Does Boba Tea Have Caffeine?
Boba tea is a delicious and sweet drink! But if you’re thinking of trying boba tea or have already tried it, the last thing you want is to lose sleep over its caffeine level.
So, does boba tea have caffeine?
Boba tea does contain caffeine due to its tea content. The caffeine level can vary depending on the type of tea leaves, brewing method, and strength. Black, green, and oolong tea are most commonly used, and their caffeine content varies. According to research, one cup of boba tea contains 100-160 mg of caffeine.
If you’re curious about boba tea’s caffeine content, keep reading. I’ll dive into what affects the caffeine level in boba tea, compare it to other popular beverages, and discuss several decaffeinated options.
What Is Boba Tea?
Boba tea, or bubble tea, originates from Taiwan and has gained popularity worldwide. To make this beloved beverage, mix a tea base with milk, sweeteners, and an assortment of toppings, like tapioca pearls. The pearls add a unique chewy texture to the tea.
Boba tea commonly incorporates black, green, and oolong teas as its base. For decaffeinated options, fruit or whole milk can substitute the tea component.
Many flavors include taro milk tea, coconut, mango, strawberry, and lychee. The drink is served with a wide straw so the chewy tapioca pearls can be slurped while sipping it.
Does Boba Tea Have Caffeine?
Boba tea contains caffeine because of its tea content. Typically, it uses black, green, and oolong teas, which vary in caffeine content.
Yes, boba tea does have caffeine. One cup of boba tea contains 100-160 mg of caffeine. This is significantly more than a cup of black tea with 90-100 mg of caffeine and even coffee with 40-50 mg of the same serving size.
The caffeine content in tea varies based on the type of tea leaves, the brewing method, and the brewing strength. Brewing tea leaves for an extended period can create a tea concentrate, extracting more caffeine the longer you steep the tea.
Black tea has more caffeine than green and oolong tea, which also changes the caffeine level. However, there are also boba tea options that don’t contain any caffeine, such as taro milk tea or fruit tea.
What Affects The Caffeine Content?
People often wonder how they can reduce the amount of caffeine in boba tea. The caffeine content in bubble tea depends on four factors: the type of tea, the amount, the brewing method, and the water temperature.
The Type of Tea
Generally, boba tea uses black, green, and oolong tea. Black tea, specifically Ceylong or Assam, is typically used when creating classic milk tea.
An 8-ounce serving of black tea has around 40-50 mg of caffeine. In comparison, green tea has 15-45 mg, and jasmine tea has 15-60 mg of caffeine. If you want a lower-caffeine option, try green or oolong tea instead.
The Amount of Tea
The more tea is used, the more caffeine there will be in your drink. Generally, most tea shops will use the same amount of tea. But if you’d like more control over caffeine, you can make your own at home.
The Steep Time
Tea that is steeped for a longer period of time tends to extract more caffeine. Some boba tea shops use concentrated tea, which includes much more caffeine. But, most tea shops will follow the same steep time.
The Water Temperature
The water temperature also affects the caffeine content. When tea is brewed in hot water, it extracts more caffeine than cold brew methods.
Which Types of Boba Tea Have the Most Caffeine?
The caffeine content in boba tea depends largely on the type of tea base used in its preparation.
Teas derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, including black, green, and oolong teas, contain varying levels of caffeine.
Here are the types of boba tea ranked by their potential caffeine content, from highest to lowest:
Black Tea
Black tea typically has the highest caffeine content among traditional teas, averaging about 40-90 mg per 8-ounce serving. So, boba teas with a black tea base tend to have the most caffeine.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea falls somewhere between green and black tea in terms of oxidation and flavor. Its caffeine content is moderate and ranges from 30-50 mg per 8-ounce serving.
Green Tea
Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea, about 20-45 mg per 8-ounce serving. They’ll have a lower caffeine content and a subtle flavor.
Matcha
Although matcha is a form of green tea, it tends to have a higher caffeine content because it contains whole tea leaves in powdered form. Matcha-based boba teas can have varying caffeine levels and may contain up to 70 mg per 8-ounce serving.
Herbal Tea
Herbal teas are not made from Camellia sinensis and typically don’t contain caffeine. However, herbal tea-based boba teas are less common.
Fruit-Flavored Boba Tea
Some boba teas are fruit-flavored and do not contain any tea. These types of boba tea do not naturally contain caffeine unless it is added in some other form, such as through the inclusion of caffeinated jellies or syrups.
The caffeine content in boba tea can vary widely depending on factors such as the type and amount of tea used, the brewing time, and any additional caffeinated ingredients.
How Does Boba Tea Compare To Other Caffeinated Beverages?
Most boba drinks contain brewed black tea, jasmine, green, or oolong tea, all of which contain caffeine. Even decaf teas have trace amounts of the stuff. So if you want a caffeine-free drink, there are better choices than boba milk tea.
Compared to other caffeinated drinks- like coffee, energy drinks, and soda- boba milk teas tend to have slightly lower levels of caffeine.
Always consume these drinks in moderation – to avoid having too much caffeine.
| Type of Caffeinated Beverage | Caffeine Content Per 8-oz Serving |
| Coffee | 90-100mg |
| Espresso | 400-480mg |
| Yuenyeung | 60-70 mg |
| Matcha | 60-80 mg |
| Black Tea | 40-50 mg |
| Green Tea | 15-45 mg |
| Thai Tea | 25-45 mg |
Does Boba Tea Have More Caffeine Than Coffee?
Both boba tea and coffee are two highly caffeinated drinks, but which one has more?
Boba contains more caffeine than coffee in one serving size. Coffee contains approximately 90-100mg of caffeine, while boba tea has 100-160mg per serving. Specialty coffees like espresso shots may have more caffeine, 80-120mg for 1oz.
