You may have heard that drinking tea gives you less caffeine than a cup of coffee. While that’s true in some cases, it isn’t always the way it works. The caffeine content in any drink changes depending on the brewing method and the amount of time it stands steeping in the cup. Here’s some additional information on tea caffeine content.
How Much Caffeine Is in Coffee?
Brewed coffee usually has the highest amount of caffeine in it. Drinking a regular cup of joe will give you 125-150 milligrams of caffeine to wake yourself up in the morning. Certain brands and types may have more or less, however. For example, you may only get 80 milligrams out of a cup of instant coffee. A cup of Black Insomnia Classic Roast Whole Bean coffee is likely to give you more than 700 milligrams per 8-oz cup. The company toots its horn as the brand with the highest caffeine content in the world.
How Much Caffeine Is in Tea?
Any tea caffeine amount will be significantly lower than what you get from a cup of coffee. Even the most boisterous teas only have about 85 milligrams at the max. Some teas beat coffee in caffeine content before brewing but not afterward. Thus, you’ll be better off drinking tea over coffee if you need to keep an eye on your caffeine levels.
What Makes a Difference in Caffeine Amounts?
Many variables play a role in how much caffeine content something has, and the way it’s brewed can reduce some of its caffeine content. You can also change the caffeine content by steeping it longer in hotter water. If you want to get the highest caffeine content out of a cup of tea, you’ll need to boil it in water for at least five minutes.
Teas With the Highest Caffeine Content
If you’re looking for a tea with high caffeine content, you can try Silver Needle, Matcha, Assam, and Ceylon. You can also experiment with Gyokuro and Darjeeling if you want some tea with a kick. Mate has about 85 milligrams of caffeine if you’re interested in that one.
Which Teas Have the Lowest Caffeine Content?
The best type of tea to sip if you want to keep a low caffeine content is decaf or herbal tea. Herbal teas have 0 milligrams of caffeine in them, and decaffeinated teas have trace amounts ranging from 5 to 10 milligrams per cup. Gunpowder, Keemun, and Hojica are some teas that also have low caffeine content. Experts recommend that you drink herbal tea if you have a condition that disallows caffeine. The trace amounts in decaf likely won’t hurt you, but it’s best to stay on the safe side when it comes to your health.
Now you have a little more knowledge about tea, coffee, and other caffeine-powered drinks. You know what changes the amount of caffeine that makes it into the cup as well. Choose your beverage wisely to get the largest benefit from what you have to drink.