Do Fruit Milk Teas Have Caffeine? Understanding Your Boba's Kick

December 4, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the NHS, a typical serving of traditional milk tea can contain 30–60 mg of caffeine. The answer to whether fruit milk teas have caffeine isn't always straightforward, as it depends on whether the drink is made with a traditional tea base or a caffeine-free fruit-flavored powder or herbal infusion.

Quick Summary

The presence of caffeine in a fruit milk tea is determined by the type of base ingredient. Drinks using black, green, or oolong tea contain caffeine, while those made from fruit powders or herbal infusions do not.

Key Points

Source of Caffeine: The caffeine in fruit milk teas comes from the tea base (black, green, or oolong), not the fruit flavouring or tapioca pearls.
Caffeine-Free Options: Many fruit milk teas are made with fruit powders or herbal teas, making them completely caffeine-free.
How to Order: If you want a caffeine-free drink, specify to the barista that you would like a fruit powder, herbal, or syrup-based drink without a traditional tea base.
Varying Levels: Caffeinated versions will have varying levels depending on the tea type; black tea has the most, followed by oolong, and then green tea.
Read the Menu: Look for drinks explicitly labelled as herbal or fruit infusions, and be aware that combining a fruit flavour with black or green tea will result in a caffeinated beverage.
Tapioca Pearls: The chewy tapioca pearls in boba are made from cassava root and contain no caffeine.

The Core of the Question: The Tea Base

The most important factor for determining if a fruit milk tea has caffeine is its base ingredient. While some drinks use actual brewed tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, others are built on caffeine-free foundations. The tapioca pearls, or boba, are made from cassava root and are naturally caffeine-free. Any stimulating effects come solely from the liquid base.

Traditional tea bases, such as black, green, or oolong, naturally contain caffeine. The amount varies depending on the type of tea and the brewing time. When a fruity flavour, such as strawberry or mango, is added to a black or green milk tea, the drink retains the caffeine from the tea leaves. However, many bubble tea shops offer drinks that get their flavour from syrups or fruit powders mixed with milk or a caffeine-free herbal tea. It is always best to inquire with the shop or check the ingredients list to be certain.

Types of Fruit Milk Teas and Their Caffeine Content

Fruit milk teas can be broadly categorised into two main types based on their caffeine content: those with a traditional tea base and those with a caffeine-free alternative. Understanding the difference is key to knowing what you are consuming.

Caffeinated Fruit Milk Teas

These beverages combine a brewed tea base with fruit flavours. Common variations include:

Mango Green Milk Tea: Uses a green tea base, providing a moderate caffeine boost.
Strawberry Black Milk Tea: Features a black tea base, which has a higher caffeine content.
Passion Fruit Oolong Tea: Uses an oolong base, which has a caffeine content falling between black and green tea.

Caffeine-Free Fruit Milk Teas

Many popular fruit milk teas, especially those known for their vibrant colours, are made without a tea base at all. These are excellent choices for those seeking a stimulant-free treat. They often derive their flavour from powders or purees.

Taro Milk Tea: A widely popular option made with taro root powder and milk, containing no tea.
Strawberry Milk: Made with strawberry puree or powder and milk, without a tea base.
Brown Sugar Milk: This popular drink consists of brown sugar syrup and milk, with no tea.
Herbal-Based Fruit Teas: Some shops use naturally caffeine-free herbal bases, like hibiscus or rooibos, combined with fruit flavours.

Factors Influencing Caffeine Level

For fruit milk teas that do contain caffeine, the precise amount can be influenced by several factors, including:

Brewing time: Longer steeping extracts more caffeine from the tea leaves.
Tea quality: The quality and type of tea can affect its natural caffeine concentration.
Serving size: A larger drink simply contains more of the brewed tea base.

Making the Right Choice: How to Order

If you are sensitive to caffeine or are ordering for a child, it is crucial to know how to specify your request. Here are some tips for ordering a caffeine-free fruit milk tea:

Ask the barista: The easiest and most reliable method is to ask the person taking your order if a specific drink contains caffeine. You can also ask for it to be made with a caffeine-free base.
Request a powder or puree base: Specify that you want the drink made with fruit powder, fruit puree, or syrup and milk, omitting the brewed tea.
Choose known caffeine-free options: Opt for flavours like taro, Thai milk tea (often available caffeine-free), or brown sugar milk, which are commonly prepared without a tea base.
Check the menu descriptions: Look for phrases like 'fruit infusion' or 'herbal tea base' which signal a caffeine-free option. Avoid drinks explicitly listed with black, green, or oolong tea.

Comparison Table: Caffeine in Common Boba Teas


Drink Type	Base	Typical Caffeine Content (16 oz)	Notes
Taro Milk Tea	Taro Powder, Milk	0 mg	Flavoured with root powder, no tea.
Classic Black Milk Tea	Black Tea, Milk	~50 mg	Higher caffeine due to black tea base.
Mango Green Milk Tea	Green Tea, Fruit Puree, Milk	~35-45 mg	Moderate caffeine from green tea.
Brown Sugar Milk	Brown Sugar Syrup, Milk	0 mg	Often served with just milk and sugar.
Herbal Fruit Tea	Herbal Tea (Hibiscus, Rooibos)	0 mg	Made with naturally caffeine-free infusions.
Matcha Milk Tea	Matcha Powder, Milk	~30-70 mg	Matcha is concentrated green tea powder and contains caffeine.
Powder-Based Fruit Milk Tea	Fruit Powder, Milk	0 mg	Made without a traditional tea base.

Conclusion

Ultimately, whether a fruit milk tea has caffeine depends on its composition, not just its flavour. The crucial element is the base used by the maker. Many options are available for all preferences, from a moderate caffeine boost in a mango green milk tea to a completely caffeine-free taro milk tea. By understanding the different preparation methods and asking informed questions when ordering, you can enjoy a delicious bubble tea that aligns with your caffeine needs. For those exploring alternatives, many herbal and fruit infusions offer the same vibrant flavours without any stimulants.

For more information on the caffeine content of different boba teas, consider visiting a source like Pearly Drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all bubble tea has caffeine. While many popular options are made with traditional black or green tea bases that contain caffeine, plenty of drinks use caffeine-free alternatives like fruit powders, syrups, or herbal teas.

No, not always. Some fruit-flavoured bubble teas are made by adding fruit purees or syrups to a black, green, or oolong tea base, which results in a caffeinated drink. Other versions are made with just fruit powder and milk, making them caffeine-free.

Yes, traditional taro milk tea is caffeine-free. It is typically made with taro root powder, milk, and sweetener, without a tea base.

No, the tapioca pearls used in bubble tea are made from cassava root and do not contain any caffeine. The caffeine comes from the tea base, if one is used.

The most reliable way is to ask the barista when you order. You can also check the menu for clues, as drinks made with herbal teas or fruit powders are usually labelled differently than those with black or green tea bases.

Yes, fruit tea typically refers to a herbal infusion made from dried fruits, herbs, and spices, which is naturally caffeine-free. Fruit milk tea, particularly in the context of boba, can either be this type mixed with milk or a fruit flavour added to a traditional, caffeinated tea base.

Popular caffeine-free options include taro milk tea, brown sugar milk, and fruit milk teas explicitly made with fruit powders or herbal bases like hibiscus.