Pure Leaf black iced tea carries more total caffeine per serving (54mg per 18.5 oz bottle vs 47mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce brewed black tea is actually the stronger drink at about 6mg per fluid ounce against 3. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
brewed black tea vs Pure Leaf black iced tea: the numbers
| brewed black tea | Pure Leaf black iced tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 47mg per 8 oz cup | 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 5.9mg | 2.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 8.5 | 7.4 |
Sources: brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); Pure Leaf black iced tea's figure is verified in our Pure Leaf black iced tea guide against PepsiCo label data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed black tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Pure Leaf black iced tea when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- brewed black tea: the full caffeine guide
- Pure Leaf black iced tea: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does brewed black tea or Pure Leaf black iced tea have more caffeine? Pure Leaf black iced tea: 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed black tea, at about 5.9mg per fluid ounce versus 2.9mg for Pure Leaf black iced tea.
Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.