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Tea caffeine is more spread out than coffee caffeine, both in the cup and in the reputation. A cup of brewed coffee runs about 95mg, while most brewed teas land between 25 and 50mg, and herbal teas like rooibos and chamomile have none at all. The catch is that a few tea drinks, yerba mate and a cafe chai latte among them, climb close to coffee territory. Here are the verified numbers, side by side, with the source for each.
Caffeine in tea, by type
| Tea | Caffeine | Serving | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yerba mate | 85mg | 8 oz cup | Caffeine Informer / compiled |
| Starbucks Chai Latte | 95mg | 16 oz grande | Starbucks nutrition |
| Brewed black tea | 47mg | 8 oz cup | USDA FoodData Central |
| English breakfast tea | 47mg | 8 oz cup | Twinings published figure |
| Brewed oolong tea | 37mg | 8 oz cup | USDA FoodData Central |
| Matcha | ~60mg | 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) | USDA per-gram / compiled |
| Brewed green tea | 28mg | 8 oz cup | USDA FoodData Central |
| Brewed white tea | 28mg | 8 oz cup | Caffeine Informer / compiled |
| Rooibos (red bush) | 0mg | 8 oz cup | Naturally caffeine-free herbal |
| Peppermint tea | 0mg | 8 oz cup | Naturally caffeine-free herbal |
| Chamomile tea | 0mg | 8 oz cup | Naturally caffeine-free herbal |
Brewed-tea figures are compiled averages, because caffeine in tea shifts with the leaf, the water temperature, and how long it steeps. Longer and hotter steeps pull more. The numbers above are standard published values, useful for planning but not lab-exact for your specific cup.
How tea compares to coffee
Ounce for ounce, brewed coffee at 95mg per 8oz outpaces almost every true tea. Green tea has under a third of coffee's caffeine, which is why it is the common step-down drink. The exceptions worth knowing: yerba mate and a cafe chai latte both approach or match a cup of coffee. See the head to head math on green tea vs coffee, oolong vs coffee, and yerba mate vs coffee, or line up two teas with green tea vs black tea.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Even at green tea's 28mg a cup, that is a lot of tea. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
The herbal exception
Rooibos, peppermint, and chamomile are not made from the tea plant, so they carry no caffeine at all. That is why they are the go-to evening drinks. If a package says "herbal tea" and lists no true tea leaf, it is almost always caffeine-free, though blends that mix in green or black tea are not.
Any decent tea starts with water off a good kettle. A temperature-control kettle matters more for tea than most people expect, since green and white teas turn bitter in water that is too hot.
Compare any two drinks
Want a specific matchup that is not above? The caffeine comparison tool puts any two drinks side by side, and the full caffeine chart lists everything at once. Energy drink drinker too? The energy drinks caffeine guide covers that side.
FAQ
Which tea has the most caffeine? Among common options, yerba mate at about 85mg per cup and a cafe chai latte at around 95mg lead. Among plain brewed teas, black and English breakfast at about 47mg are highest.
Does green tea have less caffeine than coffee? Yes, by a lot. Green tea runs about 28mg per 8oz cup against roughly 95mg for brewed coffee, under a third.
Is herbal tea caffeine-free? True herbal teas like rooibos, peppermint, and chamomile have no caffeine because they are not made from the tea plant. Blends that add green or black tea are not caffeine-free, so check the label.
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.