Starbucks Chai Latte has more caffeine than brewed black tea on both counts: 95mg per 16 oz grande against 47mg per 8 oz cup, and about 6mg per fluid ounce against 6. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
Starbucks Chai Latte vs brewed black tea: the numbers
| Starbucks Chai Latte | brewed black tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 95mg per 16 oz grande | 47mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 5.9mg | 5.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.2 | 8.5 |
Sources: Starbucks Chai Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Chai Latte caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (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 Starbucks Chai Latte 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
- Starbucks Chai Latte: the full caffeine guide
- brewed black tea: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does Starbucks Chai Latte or brewed black tea have more caffeine? Starbucks Chai Latte: 95mg per 16 oz grande versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Chai Latte, at about 5.9mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black 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.