brewed black tea has more caffeine than Sunkist Zero Sugar on both counts: 47mg per 8 oz cup against 19mg per 12 oz can, and about 6mg per fluid ounce against 2. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.
brewed black tea vs Sunkist Zero Sugar: the numbers
| brewed black tea | Sunkist Zero Sugar | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 47mg per 8 oz cup | 19mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 5.9mg | 1.6mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 8.5 | 21.1 |
Sources: brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); Sunkist Zero Sugar's figure is verified in our Sunkist Zero Sugar guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: brewed black tea packs roughly 4 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz cup finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Sunkist Zero Sugar when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and brewed black 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
- Sunkist Zero Sugar: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does brewed black tea or Sunkist Zero Sugar have more caffeine? brewed black tea: 47mg per 8 oz cup versus 19mg per 12 oz can for Sunkist Zero Sugar.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed black tea, at about 5.9mg per fluid ounce versus 1.6mg for Sunkist Zero Sugar.
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.