McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) carries more total caffeine per serving (100mg per 32 oz cup vs 28mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce brewed green tea is actually the stronger drink at about 4mg per fluid ounce against 3. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) vs brewed green tea: the numbers
| McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) | brewed green tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 100mg per 32 oz cup | 28mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 3.1mg | 3.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.0 | 14.3 |
Sources: McDonald's Sweet Tea (large)'s figure is verified in our McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); brewed green tea's figure is verified in our brewed green tea guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed green tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) 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
- McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): the full caffeine guide
- brewed green tea: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) or brewed green tea have more caffeine? McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): 100mg per 32 oz cup versus 28mg per 8 oz cup for brewed green tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed green tea, at about 3.5mg per fluid ounce versus 3.1mg for McDonald's Sweet Tea (large).
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