Tamees Bread Calories 🫓
Calculate tamees bread calories for Saudi servings. Soft sourdough-style flatbread fresh from the tandoor — full nutrition breakdown and portion guide.
What Is Tamees Bread?
Tamees (Arabic: تميس) is a large, soft, slightly sourdough-flavoured flatbread baked in a stone or clay oven, extremely popular in Saudi Arabia (originally brought from Yemen). It is commonly eaten with hummus, labneh, eggs, beans or simply dipped in olive oil at breakfast. A full tamees loaf is quite large and significantly more calorie-dense than a pita bread, but it is usually shared between multiple people. Per 100g, tamees provides approximately 260 kcal from starch with a modest amount of protein and very little fat.
Calories at a Glance
| Portion | Weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 small piece (~100g) | 100g | ~260 kcal |
| 1 medium serving (shared portion) | 150g | ~390 kcal |
| Half a loaf | 200g | ~520 kcal |
| Full loaf | 350g | ~910 kcal |
| Per 100g | 100g | ~260 kcal |
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your portion size in grams. CalorieMetrica will estimate calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat. Values vary by recipe, oil quantity, cooking method and serving size. Use these as a practical guide.
Tamees Bread — Calorie and Nutrition Breakdown (per 100g)
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Daily % (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 260 kcal | 13% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 18% |
| Fat | 4g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g | 7% |
Calories by Portion Size
| Portion | Weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 small piece (~100g) | 100g | ~260 kcal |
| 1 medium serving (shared portion) | 150g | ~390 kcal |
| Half a loaf | 200g | ~520 kcal |
| Full loaf | 350g | ~910 kcal |
| Per 100g | 100g | ~260 kcal |
Calories by Preparation Method
Plain baked tamees from the oven has no added oil and is relatively low in fat (~4g/100g). Calories increase when tamees is eaten with ghee, olive oil dips, or high-fat spreads. Toasted tamees with butter adds approximately 100 kcal per tablespoon of butter. Tamees dipped in hummus adds 50–100 kcal depending on portion size.
Tamees Bread for Weight Loss
Tamees is a dense carbohydrate food and should be portioned carefully in a weight-loss diet. A 100g piece (one small section of a loaf) provides about 260 kcal before any toppings. Pair tamees with protein-rich dips (hummus, labneh, eggs) and keep the bread portion to 100–150g to create a balanced, satisfying breakfast at 350–500 kcal total.
Tamees Bread for Muscle Gain
Tamees provides fast-digesting carbohydrates useful as a pre-workout energy source. The 8g protein per 100g is modest — pair with eggs, labneh or hummus to build a protein-rich meal. As a post-workout carbohydrate source, 100–150g of tamees with a high-protein side creates a useful muscle-building meal.
Smart Comparison
Tamees is higher in calories per 100g than pita bread (~250 kcal) but similar in protein content. Compared to naan or roti, tamees is slightly denser and chewier. Among Saudi breads, tamees is the most calorie-dense per 100g due to its thickness compared to the thin breads used in stews.
Portion Control Advice
A tamees loaf is typically shared between 2–4 people. One small individual portion (100–150g) is appropriate for one person per meal. Measure your portion rather than eating directly from the communal loaf to avoid overeating.
Practical Eating Tips
Tamees is best eaten fresh and warm. Pair with protein-rich accompaniments (eggs, labneh, hummus, ful medames) rather than high-fat dips alone. Avoid spreading butter or ghee generously — the bread has excellent flavour without added fat.
Common Mistakes
Eating half to a full tamees loaf per person at breakfast — common at Saudi restaurants where a full loaf comes as standard — provides 500–900 kcal from bread alone before any accompaniments. Portion control on the bread is the single most important step for calorie management when eating tamees.
Burn This Food — Activity Equivalents
A standard serving (~400 kcal) requires approximately:
| Activity | Approx. Duration |
|---|---|
| Brisk Walking | ~73 min |
| Jogging | ~44 min |
| Swimming | ~50 min |
| Cycling | ~57 min |
Burn times vary by body weight, fitness level and exercise intensity.
Health Considerations
Tamees is a wheat-based bread and is not suitable for celiac or gluten-intolerant individuals. The slight sourdough fermentation process improves digestibility compared to non-fermented breads. Tamees has a moderate glycaemic index — slower to spike blood sugar than white rice. Sodium content depends on the amount of salt used in preparation.
Healthy Alternative Tips
Lower Calorie Option: Open the Full Food Detail to see smart lower-calorie swaps tailored to your goal.
Higher Protein Option: Grilled Chicken Saudi or Chicken Kebab Saudi for a leaner, protein-rich alternative.
Smarter Swap: Use the Food Compare tool to compare Tamees Bread side-by-side with other Saudi foods.
Related Tools
FAQs
How many calories in tamees bread?
A 100g piece contains approximately 260 kcal. A full tamees loaf (350g) contains around 910 kcal but is usually shared between 2–4 people.
What is tamees bread?
Tamees is a large, soft, slightly sourdough-flavoured flatbread baked in a stone or clay oven. It originated in Yemen and is very popular across Saudi Arabia, especially at breakfast.
Is tamees good for weight loss?
It can fit in a weight-loss diet if portion size is controlled to 100–150g per serving and paired with protein-rich accompaniments.
How does tamees compare to pita bread?
Tamees is thicker and larger than pita bread, with a slightly sourdough flavour. Per 100g, the calorie content is similar (~250–260 kcal) but a full tamees loaf provides far more total calories than one pita.
What do you eat with tamees?
Tamees is most commonly eaten with hummus, labneh, ful medames, eggs, or olive oil for dipping.
📊 Data source note: Nutrition values are estimates based on standard food composition databases and Saudi recipe data. Actual values vary by cooking method, oil quantity, ingredients and serving size. See our Data Sources and Methodology pages.