Does Green Tea Have Caffeine? Mg Chart (Chinese Tea vs Coffee)
By Anken | Updated November 2025
If you’ve ever googled “does green tea have caffeine?” while reaching for your morning cup, you’re not alone — it’s one of the top trending tea questions in the U.S. right now.
Short answer: Yes — but way less than coffee.
A typical 8 oz cup of Chinese green tea contains 20–45 mg of caffeine — about 1/4 to 1/3 of what you get from drip coffee. Even high-end shade-grown varieties rarely exceed 60 mg.
📊 Caffeine Content Chart (Per 8 oz / 240 ml Serving)
| Tea Type | Average Caffeine | Typical Feeling |
|---|---|---|
|
Chinese Green Tea (Dragonwell, Biluochun, Xinyang Maojian, Anji White) |
20–45 mg | Calm & focused |
|
Premium Pre-Qingming Dragonwell 2025 fresh harvest |
35–50 mg | Gentle morning lift |
| Japanese Matcha (for comparison) | 35–70 mg | Stronger, longer buzz |
| Drip Coffee (reference) | 95–200 mg | Jittery spike & crash |
Why Chinese green tea wins for daily drinking:
High L-theanine + moderate caffeine = 4–6 hours of smooth, crash-free energy. Perfect replacement for your second cup of coffee.
Why You Won’t Feel Jittery (Thank You, L-theanine)
All real tea (Camellia sinensis) contains caffeine, but premium Chinese green tea is especially rich in L-theanine — the amino acid that:
- Slows caffeine absorption → no spike
- Promotes alpha brain waves → relaxed alertness
- Gives that famous “calm focus” people love
How to Brew Lower-Caffeine Cups
- Use 175°F (80°C) water instead of boiling
- Steep for only 60–90 seconds (first infusion has ~70% of the caffeine)
- Second & third infusions drop to 5–15 mg — basically decaf taste
Who Should Be Careful?
- Pregnant women: keep total daily caffeine ≤200 mg (ACOG guideline)
- Caffeine-sensitive: start with later-harvest teas or second infusions
Bottom Line
Yes, green tea has caffeine — but Chinese green tea gives you the sweet spot: enough for gentle energy, paired with L-theanine for zen-like focus. It’s why so many Americans are switching from coffee to Dragonwell or Maojian every morning.
Shop 2025 Fresh Chinese Green Tea →
— Anken
Chinese tea specialist & founder of TeaStart