Black tea vs Matcha: which has more caffeine?
A cup of matcha has on average about 2× more caffeine than black tea.
Per 100 ml: matcha has about 2.4× more caffeine than black tea.
The ranges overlap, so in a particular cup the difference can go the other way.
| Black tea | Matcha | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per cup | 14–48 mg | 38–89 mg |
| Volume | 237 ml | 200 ml |
| mg / 100 ml (average) | 13.1 | 31.5 |
| Cups to reach 400 mg a day (adult) | 12 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more caffeine: Black tea or Matcha?
A cup of matcha has on average about 2× more caffeine than black tea. The ranges overlap, so in a particular cup the difference can go the other way.
How many cups of matcha equal one cup of black tea?
Using average values, one cup of black tea (31 mg) equals about 0.5 cups of matcha (63 mg). This is a guide, since both drinks vary by batch and preparation.
Which is better in the evening?
Black tea has less caffeine per cup (about 31 mg versus about 63 mg for matcha). After 6 hours roughly half to a third of what you drank remains, but sensitivity varies a lot.
Try it
Sources and method
- Ayakdaş & Ağagündüz, Foods 2025;14(13):2313 (68 tea samples)
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more
- Caffeine Informer: brewed tea (lab averages and brew-time tests)
- Medical News Today: matcha caffeine (19–44 mg/g, citing Kochman et al. 2020)
- EUFIC: EFSA opinion on the safety of caffeine (2015)
Data checked 2026-10-24. Ranges are shown because studies report different numbers. General information, not medical advice.