How Much Caffeine is in Green Tea?
Green tea is often recommended for health benefits and is known for containing caffeine. But just how much caffeine is in green tea?
Caffeine Content in Green Tea
- Brewed Green Tea: 30–50 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup
- Matcha Green Tea Powder: 30–50 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup
- Green Tea Extract Supplements: 40–176 milligrams of caffeine per recommended serving
How Does Caffeine Content in Green Tea Compare to Other Sources?
Generally, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, black tea and energy drinks.
- Coffee: 95–200 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup
- Black Tea: 14–61 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup
- Energy Drinks: 27–164 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup
Does Brewing Time Affect Caffeine Content?
Brewing green tea for longer will increase the amount of caffeine released into a cup. Generally, it is recommended to steep green tea for 2–3 minutes. Steeping your tea longer may yield a stronger flavor, but you risk extracting more caffeine, making your drink more potent.
Conclusion
Green tea is one of the healthier sources of caffeine. Depending on how it’s prepared, green tea may contain between 30–50 milligrams of caffeine per cup. That is much lower than other sources of caffeine, like the 95–200 milligrams found in coffee. For those looking for a more gentle stimulant, green tea may be the better option.
