Tea and Caffeine

The amount of caffeine in tea varies depending on the type of tea, the region where it is harvested, when it is harvested, and how long it is brewed.

Caffeine and its Natural Sources

Caffeine occurs naturally in plants such as tea, coffee, mate, and guarana, while it is also found synthetically in some carbonated drinks and medications.

The Difference Between Tea and Coffee

Dried leaf tea has a higher caffeine content than coffee. However, coffee beans release a significant amount of caffeine when they are processed into drinkable coffee. On average, coffee contains twice as much caffeine as tea.

Caffeine Content in Different Types of Tea and Coffee

The caffeine content in one cup of tea and coffee is shown in the table below:

Drink	Caffeine Content
Coffee	95-200mg
Black Tea	40-80mg
Green tea	12-40mg
White Tea	6-12mg

Turkish Food Codex and Caffeine Content

According to the Turkish Food Codex, the minimum caffeine content in dried tea should be 1.6%. (Although caffeine levels vary among different types of tea, the minimum amount is the same for all tea categories.)

Different Properties of Green Tea

Green tea also contains caffeine, but in about half the amount found in black tea. In addition, green tea contains another active ingredient called L-Thianine. The combination of L-Thianine and caffeine may have positive effects on anxiety disorders.