Facts about Caffeine Content of White Tea

White tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis. It was originally produced in China. The name "white tea" derives from the silvery-white hairs on the unopened leaf buds of the Camellia sinensis plant.

Leaves and leaf buds of this plant are used to produce different teas (black, green, oolong, pur-erh and white) but all these teas are processed differently to attain different levels of oxidation. White teas are lightly processed to prevent oxidation and further fermentation. Because that, white tea has the delicate flavor and also retains high levels of the chemicals responsible for its health benefits.

This tea is made using a very special method. After picking, fresh tea leaves are left to wither for up to 3 days.

As a result tea steeped in hot water for longer time, it will release more caffeine than tea steeped in cooler water for a shorter period which may explain why black tea is identified as having more caffeine. A little bit of a misconception. It’s more in the way it’s brewed.

All teas contain caffeine to some extent, but white tea has less caffeine than black or green tea. Also it contains far less caffeine than coffee.

The exact concentration of caffeine in the white tea depends on many factors. In dried form it contains 4% to 6% caffeine. So, white tea does contain the most caffeine in its dry state, but the processing plays more of a role in determining how much caffeine makes it into the liquor than base content does.

White tea contains the lowest caffeine concentration in brew-form with an average of 20 mg of caffeine per cup.

Green tea contains approximately 50% more caffeine than white tea.

Black tea contains approximately 150% more caffeine of white tea.

For comparison:

White tea contains 15 to 20 mg of caffeine per cup.

Black tea contains around 50 mg of caffeine cup.

Oolong teas contain about 45 mg of caffeine per cup.

Green tea contains 30 mg of caffeine per cup.

Instant tea contains average 25 mg caffeine per 8 ounce cup.

Herbal teas contain 0 mg caffeine.

The decaffeinated white tea contains only 2-5 mg of caffeine in a cup.

A cup of coffee contains between 65 and 150mg of caffeine.

Note: All figures are approximate, this site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.