Does Sweet Tea Have Any Caffeine in It?

November 12, 2025 •

3 min read

While tea leaves naturally contain caffeine, the precise amount in your glass of sweet tea can vary significantly depending on the tea type and preparation. This guide will dive deep into this topic, answering the question: does sweet tea have any caffeine in it?

Quick Summary

This article explores the caffeine levels found in sweet tea, explaining how the type of tea base—typically black tea—along with brewing methods and other factors, influences the final content. It details how decaffeinated and herbal alternatives offer caffeine-free options, and provides a comparison with coffee, helping consumers make informed choices.

Key Points

Yes, sweet tea has caffeine: Since it's typically made with black tea, which naturally contains caffeine, most sweet tea is caffeinated.
Caffeine levels vary widely: The amount of caffeine can range from 15 to 70 mg per 8-ounce serving, influenced by the brewing time, water temperature, and leaf size.
Decaf and herbal options exist: You can make a low-caffeine or caffeine-free sweet tea using decaffeinated black tea bags or naturally caffeine-free herbal tea varieties.
Less caffeine than coffee: On average, a glass of sweet tea contains significantly less caffeine than a similarly sized cup of brewed coffee, providing a gentler energy lift.
L-theanine affects absorption: The amino acid L-theanine in tea slows caffeine absorption, resulting in a more sustained, calm alertness compared to the sudden jolt from coffee.
Herbal teas are caffeine-free: Brewed from plants other than Camellia sinensis, true herbal teas contain no caffeine at all, making them an ideal alternative.
Individual sensitivity matters: How you react to the caffeine in sweet tea depends on your personal sensitivity, metabolism, and overall health.

Unpacking the Caffeine in Sweet Tea

Sweet tea, a beloved beverage especially popular in the Southern United States, is typically made with black tea leaves. Because black tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, which naturally contains caffeine, the vast majority of sweet tea does contain a moderate amount of this stimulating compound. However, the exact caffeine level can vary considerably.

The Impact of Tea Type

While sweet tea is traditionally brewed with black tea, its caffeine content is fundamentally tied to the tea leaves used. Different types of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant contain varying amounts of caffeine based on processing and leaf maturity. For example, a black tea base will naturally have more caffeine than a green or white tea base. Herbal teas, which are not true teas and are made from other plants, are typically caffeine-free.

How Brewing Affects Caffeine Levels

The way sweet tea is brewed plays a major role in its caffeine concentration. The longer tea leaves are steeped in hot water, the more caffeine is released into the brew. This is why sweet tea, often steeped for an extended period to produce a strong flavor, tends to be moderately caffeinated. Other factors, like water temperature and the size of the tea leaves, also have an effect. Hotter water extracts caffeine more efficiently, while broken leaves found in tea bags release caffeine faster than whole leaves.

Sweet Tea vs. Other Caffeinated Drinks

Many people are curious about how sweet tea's caffeine content stacks up against other popular beverages. While a 16-ounce serving of regular sweet tea might contain around 40-60 mg of caffeine, a similar-sized cup of coffee can have significantly more, sometimes exceeding 95-200 mg. This makes sweet tea a gentler source of energy compared to coffee. It's also worth noting that the body processes theine (caffeine from tea) differently due to compounds like L-theanine, which can promote a state of calm alertness without the jitters often associated with coffee.

Finding a Caffeine-Free Option

For those sensitive to caffeine, enjoying the flavor of sweet tea is still possible. Decaffeinated black tea bags are widely available and can be used to make sweet tea with a minimal amount of caffeine (less than 12 mg per serving). Alternatively, using naturally caffeine-free herbal teas like rooibos or hibiscus as a base can create a delicious, stimulant-free sweet tea.

The Health Effects of Caffeine in Tea

Moderate caffeine consumption from tea is generally safe and can offer benefits like increased mental alertness. However, excessive intake can lead to negative side effects such as anxiety, restlessness, and disturbed sleep, especially for those who are more sensitive. It is always recommended to monitor your consumption and listen to your body's response.

Comparing Caffeine Content Across Beverages


Beverage	Average Caffeine (per 8 oz)	Key Factors	Notes
Black Sweet Tea	15–70 mg	Brewing time, leaf type (black)	Generally moderate, less than coffee.
Coffee (brewed)	95–165 mg	Brew method, bean type	Significantly higher concentration.
Green Tea	20–45 mg	Cooler water, shorter steep	Lower than black tea, contains L-theanine.
White Tea	15–30 mg	Minimally processed, leaf type	Generally lowest of true teas.
Oolong Tea	30–60 mg	Varies by oxidation level	Falls between green and black tea.
Herbal Tea	0 mg	Made from various plants	Naturally caffeine-free.

Conclusion

In short, the answer to "does sweet tea have any caffeine in it?" is yes, it almost always does, as it is traditionally made with caffeinated black tea. The amount can differ widely based on how it's prepared, but it typically offers a moderate energy boost that is less potent than a comparable serving of coffee. For those seeking a caffeine-free option, decaffeinated tea bags or herbal infusions are excellent alternatives that still allow you to enjoy a refreshing, sweet drink. By understanding these factors, you can better control your caffeine intake while savoring this classic beverage.

For more detailed information on caffeine content and its effects, you can visit the National Institutes of Health website at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519490/.

Frequently Asked Questions

The caffeine content in an 8-ounce glass of sweet tea can vary, but generally ranges from 15 to 70 milligrams, depending on the brewing time, water temperature, and specific type of black tea used.

Not necessarily. Both sweet tea and unsweetened iced tea are often made from black tea, so their caffeine content can be similar. However, if iced tea is made with green or white tea, it would have less caffeine than a black sweet tea.

Yes, you can. To make a caffeine-free sweet tea, simply use decaffeinated black tea bags or naturally caffeine-free herbal tea bags, such as rooibos or hibiscus, for the brewing process.

No, the sugar added to sweet tea does not affect the amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a natural compound in the tea leaves themselves, and the brewing process determines how much is extracted.

An average cup of coffee has significantly more caffeine than a standard serving of sweet tea. While coffee can contain 95-200 mg per 8-ounce cup, sweet tea is typically much lower, offering a milder energizing effect.

Yes, depending on your caffeine sensitivity and the amount consumed, the caffeine in sweet tea could disrupt your sleep cycle if you drink it too close to bedtime. People metabolize caffeine at different rates.

No. While true teas (black, green, white, oolong) come from the Camellia sinensis plant and contain caffeine, herbal teas (tisanes) are made from other plants and are naturally caffeine-free.