How much caffeine is in green tea?


Caffeine is present in coffee. It is  a psychoactive substance that makes us feel alert and makes us lose sleep. But it is not only found in coffee, but in other drinks such as tea. It is not known precisely how much of it is present in green tea, what is known is that it is less than that of coffee. In this post you will know how much caffeine is in green tea.

There are several types of green tea, and each has different levels of caffeine. And  there are several factors that determine that amount. One of them is the leaf, because the  younger they are, the more caffeine they have, because it is the way to protect themselves from insects. Other factors that influence the caffeine content are: the age of the plant, the terrain, the climate, etc.

On the other hand, it is also important to take into account the way the tea is made, for example, if it is infused cold it has less caffeine than when it is brewed in boiling water. Roughly speaking, the average caffeine in green tea is one third of that contained in coffee in the same volume.   


What has more caffeine, coffee or green tea?

On many occasions, false information is disseminated regarding the differences between green tea and coffee, especially in relation to the amount of caffeine. Before we get into the subject, let’s define what caffeine is and how it affects the body. It is a natural component present in around a wide variety of plants, including coffee and tea. Caffeine stimulates the body’s central nervous system and gives us energy when we need it.

In addition, caffeine will affect each person, for some it will benefit them, but for others it may cause anxiety. As it is a substance that can affect each person differently, then we wonder which one results in a greater amount of caffeine, tea or coffee.

In the case of green tea, a cup contains between 20 and 50 mg of caffeine, which is a relatively low amount. However, that amount will depend on the variety of green tea, whether caffeine from matcha , sencha or bancha green tea, etc. In this sense, knowing how much caffeine green tea has will depend on the type of tea and how it is prepared. The range can be between 7 to 84 mg of caffeine per gram of tea. Matcha tea is the one that contains the highest amount of caffeine.   

Regarding caffeine green tea vs coffee , the variety of your beans will determine how much caffeine it has, the way it has been roasted and prepared. In general, a cup of coffee (270 ml) contains 70 mg to 140 mg of caffeine. However, most people consume more amount of coffee. Most coffee contains more caffeine than green tea itself. 


What is the tea that has the most caffeine?

Identifying which tea contains the most caffeine is not easy, the level of concentration will depend on several factors that we already mentioned. However, after processing some data, we will tell you which of them have the most caffeine.

black tea

Black tea tops the list of teas with the highest amount of caffeine. Several references indicate that in every 100 gr of tea there is between 20 and 100 mg of caffeine, as we mentioned, depending on certain factors. For example, in a cup of black tea (237 mg) contains between 25 and 48 mg of caffeine. The temperature to prepare it should range from 80° to 90° C for about 3 to 4 minutes. 

matcha tea

To know what the caffeine in green tea is , matcha is a variety of green tea, it could be said that the amount of caffeine it has is less than black tea. However, it is not true. For example, the tea used in the Japanese ceremony consists of crushed whole leaves. When this matcha tea is drunk, the powder that remains once crushed is drunk, in this way it is more concentrated than the one that comes in bags. One tablespoon of black tea contains approximately 68 mg of caffeine. In the same amount, but of green tea there is 32 mg of caffeine. 

oolong tea

Oolong tea, is the one that occupies the fourth position, it is also known as blue tea. The caffeine contained in this type of tea is less than that of black tea (between 10 and 60 mg), it will depend on how oxidized the Oolong tea is.

Green Tea

Green tea is very popular for its effects on weight reduction. To find out how much caffeine the green tea has, it can be established as an average (between 25 and 28 mg per 100 grams of tea). In its preparation, young tea leaves are used, which are then subjected to a minimal oxidation process that generates a moderate amount of caffeine in relation to the previous ones.  

White tea

White tea is the one with the least oxidation, it has less caffeine than the previous varieties. In this sense, some researchers indicate that the amount of caffeine is less than 1 mg.

Pu Erh Tea

Also called red tea, it contains the same amount of caffeine as white tea, because it is another of the teas that is not as oxidized. However, to obtain its particular flavor and color it goes through a fermentation process. Although the evidence still does not certify that it is so.


What is the healthiest tea?

The healthiest teas for:

  • Sleep well: lime blossom, lemon verbena, hawthorn and boldo.
  • Digestive health. Some of those that can be mentioned for heartburn, poor digestion, stomach aches, constipation, etc., are: chamomile, ani grain and licorice.
  • They are an ideal complement to a healthy, balanced diet and exercise. Many of these teas are fat burning and diuretic, helping to reduce fluid retention, among them are: red tea, caffeine and green tea burn fat , and horsetail. 
  • menopause. The most recommended type of tea is red tea or Pu Erh.


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