Green Tea
Green Tea caffeine can be very difficult to assign an exact amount to. Like other drinks from cultivated plants (tea, coffee), there are numerous variables that can alter caffeine content.
The length of brewing time also affects caffeine content - the longer the brew - the higher the caffeine. The Journal of Food Science evaluated different brands of green tea and had extremely varied results using the same amount of tea leaves brewed for 3 minutes.
Some are listed in the table below.
| Green Tea Brand | Size (fl.oz. using 2g tea) | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Stash Tea (Exotica Dragonwell) | 8 | 47.8mg |
| Peets Coffee | 8 | 33.4mg |
| Stash Tea (Premium) | 8 | 30.2mg |
| Stash Tea (Organic) | 8 | 27mg |
| Herb Enterprise | 8 | 20.2mg |
| Midori Tea & Ginseng Co. | 8 | 17.6mg |
| Lipton | 8 | 16.4mg |
| Ten Ren Tea | 8 | 16.4mg |
| Zen Green & Herbal Fusion | 8 | 15.6mg |
| Celestial Seasonings | 8 | 12mg |
| YamaMOTOYama | 8 | 11.2mg |
| Stash Tea (decaffeinated) | 8 | 7.6 mg |
As you can see from the above data, green tea caffeine can vary greatly among brands and the type of green tea used. Another study compared the content of dry matter from tea leaves and found Green Tea had 10-20mg per 1 gram dried matter.
Black Tea had 22-28mg per 1 gram dried matter. So as a general rule, Green Tea has less caffeine than Black Tea but can vary depending on which brand/type chosen.
Yet another study (here) showed that Green Tea (in Japan) has 30mg caffeine per 200ml cup. The figure we have included in our caffeine database is an average amount.
Green tea is also high in the amino acid L-theanine. This has a calming effect and aids with concentration. There's a myth that green tea has more caffeine than coffee, but this isn't true. L-theanine is most likely responsible for this. People will have a different level of alertness when drinking green tea which people mistake for the caffeine's effect when it is really the effect of L-theanine.
Matcha green tea can have more caffeine because of the unique way it is made. You can find the caffeine content of Matcha here.
Caffeine in Other Green Tea Based Products
| Product | Size (fl oz) | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Zest Green Tea | 8 | 140mg |
| Lipton Brisk green Tea | 12 | 6mg |
| Nestea Peach Green Tea | 20 | 42mg |
| Oi Ocha Green Tea | 16.9 | 60mg |
| SoBe Green Tea | 20 | 35mg |
| Caribou Green Tea Smoothie | 12 | 44mg |
| Mega-T Green Tea Supplement | 1 capsule | 50mg |
| Xingtea Flavored Green Tea | 23.5 | 35mg |
| Arizona Green Teas | 23.5 | 22mg |
| Bazza Green Tea | 16.9 | 150mg |
| Snapple Green Tea | 16 | 15mg |
| Green Tea Ginger Ale | 12 | 9mg |
| Starbuck's Tazo Green Tea Latte | 12 | 55mg |
Where To Buy Green Tea
Twinings of London Jasmine Green Tea Bags, 25 Count
Price: $4.15 $1.91Available from Amazon / Twinings
Bigelow Classic Green Tea Bags 40-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) Caffeinated Individual Green Tea Bags, for Hot Tea or Iced Tea, Drink Plain or Sweetened with Honey or Sugar
Price: $25.38 $21.84Available from Amazon / Bigelow Tea
Kirkland Signature Ito En Matcha Blend (Green Tea), 100% Japanese Green Tea Leaves, 100 Tea Bags
Price: $18.83 $18.78Available from Amazon / Kirkland Signature
Jade Leaf Matcha Green Tea Powder - USDA Organic, Authentic Japanese Origin - Classic Culinary Grade (Smoothies, Lattes, Baking, Recipes) - Antioxidants, Energy [30g Starter Size]
Price: $9.95 $9.95Available from Amazon / Jade Leaf Matcha
Ingredients in Tea (Green)
Leaves from the Camelia sinensis plant
Sugar content: Contains no sugar.
Compare sugar levels of other drinksSimilar Items
Arizona Iced Tea 37.5mgBazza High Energy Tea 150mg
Biggby Iced Tea 37.5mg
Brown Rice Tea 4mg
Chai Tea 50mg
Chick-fil-A Iced Tea 62mg
Crystal Light Iced Tea 11.25mg
Dunkin' Donuts Iced Tea 67mg
Caffeine Comparisons
Tea (Green) contains 3.12 mgs of caffeine per fluid ounce (10.57mg/100 ml).
