13 Best Keto-Friendly Drinks Besides Water | Low-Carb Beverage Guide

Following a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean you’re limited to drinking plain water all day. While water should remain your primary beverage choice, there’s an extensive variety of delicious, keto-friendly drinks that can add flavor and enjoyment to your low-carb lifestyle without disrupting ketosis.

The key to selecting appropriate beverages on keto is choosing options with minimal net carbs—typically 0-5 grams per serving. Net carbs are calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols from total carbohydrates, giving you a more accurate picture of how a drink will affect your blood sugar and ketosis state.

Whether you’re looking for energizing morning beverages, refreshing afternoon drinks, or even occasional alcoholic options, this comprehensive guide covers 13 excellent keto-friendly drinks to keep your beverage choices exciting and varied.

Hot Beverages: Warm Comfort on Keto

Hot drinks provide comfort and energy, making them perfect for starting your day or enjoying during a break. The following options are naturally low in carbs and can be easily customized to fit your keto macros.

1. Black Tea

Black tea is an excellent zero-carb beverage that offers robust flavor and natural caffeine. Made from aged tea leaves, black tea provides a darker color and stronger taste compared to other tea varieties. Each cup contains less than 1 gram of carbohydrates, making it perfectly suitable for ketogenic diets.

Beyond being keto-friendly, black tea is rich in antioxidants called theaflavins and thearubigins, which support heart health and may help reduce inflammation. You can enjoy it hot or iced, plain or with keto-approved additions like heavy cream or sugar-free sweeteners.

2. Green Tea

Green tea is another outstanding choice for keto dieters. Made from fresh, unaged tea leaves, it offers a lighter, more delicate flavor profile than black tea while providing similar low-carb benefits with less than 1 gram of carbs per cup.

Green tea is particularly notable for its high concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant compound. Research suggests EGCG may support weight loss efforts, boost metabolism, and provide protective effects against various chronic conditions. The modest caffeine content in green tea can also enhance mental alertness without the jitters associated with excessive coffee consumption.

3. Coffee

Coffee ranks among the most popular keto-friendly beverages, and for good reason. Black coffee contains virtually zero carbohydrates and calories, making it an ideal choice for maintaining ketosis. The caffeine in coffee can provide a metabolic boost and enhance fat burning, complementing the keto diet’s weight loss benefits.

Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol antioxidant that may support weight management and blood sugar regulation. For added richness and fat content, consider adding heavy whipping cream, grass-fed butter, or MCT oil to create a popular keto beverage known as “bulletproof coffee.”

4. Herbal Tea

Herbal teas offer incredible variety without compromising your carb limits. These caffeine-free infusions are made from dried flowers, leaves, herbs, or spices and typically contain negligible carbohydrates. Popular options include chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, hibiscus, and ginger tea.

Each herbal tea brings unique health benefits: chamomile promotes relaxation, peppermint aids digestion, rooibos provides antioxidants without caffeine, and ginger supports digestive health. Be cautious with pre-packaged herbal teas that contain dried fruit pieces or added sweeteners, as these can increase the carb content.

Keto-Friendly Additions for Hot Drinks

To keep your hot beverages keto-compliant, choose the right additions. Acceptable options include:

• Heavy whipping cream (0.4g carbs per tablespoon)
• Half-and-half (0.6g carbs per tablespoon)
• Unsweetened almond or coconut milk
• Sugar-free sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit
• Sugar-free flavoring syrups
• Grass-fed butter or ghee
• MCT oil or coconut oil

Avoid regular milk, sweetened creamers, sugar, honey, agave, and standard flavored syrups, as these will significantly increase your carb intake.

Carbonated and Sparkling Options

5. Sparkling Water

Sparkling water, also known as carbonated water or seltzer, is a refreshing zero-carb alternative to still water. The carbonation occurs either naturally from mineral springs or through the addition of carbon dioxide gas during manufacturing.

Many brands offer flavored sparkling waters using natural essences without adding sugars or carbohydrates. Popular keto-friendly brands include La Croix, Perrier, Bubly, Waterloo, and San Pellegrino. These beverages provide the satisfaction of a fizzy drink without the sugar and carbs found in regular sodas.

