Zest high caffeine tea has more caffeine than Red Bull on both counts: 150mg per 8 oz cup against 80mg per 8.4 oz can, and about 19mg per fluid ounce against 10. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.
Zest high caffeine tea vs Red Bull: the numbers
| Zest high caffeine tea | Red Bull | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 150mg per 8 oz cup | 80mg per 8.4 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 18.8mg | 9.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.7 | 5.0 |
Sources: Zest high caffeine tea's figure is verified in our Zest high caffeine tea caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Red Bull's figure is verified in our Red Bull guide against Red Bull label / Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Red Bull when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Zest high caffeine tea 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
- Zest high caffeine tea: the full caffeine guide
- Red Bull: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
As an Amazon Associate, Barista Life earns from qualifying purchases.
Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Zest high caffeine tea or Red Bull have more caffeine? Zest high caffeine tea: 150mg per 8 oz cup versus 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull.
Which is stronger per ounce? Zest high caffeine tea, at about 18.8mg per fluid ounce versus 9.5mg for Red Bull.
Barista Life runs on coffee people. Browse the Barista Life shop to support the site.
Get the good coffee stuff
One email a week: what we verified, what is worth buying, and what is not. No spam, unsubscribe any time.