McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) carries more total caffeine per serving (100mg per 32 oz cup vs 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g)), but ounce for ounce matcha is actually the stronger drink at about 8mg 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 matcha: the numbers
| McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) | matcha | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 100mg per 32 oz cup | 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 3.1mg | 7.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.0 | 6.7 |
Sources: McDonald's Sweet Tea (large)'s figure is verified in our McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); matcha's figure is verified in our matcha guide against USDA FoodData Central (per-gram) / compiled (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick matcha 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
- matcha: 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 matcha have more caffeine? McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): 100mg per 32 oz cup versus 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) for matcha.
Which is stronger per ounce? matcha, at about 7.5mg per fluid ounce versus 3.1mg for McDonald's Sweet Tea (large).
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