Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or a coffee lover who felt too many coffee jitters and then decided to switch to something with a weaker kick, you’ve probably found out that tea is the healthiest alternative to coffee.

If you need an extra boost in the morning or a slight kick later in the day, it doesn’t have to be coffee that gives you the energy!

Black tea, yerba mate, guayusa and some other types of tea have high amounts of slightly different caffeine than in coffee, which doesn’t give you the jitters or insomnia.

In this article, we’ve covered which teas have the most caffeine and how they’re different from coffee.

Which Types Of Tea Have The Most Amount Of Caffeine?

There are plenty of tea varieties out there, and each one of them has a slightly different amount of caffeine. Here are the types of tea sorted by caffeine, starting from the highest amount of caffeine content:

Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate is a South American herbal tea that is known for its ability to energize the mind. 

It’s known to contain about 85 mg of caffeine per cup, which is almost twice the amount of caffeine black tea has, and also makes it the tea with the highest amount of caffeine.

Black Tea

Black tea is the most common type of tea consumed in the West and is known for its robust flavor and high caffeine. It is made from fully oxidized tea leaves and is often used to make iced tea.

Black tea typically has the highest caffeine content among teas, ranging from 30mg to even 90mg of caffeine.

Guayusa Tea

Guayusa is a tea sourced from the Amazon jungle and is known for its clean energy boost and earthy flavor.

An 8-ounce cup of guayusa tea has between 40-50mg of caffeine, which places it so high on our list.

Many believe that guayusa gives a specific type of energy boost you can’t experience when drinking coffee.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea falls between green and black tea in terms of oxidation and caffeine, with the average range of caffeine being 30-50mg per cup.

Green Tea

Green tea has a milder kick compared to black tea, and averages 30-50mg per cup.

It provides a gentle energy boost that won’t lead to jitters or insomnia later.

Not only does it give an energy kick, but also comes with a ton of health benefits on the side.

White Tea

White tea, despite its delicate nature, still contains caffeine, averaging around 25-40 mg per cup. This mild caffeine content, coupled with its subtle taste, makes white tea a refreshing choice for any time of day.

White tea also contains caffeine, averaging around 25-40mg per cup.

It’s a refreshing choice with relatively little caffeine, making it suitable for any time of day. 

In addition to that, it also contains many antioxidants and is great for improving the immune system, preventing cancer, improving heart health, and many more health benefits.

What's The Difference Between Coffee and Tea Caffeine?

While both tea and coffee contain high amounts of caffeine, the way it affects your body can vary based on several reasons.

Tea contains other natural compounds that help offset the effects of caffeine, one example is L-theanine, an amino acid with a calming effect on the body.

This means that one compound is producing a complementary effect to another compound, and also lowering its effect.

Caffeine in tea can result in a more relaxed and focused feeling, rather than an anxious and jittery one.

Another reason tea feels different from coffee is the way caffeine is released in the body. Tea leaves contain caffeine in a more bound-up, complex form than coffee, and that’s what makes them perfect for a gradual and sustained release of energy into your body.