Celsius vs brewed black tea: which has more caffeine?

Celsius has more caffeine than brewed black tea on both counts: 200mg per 12 oz can against 47mg per 8 oz cup, and about 17mg per fluid ounce against 6. 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.

Celsius vs brewed black tea: the numbers

Sources: Celsius's figure is verified in our Celsius caffeine guide against Celsius essential facts (source); brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick brewed black tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Celsius 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

• Celsius: the full caffeine guide
• brewed black tea: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

FAQ

Does Celsius or brewed black tea have more caffeine? Celsius: 200mg per 12 oz can versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.

Which is stronger per ounce? Celsius, at about 16.7mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black tea.