How much caffeine does a cup of tea have? Which teas have the most caffeine in them? What teas can I drink later in the evening that won’t keep me up at night? These are a few questions that we are frequently asked by our customers and tea friends. One of the things we love about tea is the varying caffeine levels across the varieties, making it possible to enjoy tea for any occasion, at any time of day. Let’s explore the different types of tea

Black Tea

Black tea is the most caffeinated type of tea. Many black teas are also referred to as breakfast teas since they are consumed first thing in the morning as a wake-me-up. The key difference between black teas and other types of tea is the amount of oxidation that occurs. Black teas undergo a significant oxidation process, far longer than green teas, thus allowing a richer, darker flavor and increased caffeine levels. Most black teas have roughly 45mg of caffeine per cup. This is around the highest you’ll see for a cup of tea which is why tea-drinkers have consumed these teas first thing in the morning. Some of our favorite breakfast/black teas are Scottish Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, and English Breakfast. These are the traditional English Favorites when it comes to wake-me-up teas in the morning.

As mentioned above, a breakfast tea typically has around 45mg of caffeine. Meanwhile, a medium Starbucks coffee contains about 260mg of caffeine – nearly 6 times the amount of caffeine! Many people feel jittery and anxious after consuming a cup of coffee and if this happens to you, you’re likely experiencing a slight caffeine overdose. If you’re someone who loves a hot beverage throughout the day but can’t handle the caffeine levels of coffee, consider switching to a cup of tea. With tea, you can refill your cup all day long without feeling those anxious jitters!

Green Tea

Green Teas come from the same plant as black teas – but they’re harvested earlier and undergo a lighter oxidation process. Green Teas have been loved by the masses for thousands of years and for good reason. These teas are rich in antioxidants and naturally calming amino acids. A cup of green tea has around 25mg of caffeine – about 1/3rd of its black tea counterpart. Green teas are great to consume at any time of the day, but are especially useful in the afternoon. They can give you just the boost you need to get through the rest of your workday without giving you a caffeine surplus that will keep you up late at night.

A frequent post-lunch beverage consumed by many people around the world is a 5-hour-energy shot. This 5-hour-energy shot has around 200mg of caffeine in it which is sure to get you through the end of the day but will likely keep you up at night and make it much more difficult to fall asleep. For anyone struggling to fall asleep later at night, we recommend cutting back on the caffeine in the afternoon. One way you can achieve this goal is by consuming a cup of green tea that only contains 25mg of caffeine. You can find our large selection of green teas here.

Herbal Teas

We love a good cup of tea to help unwind before bedtime. Luckily, herbal teas are excellent for relaxation and contain no caffeine! There’s no limit on how many cups of herbal tea you can have before bed and unlike other beverages, herbal teas can actually help you fall asleep. For those who might have a tough time falling asleep at night, we recommend trying out our Dreamstate Sleepy Tea – a wonderful blend of teas and herbs that make a delicious cup of tea designed to help you unwind and fall asleep. Some other teas that are great at night include peppermint tea, seaside serenity, and organic rooibos. We’re sure you’ll find an herbal tea you love from our selection!

We hope this post helped you learn more about caffeine levels. If coffee is making you jittery or anxious, we recommend switching over to tea. With endless flavor options, we’re sure you’ll find the right tea for your palette to replace that over-energized cup of coffee. Remember, the great thing about tea is that you can have cup after cup without the caffeine overdose. Did you switch from coffee to tea recently? Let us know your story below!