6. Diet Soda (Choose Wisely)

While technically keto-friendly due to zero net carbs, traditional diet sodas containing artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium may not be the healthiest choice. Some research suggests these synthetic sweeteners might negatively impact gut bacteria, increase sugar cravings, and potentially hinder weight loss efforts.

If you enjoy the taste of soda, consider choosing brands sweetened with natural zero-calorie alternatives like stevia or erythritol. Zevia and Virgil’s Zero Sugar are examples of sodas using natural sweeteners, providing a better option for health-conscious keto dieters.

7. Flavored Water with Real Fruit Essence

Some beverages are lightly flavored with small amounts of real fruit juice or fruit essences, adding natural taste without excessive carbs. These drinks typically contain 1-5 grams of net carbs per serving, keeping them within acceptable keto ranges when consumed in moderation.

Brands like Spindrift use real squeezed fruit for flavoring, while others like Hint create fruit-flavored water using natural essences without sweeteners. Always check nutrition labels to verify the carb content aligns with your daily macro goals.

Water Enhancers and Flavor Drops

Water enhancers offer a convenient way to add flavor variety without carrying multiple beverage bottles. These concentrated liquid or powder products can transform plain water into a flavorful drink with minimal or zero carbs.

Look for unsweetened options or those sweetened with stevia rather than artificial sweeteners. Brands like Stur offer stevia-sweetened water enhancers, while True Lemon and True Citrus provide unsweetened crystallized fruit options for adding natural citrus flavor.

Juice Options on Keto

8. Lemon and Lime Juice

While most fruit juices are far too high in sugar for the ketogenic diet, lemon and lime juices are notable exceptions. These citrus juices contain relatively few carbs—approximately 3-4 grams per fluid ounce—and are typically used in small quantities as flavor enhancers rather than consumed in large volumes.

Fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice can brighten up plain water, sparkling water, tea, or other beverages. They also provide vitamin C and can help with hydration and electrolyte balance.

9. Low-Carb Vegetable Juice

Certain vegetables are low enough in carbohydrates to be juiced while maintaining ketosis. The best options include celery, cucumber, leafy greens like spinach and kale, and herbs like parsley and cilantro.

However, keep in mind that juicing removes most of the beneficial fiber from vegetables. If you choose to drink vegetable juice, consider blending rather than juicing to retain more fiber, or consume the pulp alongside the juice. Be very cautious with store-bought vegetable juices, as many contain added sugars, fruit juices, or high-carb vegetables like carrots and beets that can quickly exceed your carb limits.

Plant-Based Milk Alternatives

10. Unsweetened Nut and Seed Milks

Regular cow’s milk contains lactose, a natural sugar that makes it too high in carbs for most keto dieters (12 grams per cup). Fortunately, several plant-based alternatives fit perfectly into a ketogenic lifestyle:

• Almond milk: Unsweetened almond milk contains only 1-2 grams of net carbs per cup, making it the most popular keto milk alternative
• Coconut milk: Full-fat canned coconut milk is high in beneficial fats with minimal carbs; carton coconut milk beverages are also keto-friendly when unsweetened
• Cashew milk: Slightly creamier than almond milk with about 2 grams of net carbs per cup
• Macadamia nut milk: Rich and creamy with less than 1 gram of carbs per cup
• Flax milk: Made from flaxseeds, providing omega-3 fatty acids with minimal carbs

These plant-based milks work excellently in coffee, tea, smoothies, or low-carb cereal. Always choose unsweetened versions, as sweetened and flavored varieties can contain 10-20 grams of added sugar per serving.

Energy-Boosting Beverages

11. Keto-Friendly Energy Drinks

When you need an extra energy boost, some energy drinks can fit into your keto plan. However, many mainstream energy drinks contain high amounts of sugar or rely on artificial sweeteners that may not align with your health goals.

