How many cups of tea do you need to drink to get that caffeine energy you need? It’s more than coffee, right? Traditionally, the answer is yes, that compared to coffee, a cup of tea contains less caffeine. This was true before high caffeine teas existed.
Tea with higher than normal caffeine contents can match (and even exceed) the levels of caffeine in your normal coffee wake-up call.
Everything you need to know about high caffeine tea, including what it contains, how it can help energize your day, and how it compares to other caffeinated beverages, is right here in our guide.
But of course, tea isn’t the same as coffee, so the energy boost is different too. Tea, which is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, naturally contains both caffeine and a variety of amino acids. One important amino acid is L-Theanine, which is not present in coffee.
That’s why high caffeine teas are so popular. They provide the energy boost you’re looking for, but with additional ingredients like L-Theanine for focus and even potential health benefits.
Starting with the basics - caffeine is a stimulant. It reduces tiredness, giving you energy and alertness, but it doesn’t last forever.
Caffeine from coffee, provides a quick boost of energy, then fades away… until you grab a refill. With tea, it’s slightly different due to the L-Theanine. Together, caffeine and L-Theanine have a synergistic effect. This unique amino acid slows down the onset of the effects of caffeine, so your energy is smoother and prolonged, rather than all at once. This also means the caffeine energy slowly tapers off at the end of the day.
Furthermore, L-Theanine can affect your mood by stimulating GABA, serotonin and dopamine when it crosses the blood-brain barrier. As a result, you get a sense of calm and focus. Combined with the energy of caffeine, this is a fantastic recipe for productivity.
And that is why high caffeine tea is brilliant. It provides the same energy boost as other drinks with high caffeine content, but with higher amounts of focus and calm.
In general, all high energy teas have quite a few benefits over other caffeinated drinks.
Provides more energy in fewer cups compared to normal tea types,
The extra caffeine comes from a natural source (tea leaves),
L-Theanine amino acids provide calm and focus,
That means you can forget about jitters and shakes,
Your energy is sustained and prolonged, rather than hitting you all at once,
There’s a smoother ‘come down’ as the energy wears off.
There are some side effects from consuming too much caffeine. Alertness and energy turn to jitters, anxiety, and sleep troubles. Caffeine can also elevate your blood pressure temporarily and is linked to chronic headaches. But, you need to drink a lot of caffeine to experience overly negative side effects.
Recommendations by the FDA are to consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. That’s roughly equivalent to 8 cups of black tea, 4 or 5 cups of coffee, or 2.5 cups of Zest energy tea, for example. Drinking energy tea in moderation is perfectly fine.
Caffeine from tea is great for energy and focus, and as we just discussed, drinking too much caffeine from any source (more than 400mg) is not a good idea. So, as a helpful guide we’ve outlined the different caffeine levels in different teas, coffees, and energy drinks.
Note: We’re comparing caffeine levels per cup (8 ounces) and looking at the average caffeine levels for each tea type. However, there is quite a bit of variation and variability. For example, two green teas from different varieties of the Camellia sinensis plant, made from different leaves (large vs buds), brewed in different ways, will have different levels of caffeine. The more tea leaf you brew, the hotter the water, and the longer you brew for, the more caffeine ends up in your cup too. So, take these figures with a pinch of salt.
Herbal teas and fruit teas are caffeine-free, so they contain 0mg of caffeine. This includes infusions like chamomile or valerian and red rooibos, a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and tea. As these teas aren’t made from Camellia sinensis leaves, they don’t contain any L-Theanine either. But that’s not to say these tisanes don’t have their own health benefits.
Ok, that was a lot of information. Here’s a helpful visual to see how all these beverages and their caffeine contents compare to one another.
You’ve already read through a plethora of reasons why energy tea is so great, but there’s more. Okay, so we are a little biased… but one of the things we love so much about creating high energy teas, is the variety of flavors available.
By naturally increasing the caffeine levels in any tea type, you can enjoy your favorite Earl Grey black tea or smooth green tea and get that energy boost you need. So, instead of drinking cup after cup of crappy office coffee, you can choose a tasty, healthy, high caffeine alternative to power through your day.
You can find high energy tea in loose leaf format, or in more convenient tea bags. There are even sparkling, iced, and other ready-to-drink energy teas to explore.
Couldn’t find the answer you’re looking for? Or just don’t have enough energy to read our full guide? We’ve been there! These frequently asked questions should clear things up. You can always message us, leave a comment, or join our mailing list to learn more about highly caffeinated teas.
Tea with high amounts of caffeine provides lots of energy, without you needing to drink cup after cup after cup. These teas also contain L-Theanine and other beneficial amino acids that aren’t present in coffee, to keep you calm and focused. You’ll also avoid the jitters and caffeine crash as the effects wear off.
Decide between loose leaf tea, tea sachets or sparkling energy tea, then pick your favorite flavor. All Zest teas contain 135 to 150 milligrams of caffeine.
So you can do more with your day! It’s the L-Theanine amino acid in tea that helps you stay calm and focus your energy.
Yes, green teas contain caffeine as well as L-Theanine, to provide energy and focus. Just bear in mind, green tea caffeine levels are quite low.
An average brewed cup of green tea contains around 32 milligrams of caffeine. Matcha, a specific type of green tea, contains as much as 35 milligrams per half a teaspoon of powder.
Most types of tea don’t contain as much caffeine per cup compared to coffee. The exception is highly caffeinated teas. Tea types that have the highest caffeine (but still less than coffee) include matcha and yerba mate.
Zest Tea uses a blending method that enhances the caffeine content using a natural tea extract. The result is tea with more of the same kind of caffeine as what was already in there.
Caffeine in tea makes you feel alert, energized, and wide awake. Caffeine and L-Theanine together in tea makes you feel both energized and focused - a great combination for productivity.
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FDA caffeine recommendation
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
Side effects/dangers of caffeine https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7
Caffeine headaches https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15596744/
Caffeine levels in different types of teas https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-in-tea-vs-coffee#caffeine-concerns
Oolong caffeine source https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/oolong-tea
L-Theanine levels per tea type
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814610011416
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4787341/
Pu-erh caffeine content
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/pu-erh-tea-benefits#Side-effects-and-precautions
Coca Cola caffeine content https://www.coca-colacompany.com/faqs/what-is-caffeine