 50% less likely to be obese than those who reported the lowest intakes (9).

Nevertheless, while the antioxidants and full-fat dairy in cheese tea might provide some health benefits, many of them may be counteracted by its high sugar content.

Downsides

Cheese tea also has some drawbacks to consider.

Up to 75% of the world’s population may be lactose intolerant and need to avoid dairy products like cream cheese (11).

What’s more, cheese tea contains added sugar, although the amount varies significantly based on its ingredients and preparation method.

Sugar has been linked to inflammation and many negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers (7, 12, 13, 14).

It’s recommended that you limit added sugars to less than 10% of your calorie intake — and even further for optimal health (15).

In a 6-month study in 47 overweight adults, those who drank 4 cups (1 liter) of full-sugar soda daily had significantly more fat around their organs and in their livers and blood, compared to those who drank the same amount of water, diet soda, or skim milk daily (16).

Furthermore, given that most cheese tea packs both sugar and full-fat dairy, it’s high in calories. Excessive calorie intake can lead to weight gain.

Moreover, some cheese teas may be highly refined and contain unnecessary additives.

While some tea shops use freshly brewed tea, others may use sweetened tea concentrate that contains additives, such as food dyes. They may also use a powdered base to create the cream cheese topping instead of making it from whole ingredients.

You should purchase cheese tea from shops you trust, or make it yourself using ingredients that you’re comfortable with.

Summary

Cheese tea contains antioxidants and full-fat dairy, both of which have been associated with several health benefits. However, it’s also high in calories and sugar and may contain additives like food dyes.

While cheese tea is not a healthy beverage, it can be enjoyed as an occasional treat.

Tea, its main ingredient, boasts several health benefits. The drink also contains full-fat dairy, which is linked to a decreased risk of several adverse conditions, yet most people may not tolerate it well.

Cheese tea is high in sugar and calories, and certain versions may contain refined additives, such as food dyes.

A comparable tea drink contains about 240 calories and 8.5 teaspoons (34 grams) of sugar per 16-ounce (475-ml) serving (17).

Regularly drinking beverages high in sugar and calories is not good for your health and may lead to weight gain or other health conditions. For optimal health, stick to water and other calorie-free beverages like unsweetened tea.

That said, cheese tea can be enjoyed occasionally as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Summary

When enjoyed in moderation, cheese tea can be part of a healthy diet. It’s made with health-promoting black or green tea and full-fat dairy, but it also contains sugar and maybe even refined additives.

Cheese tea may be available at a coffee or tea shop near you, but it’s also very easy to make on your own.

Making cheese tea at home will allow you to control the calorie and sugar contents, as well as the quality of the ingredients.

Start with your favorite hot or cold brewed tea and sweeten it to your preference.

Then combine one part softened cream cheese and one part whipped cream, sweeten with your preferred sweetener, and spoon the mixture over the tea. Sprinkle with salt and enjoy.

Summary

Cheese tea is very easy to make at home using your favorite brewed tea and preferred sweetener, along with cream cheese, whipped cream, and salt.

Beloved for its sweet and salty flavor, cheese tea is an increasingly popular beverage.

It’s rich in antioxidants and full-fat dairy, both of which have been linked to health benefits.

Although it’s high in sugar and may contain refined additives, it can be enjoyed as an occasional treat.