Tea Questions: Does Tea Contain Caffeine?

When it comes to caffeine in tea, things can get a little confusing. You may have seen terms like tea, tisanes, caffeine-free, and decaffeinated used interchangeably but they each mean something quite different. Let’s break it down so you can sip with confidence.

What Is “Tea”?

True tea comes from a single plant: Camellia sinensis. This includes black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong, and even pu-erh. The difference between these varieties lies in how the leaves are processed rather than the plant itself.

Since Camellia sinensis naturally contains caffeine, all true teas will have some level of caffeine. However, many people casually use the word “tea” to refer to any hot, steeped drink - even when there are no actual tea leaves involved. This is where things like tisanes come in.

What Are Tisanes?

Tisanes (pronounced tee-zahns) are herbal infusions made from herbs, spices, flowers, fruits or other botanicals but not from the tea plant. Think peppermint, rooibos, or chamomile.

Most tisanes are naturally caffeine-free, but there are exceptions. For example, yerba maté is technically a herbal infusions but does contain caffeine. So, if you're looking to completely avoid caffeine, it's best to check whether the product is specifically labelled as “caffeine-free”.

What Does “Caffeine-Free” Actually Mean?

When a drink is labelled caffeine-free, it means it contains no caffeine whatsoever - naturally or otherwise. If you're avoiding caffeine entirely (whether for sleep, health, or personal preference), this is the label to look for.

What About “Decaffeinated” Tea?

Decaffeinated tea starts its life as a regular, caffeinated tea. It’s then put through a process- often using natural CO₂ or water extraction - that removes most of the caffeine. The result is a tea with a very low caffeine content, usually less than 0.2%.

For example, our Decaf Breakfast tea uses a gentle CO₂ process that preserves the rich, malty flavour while reducing caffeine to a minimum. . 

So, Does Tea Contain Caffeine?

In short - yes. If it comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, it contains caffeine.

• Tea (from camellia sinensis): Contains caffeine
• Decaffeinated tea: Contains a small amount of caffeine (under 0.2%)
• Tisanes: Typically caffeine-free (but not always)

• Caffeine-free tisanes: Guaranteed no caffeine

If you’re looking to cut caffeine completely, your safest bet is a caffeine-free herbal infusion.

A Brief History: Tea as the Original Caffeinated Beverage

Tea holds the title as the oldest known caffeinated drink. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea in 2737 BCE when tea leaves drifted into his pot of boiling water. However, the most reliable early record of tea dates back to a Chinese dictionary from around 350 CE.

Despite its association with British culture today, tea didn’t reach Britain until the mid-1600s, when it was introduced by Dutch traders [1].

How Much Caffeine Is in Tea?

Caffeine levels in tea can vary quite a bit. That’s why you’ll rarely see exact caffeine amounts listed on packs of tea. Several factors affect caffeine content, including:

• The type and variety of tea

• The size of the leaves (broken leaves tend to release more caffeine)

• The growing environment

• Brewing time and temperature 

[2]

Interestingly, tea leaves contain more caffeine by weight than coffee beans, but the brewing process dilutes more than what is lost in the brewing process for coffee.  The result is a brewed cup of tea usually has about 30% less caffeine than a cup of coffee [3].

Want More or Less Caffeine from Your Tea?

Here are some quick tips:

• Choose whole leaf teas if you want less caffeine - they release it more slowly

• Go for broken-leaf or finely cut teas if you're looking for a stronger kick

• Stick to caffeine-free tisanes if you’re avoiding caffeine altogether

Final Thoughts

Understanding what’s in your cup is the first step to making the best choice for your taste and lifestyle. Whether you're chasing a gentle boost or cutting out caffeine completely, there's a perfect brew out there for you. Shop our teas and tisanes here. 

References

1. Ukers, W.H. All About Tea (1935).

2. Gramza A, Korczak J. Tea constituents (Camellia sinensis L.) as antioxidants in lipid systems Trends Food Sci Tech, 16 (2005), pp. 351-358

3. Barone JJ, Roberts HR, Dews PB, Human consumption of caffeine. Caffeine: perspectives from recent research, 1984, 59–73