Caffeine reference

Caffeine in tea, typical mg per cup, with sources.

Caffeine in popular UK black teas

Yorkshire, Tetley, Twinings, PG Tips, Taylors, measured mg per cup

Decaf options

2-5mg per cup, for evening drinkers or pregnancy

Caffeine-free herbal infusions

Zero caffeine, chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, fruit

Caffeine in tea is the single most-asked question we get, and the answers online are often wrong. The Yorkshire Tea cup is not "the same as a coffee" (a coffee has 80-100mg, Yorkshire is closer to 50). Decaf is not zero (it is 2-5mg, low but not nothing). Green tea is not radically lower than black (the gap is real but small). This page is our honest reference. All numbers are per 200ml cup brewed for 4 minutes with a single tea bag, sourced from manufacturer data sheets where available and independent UK lab analysis (Which?, Food Standards Agency, peer-reviewed nutrition journals) where it is not.

Common questions

How much caffeine is in a cup of Yorkshire Tea?

Approximately 50mg per 200ml cup brewed for 4 minutes from one Yorkshire Tea Original bag. Yorkshire Gold sits slightly higher at around 55-60mg because of the higher Assam content. Yorkshire Decaf is approximately 2-3mg, not zero. Source: Taylors of Harrogate manufacturer data, cross-checked against Which? 2023 testing.

How much caffeine is in a cup of Tetley?

Approximately 40-45mg per 200ml cup from one Tetley Original bag, slightly lower than Yorkshire because the blend is lighter on Assam. Tetley Decaf is 2-3mg.

How much caffeine is in a cup of PG Tips?

Approximately 45-50mg per 200ml cup from one pyramid bag. PG Tips uses Kenya-led blends which sit between Yorkshire and Tetley on caffeine.

Does green tea have less caffeine than black tea?

Yes, but not radically less. A bagged green tea is typically 30-40mg per 200ml cup, against 40-55mg for a bagged black. The difference is real but smaller than most people assume, switching from one strong black tea per morning to one strong green tea drops your daily intake by maybe 15mg.

Is decaf tea actually caffeine-free?

No. Decaf processing removes most caffeine, but a small amount normally remains. Caffeine content varies by product and brew. During pregnancy, follow current NHS guidance on total daily caffeine and ask a midwife or clinician if you are unsure.

Which tea has the most caffeine?

Strong Assam loose-leaf brewed long is the highest commonly-available tea, around 60-80mg per 200ml. Matcha tea has 60-70mg per bowl because you consume the powdered leaf. Yerba Mate (technically not tea but often listed as such) is around 80mg.

How does tea caffeine compare to coffee?

A typical filter coffee is 80-100mg per 200ml, espresso is 60-80mg per 30ml shot. So one filter coffee is roughly the same as two strong cups of black tea. Tea also contains L-theanine which softens the caffeine release, most people report that two cups of strong tea feels less "jangly" than one filter coffee.

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