matcha has more caffeine than Pure Leaf black iced tea on both counts: 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) against 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle, and about 8mg per fluid ounce against 3. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
matcha vs Pure Leaf black iced tea: the numbers
| matcha | Pure Leaf black iced tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) | 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 7.5mg | 2.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 6.7 | 7.4 |
Sources: matcha's figure is verified in our matcha caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (per-gram) / compiled (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 Pure Leaf black iced tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and matcha 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
- matcha: 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 matcha or Pure Leaf black iced tea have more caffeine? matcha: 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) versus 54mg per 18.5 oz bottle for Pure Leaf black iced tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? matcha, at about 7.5mg 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.