Karak Tea
The warming, mood-lifting tea of the Gulf street: strong black tea boiled long with evaporated milk, cardamom, cloves, saffron and ginger. The milk and spices give the tea a medium glycemic index (≈50), and its effect on health depends entirely on how much sugar is added.
Glycemic index
Glycemic load
Calories
Protein
💡 Smart Nutritional Guidance
Consumption advice
Order karak without sugar or with very little, to enjoy the concentrated flavour of spices and evaporated milk without an unnecessary glucose spike.
Best preparation methods
Make it at home with loose black tea and unsweetened evaporated milk, boiled with cardamom, fresh ginger and cloves, for an authentic, well-balanced karak.
Important Nutritional Note
Ready-made commercial karak often contains large amounts of sweetened condensed milk, so making it with ordinary unsweetened evaporated milk turns it into a warm drink that is a much better choice when you have insulin resistance.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per typical portion (200 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 78 kcal | 156 kcal |
| Protein | 1.8 g | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 14 g | 28 g |
| Available carbohydrate | 14 g | 28 g |
| Fat | 2 g | 4 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0 g | 0 g |
The typical portion is approximate, for comparison purposes.
Comparison & smarter alternatives
Among the foods in Drinks with a glycemic index (9), it ranks 5 (lowest first).
Smart alternatives from the same family:
Frequently asked questions
Is Karak Tea good for weight loss?
It can fit a balanced plan with portion control: a 200 g portion gives 156 kcal, and what matters most is your total daily intake and the rest of the meal.
How does Karak Tea affect blood sugar?
Its glycemic index is 50 (Low), a clinically reviewed estimate rather than a laboratory measurement. A typical 200 g portion has a glycemic load of 14 (Medium), so it is best combined with protein or fibre-rich vegetables.
What is the nutritional value of a typical portion of Karak Tea?
A typical 200 g portion of Karak Tea provides about 156 kcal, 3.6 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat and 0 g fibre.
Reviewed by the WiBo Health medical team · Last reviewed 13 October 2026
Disclaimer: This guidance is for nutritional lifestyle orientation and does not constitute a diagnostic medical device under EU Regulation MDR 2017/745.