Caffeine Content by Tea Type
Caffeine in tea is often assumed to follow a simple rule — green tea low, black tea high — but the reality is more about how the tea is prepared than which type it is.
What Actually Determines Caffeine Levels
Leaf grade matters more than tea type: smaller, more broken leaf grades (like CTC or fannings) release caffeine faster because of greater surface area, while whole leaf Orthodox tea releases it more gradually. Steep time and water temperature also matter significantly — a longer steep or hotter water extracts more caffeine regardless of tea type.
General Patterns
CTC tea, brewed strong and quickly, typically delivers a noticeable caffeine hit in a short steep. Orthodox black tea, brewed longer at a gentler pace, can deliver a comparable or even higher total caffeine content depending on steep time. Green tea is often lower in caffeine per cup mainly because it's typically steeped for less time at a lower temperature, not because the leaf itself contains dramatically less caffeine.
Practical Takeaways
If you're trying to manage caffeine intake, steep time and water temperature give you more control than simply switching tea types. A shorter steep, cooler water, and fewer infusions will reduce caffeine regardless of whether you're drinking CTC, Orthodox, or green tea.
A Note on Decaf
For those avoiding caffeine altogether, look specifically for a tea labelled decaffeinated, which undergoes a separate process to remove the majority of caffeine — switching tea type alone won't reliably achieve that.
Browse our full tea range and brew according to the strength and caffeine level you prefer.