Since boba tea uses tea concentration, it has a bit more caffeine. Boba tea only has 30-50 mg of caffeine when it uses traditionally brewed black tea. This is much less than a cup of coffee.
Differences Between Boba Tea vs. Coffee
Coffee and bubble tea, both beloved globally, offer unique experiences distinguished by their distinct characteristics. Let’s explore how they differ across various aspects:
| Aspect | Coffee | Bubble Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Coffee beans, water, (optionally) milk, sugar, flavored syrups | Tea (black, green, oolong), milk or fruit flavors, sweeteners, tapioca pearls. |
| Flavor | Ranges from bitter to acidic with possible notes of fruits, nuts, chocolate, spices | Varies widely; can be creamy and tannic for milk teas or sweet and tart for fruit teas; also depends on toppings. |
| Caffeine Content | Generally high, about 95 mg per cup (varies widely) | Varies; 30-60 mg for tea-based, can be lower or none for fruit-flavored without tea. |
| Preparation Method | Drip brewing, espresso, French press, etc. | Brew tea, cook tapioca pearls, mix tea with milk/fruit flavoring and sweeteners, usually shaken |
| Serving Method | Hot or cold, usually in a mug or glass | Brew tea, cook tapioca pearls, mix tea with milk/fruit flavoring and sweeteners, usually shaken. |
As you’ll notice above, the main differences between boba tea and coffee are the ingredients, flavor, caffeine content, preparation method, and serving method. Both can be enjoyed equally depending on what your taste buds prefer.
What Boba Tea Has No Caffeine?
Most types of boba tea contain some caffeine because green or black tea is used. But you can certainly find bubble teas without any caffeine.
Herbal or fruit boba teas don’t contain caffeine. Variations include taro, honeydew melon, lychee green apple, and fruit-flavored smoothies. One of the most popular variations is milk with brown sugar, which does not contain tea.
Lastly, most boba tea shops will have decaffeinated versions of the most popular drinks.
How Is Boba Tea Made?
If you’ve bought boba tea from a shop, you may have wondered how it’s made. Boba tea is simply because it doesn’t require many ingredients.
Boba tea is made using black, oolong, and green tea. It can also include milk or non-dairy alternatives such as soya milk. These additions thicken the boba tea and give it a creamy and rich texture.
Sweeteners such as brown sugar syrup or liquid sugar are added. This changes the taste profile and can be customized to your liking. Depending on how sweet you like your drinks, you can always request more or less sugar at boba tea shops.
Tapioca balls are boiled until they are tender and chewy. The tapioca balls give you something to chew on while drinking the boba tea.
Lastly, ice is added to cool down the warm tapioca balls. Although you can warm boba tea, it’s best to drink it cold, especially on a nice hot summer day.
What Ingredients Are in Bubble Tea?
Boba tea has soared in popularity worldwide and is now available in numerous cafes and restaurants. Four essential ingredients are used in making boba tea.
The key elements of bubble tea are:
Tea
Boba tea typically uses black, green, oolong, or jasmine tea. It’s usually brewed for 3-5 minutes, depending on the tea, to ensure it extracts the most flavor.
You can boil tea leaves in water for a longer period of time to create a concentration. This will create a stronger tea flavor that won’t get muddled down as much with milk or water.
Toppings
The most common topping used in boba tea is tapioca pearls. These small, brown, chewy balls are made from boiled cassava root. It’s then dried into small chewy balls. Common toppings include grass jelly, pudding, lychee, taro puree, and more.
Sweetener
Boba tea is typically sweetened with powders, syrups, and sweeteners. Simply syrup and brown sugar syrup are the most common options. These liquid sweeteners can be easily dissolved in boba tea. Brown sugar syrup has a distinct caramel taste that can overpower the tea flavor.
Milk
Milk is usually used in boba tea to give it a richer and creamier texture. There are also non-dairy options that use almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and soya milk.
Final Thoughts
Boba tea is a sweet and delicious drink perfect for a hot day. Not only does it taste good, but its caffeine content can also boost your energy.
Not surprisingly, boba tea contains tea which is a source of caffeine. A serving of boba tea has approximately 100-160 mg of caffeine which is a lot compared to regular tea.
Drinking it in moderation is important to avoid trouble with your sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
The caffeine content in boba tea can range widely, typically between 30 to 90 mg per serving, depending on the type of tea base used, such as black, green, or oolong tea. Remember that the exact amount can vary based on the blend and preparation method.
Generally, boba tea has less caffeine than coffee. While an average cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, boba teas, particularly those made with black tea, tend to be on the lower end of this range, making them a milder choice in terms of caffeine.
Boba teas with herbal tea or fruit flavors without any tea base are caffeine-free. These are perfect for those looking to enjoy boba tea without the buzz.
Yes, boba tea can keep you awake, especially if it’s made with a caffeinated tea base like black or green tea. However, its ability to keep you alert will vary based on the caffeine content and your own sensitivity to caffeine.
Purely fruit-flavored bubble teas without a tea base are caffeine-free, making them a great option for avoiding caffeine. But fruit bubble tea can have caffeine if made with a tea base like black, green, or oolong tea.
Mango bubble tea might contain caffeine if it includes a tea base. If it’s made purely with mango flavoring and does not include actual tea, then it’s caffeine-free. Always check the ingredients if you’re concerned about caffeine.
Brown sugar boba does not contain caffeine, but the drink it’s served in might. The caffeine content depends on whether the beverage is tea-based. If you opt for a tea-free version, like milk with brown sugar boba, it’s caffeine-free.
The chewy tapioca pearls found in boba tea are made from tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava plant and is caffeine-free. Therefore, any caffeine in boba tea originates from the tea itself or other caffeinated ingredients, not the tapioca pearls.
