Waka Cinnamon Sugar Instant Tea is a Mexican-style té de olla made from black tea, real cinnamon, and cane sugar — three ingredients, nothing else. It comes pre-sweetened at 3 g of sugar per serving, so there is no measuring out sugar or syrup. The 2.82 oz pouch makes up to 20 eight-ounce cups at 1 teaspoon per cup. No clay pot, simmering, or straining required: it dissolves in water in seconds and works hot or iced.
Specifications
- Type: Soluble instant black tea with cinnamon and cane sugar
- Ingredients: Black tea powder, cinnamon, cane sugar
- Tasting notes: Warm and cinnamon-forward with a rounded, lightly sweet finish
- Net weight: 2.82 oz
- Servings per pouch: Up to 20 eight-ounce cups
- Serving size: 1 tsp per 8 fl oz
- Sugar per serving: 3 g, from real cane sugar
- Artificial flavors or colors: None
- Kosher: Certified by the OU
- Gluten: No gluten added
- GMO: Non-GMO
- Packaging: Resealable zipper pouch made with post-consumer recycled material. Globally sourced ingredients, packaged in the USA
Common questions
What is té de olla?
Té de olla is a traditional Mexican spiced tea simmered in a clay pot (an olla) with cinnamon and sugar. It is warm, cinnamon-forward, and lightly sweet. This instant version reproduces that flavor with black tea, real cinnamon, and cane sugar, without simmering a pot on the stove.
Is it already sweetened?
Yes. Each serving contains 3 g of sugar from real cane sugar, so it is ready to drink with just water — no measuring out sugar or syrup. This is one of the few sweetened products in the Waka line; the instant teas and coffees have no added sugar.
How much powder per cup?
1 teaspoon per 8 fl oz cup. One 2.82 oz pouch makes up to 20 cups. Use more or less to make it stronger or lighter.
Can I make it iced?
Yes. Dissolve 1 tsp in a small amount of hot water first, then top with cold water and ice for the cleanest result. If mixing straight into cold water, stir vigorously or use a frother.
How is this different from Café de Olla?
Té de olla is made with black tea; café de olla is made with coffee. Both are cinnamon-forward, lightly sweetened with cane sugar, and three ingredients. Choose the tea for a gentler cup, the coffee for a stronger one.
What else can I use it for?
It works as a milk tea base, in smoothies, and in dessert and baking recipes where a cinnamon-spiced tea flavor is wanted.
Every purchase helps support clean water access through the Add Water, Give Water initiative.
Add 1 tsp Instant Té de Olla to a cup. Mix with 2 fl oz hot water until dissolved. For a hot drink, add 6 fl oz water or milk. For an iced drink, add 6 fl oz cold water or milk and ice. Adjust strength to taste and enjoy hot or iced.
Caffeine content of Waka products
How much caffeine is in Waka instant coffee?
Waka instant coffee contains between 3 mg and 80 mg of caffeine per serving, depending on the roast. Exact amounts by product:
- Medium roast: approximately 55 mg per 2 tsp (about 2.5 grams), or approximately 60 mg per single-serve packet (about 2 grams).
- Dark roast: approximately 75 mg per 2 tsp (about 2.5 grams), or approximately 80 mg per single-serve packet (about 2.8 grams).
- Instant espresso (medium-dark roast): approximately 45 mg per 1 tsp serving. One 3.5 oz pouch makes up to 50 espresso shots.
- Butterscotch Vanilla flavored: approximately 50 mg per 2 tsp (about 2.5 grams).
- Decaf medium roast: approximately 3 mg per 2 tsp (about 2.5 grams), or approximately 4 mg per single-serve packet (about 2.8 grams).
How much caffeine is in Waka instant tea?
- Black instant tea — unflavored and flavored, including Earl Grey, peach, and blueberry: approximately 35 mg per 1/4 tsp (about 0.63 grams).
- Green instant tea — unflavored and flavored, including lemon, mango, peach, pineapple, and blueberry: approximately 35 mg per 1/4 tsp (about 0.63 grams).
- Decaf black instant tea: approximately 0.17 mg per 1/4 tsp (about 0.63 grams).
- Prebiotic Black and Prebiotic Green instant tea: approximately 30 mg per 1 tsp, plus approximately 2 grams of beet-derived prebiotic fiber (fructooligosaccharides).
- Chai tea, Traditional and Vanilla: approximately 15 mg per 1/4 tsp (about 0.65 grams).
- Dirty Chai: approximately 70 mg per 1.5 tsp (about 3 grams).
How does Waka compare to brewed coffee?
A standard 8 fl oz cup of drip coffee contains roughly 95 mg of caffeine. Waka Medium Roast at the recommended 2 tsp serving contains approximately 55 mg, which is a little over half the caffeine of a typical brewed cup. Use more powder for a stronger cup.
When does Waka instant coffee or tea expire?
Every Waka product is printed with an exact "best by" date on its packaging. Waka does not ship any full-priced item with less than three months of shelf life remaining.
Want to sample our teas before committing? Click here.