Look for energy drinks sweetened with stevia or erythritol instead. Brands like EBOOST, Kill Cliff, and Celsius offer zero-sugar options with natural ingredients. These drinks typically contain 150-200mg of caffeine per can, along with B vitamins and other energy-supporting compounds.

Be mindful of your total daily caffeine intake, keeping it below 400mg per day for most adults. Excessive energy drink consumption, especially in younger individuals, has been associated with negative cardiovascular effects, so consume these beverages in moderation.

Sports and Electrolyte Drinks

12. Electrolyte Replacement Beverages

Electrolyte drinks are particularly important for keto dieters because the low-carb diet has a natural diuretic effect, increasing fluid and mineral loss through urine. This makes maintaining proper electrolyte balance crucial for avoiding the “keto flu”—symptoms like headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps, and dizziness that can occur when starting the diet.

Traditional sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade contain excessive sugar, but sugar-free versions like Gatorade Zero and Powerade Zero are available. However, these use artificial sweeteners, which some people prefer to avoid.

Better alternatives include electrolyte powders sweetened with stevia that you can mix with water. Look for products containing sodium, potassium, and magnesium—the three key electrolytes often depleted on keto. Recommended brands include Ultima Replenisher, LMNT, Keto Vitals, and Dr. Berg’s Electrolyte Powder.

You can also make your own electrolyte drink by mixing water with a pinch of sea salt, a squeeze of lemon or lime, and a keto-friendly sweetener if desired.

Alcoholic Beverages on Keto

While alcohol isn’t essential for health and can slow weight loss by temporarily halting fat burning, many people want to enjoy occasional alcoholic beverages while maintaining their keto lifestyle. Fortunately, several low-carb options exist.

13. Low-Carb Beer

Regular beer is high in carbohydrates due to malted grains used in brewing. However, low-carb beers are produced using less grain or allowing longer fermentation to convert more sugars into alcohol.

The lowest-carb beer options include:

• Budweiser Select 55 (1.9g carbs per 12 oz)
• Miller 64 (2.4g carbs per 12 oz)
• Michelob Ultra (2.6g carbs per 12 oz)
• Corona Premier (2.6g carbs per 12 oz)
• Amstel Light (5g carbs per 12 oz)

These options allow beer lovers to enjoy an occasional brew without significantly impacting ketosis.

14. Hard Liquor

Pure distilled spirits contain zero carbohydrates because the distillation process removes all sugars. Keto-friendly hard liquors include:

• Vodka
• Whiskey
• Rum (unflavored)
• Tequila
• Gin
• Brandy
• Scotch
• Bourbon

The key is consuming these spirits straight, on the rocks, or mixed with zero-carb beverages like soda water, diet tonic water, or diet soda. Avoid sugary mixers like fruit juices, regular tonic water, margarita mix, and regular soda, as these can contain 20-40 grams of carbs per serving.

Also be cautious with flavored liquors, as some contain added sugars. Always check labels or nutritional information when possible.

15. Hard Seltzers

Hard seltzers have become increasingly popular and many are keto-friendly. These beverages combine sparkling water with alcohol and natural flavors, typically containing 2-5 grams of carbs per can.

Popular low-carb hard seltzer brands include White Claw, Truly, Bon & Viv, and Corona Hard Seltzer. Some brands now offer zero-carb options specifically marketed to keto dieters.

If you follow a gluten-free diet, check labels carefully, as some hard seltzers are made with malt alcohol derived from grains.

16. Dry Wine

While not covered in the reference article, dry wines deserve mention as keto-friendly alcoholic options. Dry wines contain minimal residual sugar after fermentation:

• Dry red wines (3-4g carbs per 5 oz): Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot
• Dry white wines (3-4g carbs per 5 oz): Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay
• Champagne and dry sparkling wines (1-2g carbs per 5 oz)

Avoid sweet wines like Port, Moscato, and dessert wines, which contain significantly more sugar.

