Yellow tea: caffeine, brewing and taste
We found no reliable caffeine figure for yellow tea, so we do not show one.
At a glance
| Type | Lightly oxidised tea from China and Korea |
|---|---|
| Caffeine | no reliable figure found |
| Water temperature | see packaging |
| Steeping time | see packaging |
How it is made
Yellow tea follows the green tea process with one extra step, called "sweltering": warm, damp leaves are sealed in a container and gently heated for about 6–8 hours at close to body temperature. This turns them yellow and helps remove green tea's grassy smell. In China it is made in Hunan, Anhui, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Guizhou, Guangdong and Hubei.
Taste
Sweltering changes the amino acids and polyphenols, giving a brisk yet mellow taste. Chinese yellow tea gives a yellowish-green liquor.
How to brew
The source gives no brewing temperature, so follow the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in yellow tea?
We found no reliable caffeine figure for yellow tea, so we do not show one.
How do you brew yellow tea?
The source gives no brewing temperature, so follow the packaging.
Why is yellow tea hard to find?
Chinese yellow tea is described as increasingly rare and expensive. The source gives no figures.
Also useful
Sources
Brewing temperature and time are typical: manufacturers' instructions may differ. Data checked 2026-10-24. General information, not medical advice.