How much caffeine is there in tea?

Caffeine molecule

It is common wisdom that a cup of coffee contains more caffeine than a cup of tea. In general, that is true. On the average, a hot cup of coffee contains 50% to 65% more caffeine than a similar volume of hot tea.

But if the comparison is made between dry roasted coffee and dry tea leaves, then that’s not true. Dry tea actually contains more caffeine than dry coffee.

Amount of caffeine in a cup of tea also varies significantly whether it’s the first cup brewed from tea leaves, second cup or the third. A cup of green tea, for example, contains 32 milligrams of caffeine. However, this amount drop to 12 and 4 mgs for the second and third cups brewed with the same leaves.

According to the findings of Food Research International and USDA Agricultural Research Service, one cup of coffee (about 100 ml) brewed from coffee grounds on the average contains 40 mg of caffeine.

A tall-size Starbucks coffee has one of the highest amounts of caffeine: 240 mg. A cup of expresso coffee has 212 mg. The amount drops to 26 mg for instant coffee.

A cup of tea made by a bag of Lipton black tea has 33 mg. A cup of green tea made from loose tea leaves still delivers 32 mg of caffeine.

A 5-ounce cup of brewed black tea will have between 40 and 60 mg of caffeine, depending on the exact brand of black tea and brewing conditions.

A 5-ounce cup of instant tea will come with 30 mg and an 12-ounce glass of iced tea will deliver 70 mg of caffeine.

Green tea bags have more caffeine than loose green tea leaves.

Other food items and beverages that contain caffeine:

1 Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bar (43 g, 1.5 oz) -- 31 mg.
1 can of Coca-Cola classic (355 ml, 12 24 U.S. fluid oz) -- 43 mg.
1 Excedrin tablet -- 65 mg.
1 can (250 ml, 8.2 U.S. fluid oz) of Redbull energy drink -- 80 mg.
1 can (709 ml, 24 U.S. fluid oz) of Wired X505 energy drink -- 505 mg.