Important Considerations for Alcohol on Keto

If you choose to consume alcohol while following a ketogenic diet, keep these important points in mind:

• Alcohol tolerance decreases: Many people experience lower alcohol tolerance on keto, meaning you may feel effects more quickly and intensely
• Hangovers may worsen: Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are more likely, potentially leading to worse hangover symptoms
• Fat burning pauses: Your body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over burning fat, temporarily halting ketosis
• Calories still count: Alcoholic beverages contain calories that can impact weight loss efforts
• Drink responsibly: Always consume alcohol in moderation and stay well-hydrated

Beverages to Avoid on Keto

To maintain ketosis and support your health goals, avoid these high-carb beverages:

• Regular soda: Contains 30-40g of sugar per 12 oz can
• Fruit juice: Orange, apple, and grape juice contain 25-30g of carbs per 8 oz
• Regular milk: Contains 12g of carbs per cup from lactose
• Sweetened coffee drinks: Flavored lattes and frappuccinos can contain 30-60g of carbs
• Sweet tea: Southern-style sweet tea contains massive amounts of added sugar
• Energy drinks with sugar: Regular energy drinks contain 25-50g of carbs
• Smoothies: Most contain high-carb fruits and sweeteners
• Sports drinks: Regular Gatorade and Powerade contain 20-30g of carbs per bottle
• Cocktails with sweet mixers: Margaritas, daiquiris, and other mixed drinks often exceed 30g of carbs
• Sweetened iced tea: Pre-made sweetened iced teas contain significant added sugars

Tips for Staying Hydrated on Keto

Proper hydration is crucial on the ketogenic diet due to increased water and electrolyte loss. Follow these guidelines:

• Aim for at least 8-10 cups of water daily, adjusting based on activity level and climate
• Monitor urine color—pale yellow indicates good hydration
• Increase fluid intake during exercise or hot weather
• Include electrolyte-rich beverages to replace lost minerals
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
• Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day
• Set reminders if you struggle to drink enough fluids

Making Your Own Keto Beverages

Creating homemade keto drinks allows complete control over ingredients and costs. Try these simple recipes:

Keto Lemonade

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup erythritol or stevia to taste
• Ice

Iced Keto Coffee

• 1 cup cold brew or chilled coffee
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon MCT oil
• Sugar-free sweetener to taste
• Ice

Cucumber Mint Water

• 8 cups water
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 10-12 fresh mint leaves
• Let infuse for 2-4 hours

Reading Labels for Keto Beverage Success

When purchasing packaged beverages, careful label reading ensures keto compliance:

• Check total carbohydrates and dietary fiber to calculate net carbs
• Look for hidden sugars under various names (cane sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, maltose)
• Identify the type of sweetener used (natural vs. artificial)
• Note serving sizes, as some bottles contain multiple servings
• Watch for added ingredients that may contain carbs
• Compare similar products to find the lowest-carb option

Conclusion: Enjoying Beverage Variety on Keto

Following a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean resigning yourself to drinking only water. As this comprehensive guide demonstrates, you have numerous delicious, refreshing options that keep you in ketosis while satisfying your taste preferences.

From energizing teas and coffee to refreshing sparkling waters, from plant-based milks to occasional low-carb alcoholic beverages, the variety of keto-friendly drinks available ensures you’ll never feel deprived or bored with your beverage choices.

The key is choosing unsweetened options or those sweetened with natural, zero-calorie alternatives like stevia or erythritol. Avoid artificial sweeteners when possible, watch for hidden sugars in packaged products, and always calculate net carbs to ensure your drinks fit within your daily macro goals.

Remember that while these beverages can enhance your keto lifestyle, water should still form the foundation of your hydration strategy. Use other drinks to add variety, boost energy, or enjoy social occasions, but prioritize plenty of fresh, clean water throughout each day.

With this knowledge and the many options available, you can confidently navigate beverage choices while successfully maintaining your ketogenic lifestyle and working toward your health and wellness goals.

Sources:

• National Center for Biotechnology Information – Tea and Health Benefits
• National Institutes of Health – Caffeine Safety and Metabolism
• PubMed Central – Electrolytes and Hydration
• NIH – Ketogenic Diet Effects and Adaptations
• USDA FoodData Central – Nutritional Information Database