Black Tea vs Green Tea vs Oolong vs Rooibos: Caffeine Content and Flavor Compared

Black, green, oolong and white tea all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is how long the leaves oxidize after picking. Rooibos and herbal "teas" are not from the tea plant at all, which is why they have no caffeine. Here is what that means for your cup.

Caffeine at a glance

Type	Oxidation	Approx. caffeine per 8 oz	Best time
Black	Full	40–70 mg	Morning
Oolong	Partial	30–50 mg	Morning to afternoon
Green	None (heated to stop it)	20–45 mg	Afternoon
White	Minimal	15–30 mg	Afternoon
Rooibos / herbal	n/a (not tea plant)	0 mg	Evening, anytime

For comparison, an 8 oz cup of drip coffee is roughly 95 mg. Steep time, water temperature and leaf amount all change the number, so treat these as ranges.

Black tea: bold, malty, built for milk

Fully oxidized leaves give black tea its dark color and strong body. It stands up to milk and sugar and pairs well with dessert flavors like chocolate, caramel and bourbon sugar. Start with Essentials English Breakfast for a classic, or Low Country if you want something sweeter. Browse all black teas.

Green tea: fresh, grassy, lighter caffeine

Green tea leaves are heated right after picking, so they stay green and taste fresh and vegetal. Brew it cooler (175°F) or it turns bitter. Our greens lean fruity and friendly: Tangerine Dream and Big Easy are good first green teas. Browse all green teas.

Oolong: the in-between

Partially oxidized, oolong ranges from almost-green to almost-black. It is the most complex category and the best for re-steeping. Try Dark Iris (peach pistachio) for a flavored oolong or Black Pearl for a traditional roasted one. For a closer comparison, see oolong vs green tea.

White tea: delicate and low-caffeine

Made from young buds and barely processed, white tea is soft and slightly sweet. Know by Heart adds orange blossom and almond without covering the leaf.

Rooibos and herbal: zero caffeine, full flavor

Rooibos is a South African shrub with a naturally sweet, smooth taste that carries dessert flavors beautifully, which is why Psychocandy (pumpkin caramel) and Silent Night (chocolate nutmeg) are among our most popular teas overall. Herbal blends built on chamomile, mint or fruit are also caffeine-free. Browse herbal & caffeine-free teas and rooibos.

Decaf vs caffeine-free

"Decaf" black tea has had most of its caffeine removed but still contains a small amount (roughly 2–5 mg). "Caffeine-free" rooibos and herbals never had any. If you are sensitive, choose caffeine-free. If you want a true black tea taste at night, Decaf Low Country and Essentials Decaf Black are the compromise.

Not sure where to start?

The Top 10 Sampler includes black, green, oolong and herbal so you can taste the differences side by side. Every tea is also available as a $4.99 sample in All Teas. For brewing times, see our loose-leaf brewing guide.