Loaded Teas: Are They Worth It?

We've all seen the brightly colored drinks in clear cups labeled with cool names. Our friends on social media have been checking in at tea shops for the dollar discount and then telling us how much energy they have after gulping one down. In addition to the punch of energy, they claim to increase mental clarity, help burn fat, and boost your metabolism.

What exactly is in a loaded tea?

A loaded tea is a cocktail of vitamins, aloe, caffeine and flavoring mixed with water. The majority of them, especially the super popular tea shops, come from Herbalife. Sounds pretty basic, right?

*Note: If you’re not much of a loaded tea fanatic but still like energy drinks, check out More Bang for Your Buck: Energy Drinks.

**The links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Why are loaded teas so expensive?

In all reality, they are crazy expensive because they are crazy popular! As you can see in this chart, the actual ingredients are not that costly, and you can get them even cheaper at a member price. They have quickly become the trendiest drink in town and on social media. One great thing going for these teas is that they do hit you with that highly sought after energy kick! No doubt about it.

How do these teas compare to advocare spark?

These are two different products, but they have some distinct similarities. Let’s look at the caffeine content and price.

If your main focus is energy, you can throw a half teaspoon of tea concentrate in a Spark, and you essentially have a loaded tea. For the trendy Herbalife teas, you are basically paying for the cool flavors and convenience. When you look at it this way, Spark is the clear winner.

are loaded teas really worth it?

The Herbalife loaded teas definitely win in the flavor category and check off the coolness factor. They’re also not too bad of a value if you get the premium discount and make them yourself at home. Some tea shops, or clubs, even offer a free tea after you purchase a certain amount. However, they are extremely overpriced and can really hurt your wallet. If you are trying to save money, then they are unfortunately not in the budget. Bummer!

The biggest downside to purchasing Herbalife products and loaded teas is that it’s supporting a multi-level marketing company (“MLM”). Not cool at all.

cheaper loaded tea & spark alternatives

Are you ready for me to blow your mind? Okay, I hope you’re sitting down…..

The Great Value Flavored Energy Drink Mix has the exact same caffeine content as an Advocare Spark.

Coming in at $1.52 for a box of ten drink mixes, you’re looking at a total cost of $0.25 including a bottle of water! I’ll let you digest that for a second.

Okay, I told you I would always hit you with the frugal truth, and this is huge! I have been drinking a bottle of water with the Great Value Flavored Energy Drink Mix every morning for roughly five years. It gives me the same effect as drinking an Advocare Spark, which is what I drank before. If you already have a vitamin regimen (Back to the Basics: Vitamins), then you’re not missing anything with the Spark.

Now, you tell me….are the loaded teas really worth it, or are they just another flavor of the month?

**The links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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