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(Spoiler: It’s Not as Rude as You Think)

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When I first heard someone say, “Tea is dehydrating,” I almost spit out my Earl Grey. Imagine sipping something warm, comforting, and soothing, only to be told it’s secretly working against you. That felt a little like being told your dog doesn’t really love you—completely unfair and mildly offensive.

But let’s slow down. Is tea really dehydrating us? And how does it stack up against plain old water and our beloved morning coffee? I decided to dig into this, because like most of you, I’ve had those days where my “hydration plan” consists of one travel mug of coffee, three cups of tea, and a vague promise to drink water later.

The Myth of Tea as a Dehydrator

Here’s where the confusion started: caffeine. Tea contains caffeine, and caffeine is a mild diuretic. That means it can make you pee more. So naturally, people assume that if you’re running to the restroom, you’re losing water, and therefore, tea must be dehydrating.

But here’s the plot twist: research shows that the fluid you’re sipping from tea still counts toward your daily hydration. In other words, the water in your tea is greater than the extra bathroom break it causes. That mug of Lipton Green Tea or Twinings English Breakfast is not the villain you thought—it’s actually still helping keep you hydrated.

I don’t know about you, but that was a relief. Because if tea truly dehydrated me, I’d have to rethink about 60% of my daily routine.

Tea vs. Water: The Straightforward Sibling

Now, let’s be honest. If hydration were a family, water is the straightforward sibling who always shows up on time and never causes drama. No caffeine, no diuretic effect, no confusion. It’s just water, doing its job, quietly and consistently.

Take a bottle of Essentia Ionized Alkaline Water on Amazon. You chug that, you know you’re getting hydration with zero fine print. There’s something refreshing about that level of reliability.

But here’s the catch: water can feel… boring. Raise your hand if you’ve ever set a goal to drink eight glasses a day and found yourself bargaining with yourself at 3 p.m.—“Does soup count? What about watermelon?”

That’s where tea swoops in. It hydrates, and it gives you flavor, warmth, and that little ritual of steeping and sipping.

Tea vs. Coffee: The Energy Rivalry

If water is the steady sibling, coffee is the flashy one who shows up late but brings the party. And tea? Tea is the middle child who’s thoughtful, balanced, and sometimes overlooked.

Coffee has more caffeine than tea, which means it can cause a slightly stronger diuretic effect. That doesn’t mean it’s dehydrating, but let’s just say your bladder notices. A standard 8-ounce cup of coffee packs about 95 mg of caffeine, while black tea usually sits around 40–60 mg. Green tea? Even less.

So if hydration is the priority, tea has a gentler impact. And if you want a compromise between energy and hydration, you might lean toward tea instead of that fourth cup of Starbucks Pike Place.

Personally, I’ve noticed that after two cups of coffee, my mouth feels dry, like the Sahara Desert just took up residence. But with tea, I can sip all day without that parched feeling.

My Tea Shelf Looks Like Amazon

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a tea shelf at home that looks like a mini Amazon warehouse. And honestly, most of it is from Amazon.

• Twinings English Breakfast Tea – My go-to when I need a warm hug in a cup. It feels like the reliable best friend who always has good advice.

• Yogi Honey Lavender Stress Relief Tea – For the nights when I need to trick my brain into calming down before bed.

• Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea – Basically autumn in a mug. If fall had a flavor, this would be it.

And yes, I pair all this with a Contigo Autoseal Travel Mug because there’s nothing more painful than spilling hot tea on your lap while driving to work.

The Bathroom Test

Here’s how I think about it: if I drink three mugs of tea during the day, I’ll probably go to the bathroom a little more often. But I don’t feel drained or parched afterward. That’s my body telling me that yes, tea makes me pee, but it’s not stealing hydration—it’s just moving things along.

Compare that to a day when I down three cups of coffee. I’m buzzing, I’m jittery, and suddenly my lips are dry, and I’m reaching for chapstick. That’s when I know I’ve tipped into the “too much caffeine” zone.

Water, on the other hand, never tricks me like that. It’s steady. It’s the marathon runner of hydration.

The Real Takeaway

So, is tea dehydrating you? No, not in the way you think. The caffeine might make you use the restroom more often, but the hydration you get from the tea outweighs that effect.

Compared to water, tea adds flavor and comfort but comes with a side of mild caffeine. Compared to coffee, tea hydrates more gently and doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve just had a three-hour meeting in the desert.

Here’s the best way I frame it:

• Drink water when you need pure hydration.

• Drink tea when you want hydration plus comfort or flavor.

• Drink coffee when you need rocket fuel, but maybe follow it with water (or tea) so you don’t dry out.

Your Turn

I’ve shared my bathroom test, my Amazon tea shelf, and my personal hydration hierarchy. But I’m curious—where do you land?

Do you swear by plain water and think tea is just fancy flavored liquid? Or are you like me, with enough tea bags at home to stock a small café? Maybe you’re in team coffee and think tea drinkers are just dabbling in caffeine cosplay.

Either way, I’d love to hear: next time you reach for a drink, will you see tea as a hydrator or a traitor?

Drop your thoughts below—because this conversation is way more fun when we all spill the tea.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but this does not affect my recommendations.I only suggest products I’ve personally vetted.