What brand of tea has caffeine? A guide to popular caffeinated options

November 12, 2025 •

4 min read

While many believe only black tea contains caffeine, the fact is that caffeine is naturally present in all teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, including green and white varieties. This guide will answer what brand of tea has caffeine and help you navigate the caffeinated options available.

Quick Summary

Popular tea brands like Lipton, Tazo, and Twinings offer various caffeinated blends, with black tea generally containing the most caffeine. The level varies based on the tea type and processing.

Key Points

All True Teas Are Caffeinated: All teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, including black, green, and white varieties, naturally contain caffeine.
Black Tea Brands: Popular options include Lipton, Twinings, Tazo (Awake), and Bigelow, which feature robust, caffeinated black teas.
Green Tea Brands: Tazo, Lipton, and Yogi Tea offer a variety of green teas that are caffeinated, though typically with a lower caffeine level than black teas.
Specialty High-Caffeine Teas: For a stronger kick, look for brands like Zest Tea and The Republic of Tea HiCAF line, which are specifically designed for higher caffeine content.
Yerba Mate: This herbal alternative from brands like Guayakí is naturally high in caffeine and offers a coffee-like energy boost.
Decaf Is Not Zero: Even brands like Lipton and Stash, which produce 'decaf' versions, contain a small, trace amount of caffeine.
Factors Influencing Caffeine: Processing, brewing time, and water temperature can all affect the final caffeine level in your cup.

Understanding Tea and Caffeine

To understand which brands of tea contain caffeine, it's first important to grasp the fundamentals of tea production. All 'true' teas—black, green, white, and oolong—are derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. This plant naturally produces caffeine as a defense mechanism to deter insects. The amount of caffeine in the final tea product is influenced by several factors, including the plant's varietal, how the leaves are processed, and the brewing method.

Oxidation plays a crucial role in determining caffeine content, with more oxidized teas like black tea typically having higher levels than less oxidized ones like green or white tea. Some brands also offer specially formulated blends or use different leaves to either enhance or remove caffeine.

Factors Influencing Caffeine in Tea

Tea Type: Black teas typically have more caffeine than green or white teas.
Processing: The level of oxidation affects caffeine concentration.
Leaf Parts: Teas made from young leaf buds (like some white and matcha) can have higher caffeine.
Brewing: Longer steep times and hotter water temperatures generally result in more caffeine extracted into the cup.

Popular Brands and Their Caffeinated Teas

Almost every major tea brand on the market offers a wide selection of caffeinated teas. Here is a breakdown of some of the most popular brands and the types of caffeinated tea they provide:

Lipton

Black Tea: Lipton is well-known for its classic black tea bags, including English Breakfast and standard black tea, both of which are caffeinated.
Green Tea: Lipton also carries a range of green teas, which are naturally caffeinated.
High-Caffeine Options: The brand has offered enhanced energy teas, which are black tea blends with added natural caffeine.

Tazo

Black Tea: Tazo's caffeinated options include robust blends like 'Awake English Breakfast' and various Chai teas.
Green Tea: The brand's 'Zen' green tea and other green tea varieties are also caffeinated.

Twinings

Black Tea: A prominent name in tea, Twinings offers many classic black teas with caffeine, such as their popular English Breakfast and Earl Grey blends.
White Tea: Twinings also sells white tea, which contains a lower level of caffeine.

Bigelow Tea

Black Tea: Bigelow offers multiple caffeinated black teas, including Earl Grey and Vanilla Chai.
Green Tea: Many of their green tea blends, such as 'Classic Green Tea,' are caffeinated.

The Republic of Tea

HiCAF® Blends: This brand specializes in a range of highly caffeinated teas, explicitly mentioning their HiCAF blends which combine black or green tea with added green tea extract for an extra boost.
Traditional Teas: They also produce standard black, green, and white teas with typical caffeine levels.

Stash Tea

Variety of Caffeinated Teas: Stash provides a wide array of caffeinated teas, including black, green, and oolong, with popular options like their Double Bergamot Earl Grey and Premium Green Tea.

Comparing Caffeinated Tea Brands and Types

This table provides a general comparison of caffeine levels and common brands for various tea types. Note that caffeine can vary by specific product and brewing method.


Tea Type	Typical Caffeine Range (per 8 oz)	Common Brands Offering Caffeinated Products
Black Tea	40-70 mg	Lipton, Twinings, Tazo, Bigelow, Harney & Sons
Matcha	60-70 mg (per 2g serving)	Chalait, Jade Leaf Matcha
Yerba Mate	40-85 mg	Guayakí, Yerba Mate Tea Co.
Oolong Tea	30-55 mg	Stash Tea, Teas' Tea
Green Tea	20-45 mg	Lipton, Tazo, Bigelow, Yogi Tea
White Tea	15-40 mg	Twinings, Zest Tea, The Republic of Tea

Alternative Caffeinated Brews and Decaf

While true teas from the Camellia sinensis plant are the most common source of caffeinated tea, other brands and blends exist.

Yerba Mate: This South American herbal beverage, available from brands like Guayakí, is naturally high in caffeine and is known for its focused, sustained energy.
High-Caffeine Blends: Specialized brands like Zest Tea and The Republic of Tea's HiCAF line create extra-strong teas by adding concentrated caffeine from tea leaves, competing directly with coffee on energy levels.
Decaffeinated Tea: It is a common misconception that decaf tea is completely caffeine-free. Through a chemical process, most of the caffeine is removed, but a small, residual amount typically remains. Most mainstream brands, including Lipton and Stash, offer decaf versions of their popular black and green teas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, almost any brand of tea has caffeine, provided it is a 'true' tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, such as black, green, white, or oolong. Popular brands like Lipton, Tazo, and Twinings all offer a wide range of caffeinated products, with black tea varieties generally containing the highest levels. For those seeking even higher caffeine concentrations, specialized brands like The Republic of Tea and Zest Tea offer enhanced blends. If you are exploring the world of caffeinated tea, starting with a classic black tea from a reputable brand is a reliable option for a steady energy lift. For detailed caffeine content information, consult reliable sources like the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brands that specifically market high-caffeine products, such as Zest Tea and The Republic of Tea (HiCAF blends), offer some of the most caffeinated options on the market by adding tea extract.

Yes, green tea from popular brands like Lipton, Bigelow, and Tazo is caffeinated. Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea, but still provides a moderate amount.

Caffeine levels vary by the tea type. Twinings and Tazo black teas (e.g., English Breakfast) typically have moderate to high caffeine, while their green and white teas will have less.

Most herbal teas, often called 'tisanes,' from brands like Celestial Seasonings are naturally caffeine-free. An exception is yerba mate, which is an herbal brew with significant caffeine.

Yes, for any brand's tea, a longer brewing time will extract more caffeine from the leaves, resulting in a more potent cup.

No, brands that produce 'decaf' tea typically use a process that removes most, but not all, of the caffeine. A small trace amount will always remain.

Yerba Mate is not a 'true' tea as it comes from a different plant, but it is a highly caffeinated herbal beverage. Brands like Guayakí offer it as a strong, energizing alternative.