What Tea Has High Caffeine? A Deep Dive into Energizing Brews

November 14, 2025 •

4 min read

While many assume black tea is the most caffeinated, a single serving of matcha can contain more caffeine than some black teas due to consuming the entire leaf. The question of what tea has high caffeine is more nuanced than it seems, depending on the tea variety, processing, and brewing methods.

Quick Summary

This guide details the tea varieties with the highest caffeine levels, explaining how preparation methods influence the final brew's potency. It compares options like matcha, black tea, and yerba mate to help you find an energizing alternative to coffee.

Key Points

Matcha is a Top Contender: Because you consume the entire ground tea leaf, matcha delivers one of the highest concentrations of caffeine among teas.
Black Tea is Not Always Highest: While black tea is a common choice for a high-caffeine boost, some specialty teas like matcha and yerba mate often contain more caffeine per serving.
Brewing Matters More Than You Think: Factors like water temperature, steeping time, and leaf size are crucial for determining the final caffeine content of your brew.
Yerba Mate is a Powerful Alternative: This South American herbal infusion is a significant source of caffeine, often rivaling or exceeding many teas, though it is not from the true tea plant.
Tea's Caffeine Effect is Distinct: The presence of L-theanine in tea provides a calmer, more sustained energy lift compared to the sharper jolt from coffee.
Control Your Caffeine Intake: To find your perfect energy level, experiment with different tea types and brewing parameters, and be mindful of your body's sensitivity to caffeine.
Assam and Ripe Puerh Are High-Caffeine Options: Specific black teas like Assam and fermented teas like ripe Puerh are known for their high caffeine levels and robust flavors.

Most people associate a caffeine boost with coffee, but the world of tea offers a wide spectrum of stimulating options, from the robust to the mellow. The assumption that black tea uniformly has the highest caffeine is a common misconception; while it often does, there are other contenders that pack an even more powerful punch. The final caffeine content in your cup is a complex interplay of the tea cultivar, leaf age, processing, and how you prepare it.

The Uncontested High-Caffeine Tea: Matcha

Matcha is consistently cited as one of the most caffeinated teas available, and for good reason. Unlike other teas where the leaves are steeped and removed, matcha is a finely ground powder of specially grown green tea leaves that you consume whole. This means you ingest 100% of the leaves' caffeine and nutrients, resulting in a potent and sustained energy release.

Factors Making Matcha High in Caffeine:

Shade-Grown Leaves: Matcha comes from tea plants grown in the shade for several weeks before harvest. This process increases the chlorophyll and L-theanine content while also boosting caffeine levels.
Consuming the Whole Leaf: Since the tea leaf is powdered and ingested, you get the maximum possible caffeine from the plant. A typical 2-gram serving can contain 60–70 mg of caffeine or more.

Other Top Contenders for High Caffeine

While matcha is a powerhouse, several other teas and caffeinated infusions are known for their high energy content.

Yerba Mate: This is a traditional South American herbal infusion and not a true tea, as it's not from the Camellia sinensis plant. It is, however, highly caffeinated, with an average of 85 mg per cup, making it a strong competitor for those seeking a robust energy boost.
Puerh Tea: A fermented tea from China, Puerh can also have a high caffeine concentration, especially ripe Puerh. Some studies show ripe Puerh containing more caffeine than its raw counterpart due to the fermentation process, with content ranging from 30 to 100 mg per 8 oz cup.
Black Tea (Assam): As a category, black tea is generally high in caffeine, and certain varieties stand out. Assam black tea, for example, is renowned for its malty flavor and high caffeine content, often used in breakfast blends for a brisk morning start.

The Role of Brewing in Caffeine Extraction

The type of tea is only one part of the equation. How you brew your tea significantly impacts the final caffeine level. By controlling a few variables, you can extract more or less caffeine from the same tea leaves.

Factors Affecting Brewing:

Water Temperature: Hotter water is more effective at extracting caffeine from tea leaves. Black teas, brewed with near-boiling water, tend to yield more caffeine than green teas, which require cooler water to prevent bitterness.
Steeping Time: The longer you steep your tea, the more caffeine is released into the water. A tea steeped for five minutes will have a considerably higher caffeine content than one steeped for two minutes.
Leaf Size: Finely broken tea leaves, like those found in most teabags, have a larger surface area than whole leaves. This allows for faster and more efficient caffeine extraction, resulting in a more potent cup in a shorter time.

Comparison: Caffeine Content in Popular Teas

To help you visualize the difference in caffeine levels, here is a comparison table for an average 8-ounce (240 ml) cup, though note that actual values can vary significantly based on brewing and other factors.


Beverage Type	Average Caffeine (mg)	Notes
Matcha	60–70 mg (per 2g serving)	Entire leaf is consumed, resulting in high potency.
Yerba Mate	85 mg	South American herb; not a true tea.
Black Tea (Assam)	60–90 mg	Robust and bold flavor.
Ripe Puerh	60–70 mg	Fermented tea with an earthy taste.
Oolong Tea	30–60 mg	Partially oxidized; caffeine content varies widely.
Green Tea	20–45 mg	Lower temperature brewing reduces caffeine extraction.
White Tea	15–40 mg	Minimally processed; generally low caffeine.
Coffee	95–165 mg	Included for comparative context.

A Concluding Note on Tea and Your Body

While finding a high-caffeine tea is simple, it's important to consider how your body responds. Tea's caffeine experience is often different from coffee's due to the amino acid L-theanine, which promotes a state of relaxed focus without the jitters sometimes caused by coffee. For those seeking an energizing start or a productive afternoon lift, knowing which tea has high caffeine can guide you toward the perfect brew. Whether you choose a potent Matcha, a rich Assam, or a powerful Yerba Mate, experimenting with different types and brewing techniques will help you find the ideal balance of flavor and energy for your personal needs.

For more in-depth information on the effects of different beverages on the body, including caffeine absorption, resources like Healthline offer comprehensive articles on the subject.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, while black tea generally has a high caffeine content, some teas like matcha and other caffeinated infusions like yerba mate can have higher levels per serving, depending on preparation.

Matcha is often considered the most caffeinated true tea because you consume the entire powdered tea leaf, ingesting 100% of its caffeine and nutrients.

No, yerba mate is not a true tea. It is an herbal infusion from a South American holly tree, but it is known for its high caffeine content and is often grouped with teas.

The longer you steep your tea, the more caffeine is extracted from the leaves. A longer steeping time will result in a more caffeinated brew.

Green tea generally has less caffeine than black tea, with an average of 20–45 mg per 8-ounce cup. However, shade-grown varieties like Gyokuro and matcha can have higher caffeine levels.

Coffee typically contains more caffeine per serving than tea. An average cup of brewed coffee can have more than double the caffeine of an average cup of black tea.

Tea contains the amino acid L-theanine, which works with caffeine to provide a smoother, more sustained energy boost and promotes relaxed alertness, unlike the more sudden jolt often associated with coffee.