Does Earl Grey have caffeine? ☕️
It is one of the most common questions people ask about this classic black tea.
In this guide, we will answer does Earl Grey tea have caffeine, explain the Earl Grey caffeine content, compare it to other teas, and show how preparation methods can change how much caffeine ends up in your cup.
By the end, you will know exactly how much caffeine is in an Earl Grey tea and whether it fits into your daily routine.
Let’s get brewing.
Does Earl Grey have caffeine?
So, does Earl Grey tea have caffeine?
Yes, Earl Grey tea does contain caffeine, but significantly less than coffee and many energy drinks.
Earl Grey is made from black tea leaves, which naturally contain caffeine. However, the caffeine level is moderate, making it a popular choice for those who want a gentle energy boost without feeling overstimulated.
In other words, Earl Grey tea is caffeinated, but not excessively so.
How much caffeine in Earl Grey tea?
When people ask how much caffeine in Earl Grey tea, the answer depends on a few variables, but there is a general range.
A standard cup of Earl Grey tea contains approximately 40–70 mg of caffeine per cup. By comparison, a small cup of coffee contains around 95 mg of caffeine. If you are deciding between tea and coffee for daily energy, it helps to understand how their caffeine profiles differ.
This places the Earl Grey tea caffeine content firmly in the middle of the caffeine spectrum.
So if you are wondering how much caffeine is in an Earl Grey tea, you can expect enough to feel alert, but not jittery.
Why does Earl Grey tea have Caffeine?
Why does Earl Grey tea have caffeine in the first place?
All true teas, including Earl Grey, are made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The tea plant produces caffeine as a natural defence mechanism against insects.
Because all true teas come from the same plant, many people wonder whether green tea is actually caffeine free. We clear up that confusion in our article answering does green tea have caffeine.
Younger and more tender leaves produce more caffeine because they need more protection. Since Earl Grey is typically made using black tea leaves that include younger growth, Earl Grey black tea contains caffeine by nature.
This is true for all traditional teas made from the tea plant, regardless of how they are processed or flavoured.
If you want to explore this further, learning about the chemical composition of the green tea plant can provide deeper insight.
Additional ingredients
In addition to black tea leaves, Earl Grey also contains bergamot oil as a natural flavoring.
Although this citrusy oil produces a strong aroma, it is added in only a small quantity, so the vast majority of this tea is composed of black tea leaves.
Bergamot oil does not contain any caffeine, so the question of how much caffeine in Earl Grey tea really comes down to the black tea leaves.
If you want to learn more about the flavor of Earl Grey tea, you’ll want to read our article all about it.
Earl Grey caffeine compared to other teas
When comparing Earl Grey caffeine content to other teas and drinks, it sits in the middle range.
Approximate caffeine levels per cup:
• Filtered coffee: 95 mg
• Matcha: 60–70 mg
• Espresso: 60–65 mg
• Earl Grey tea: 40–70 mg
• Hojicha: ~30 mg
• Genmaicha: ~29 mg
• Kukicha: ~19 mg
This means Earl Grey black tea caffeine levels are higher than low caffeine Japanese teas, but lower than coffee or matcha.
Matcha behaves very differently from other teas because you consume the entire leaf rather than an infusion. If you want to understand how this affects stimulation and energy levels, we explain it in detail in our guide on does matcha have caffeine.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may want to avoid Earl Grey late in the evening. On the other hand, if you need moderate focus during the day, it can be an excellent choice.
If you want a deeper comparison, exploring which teas have the highest caffeine levels can be helpful.
If you want to find out the teas that are highest in caffeine, you can read our complete guide 👉 Which Tea Has the Most Caffeine
Reducing caffeine content in Earl Grey tea
You can directly influence the caffeine content of your Earl Grey by adjusting your preparation method. Beyond temperature, there are four key ways to manage your intake:
Shorter Brewing
The duration of the infusion directly impacts how much caffeine is released, as longer brewing times extract more of the molecule. If you brew the tea for just 1 minute, you will only extract around a third of the total caffeine available in the leaves.
2nd Brewing
Caffeine content is highest in the initial infusion. You can moderate your intake by drinking the caffeine-heavy first brew in the morning and reinfusing the same leaves in the afternoon, as the second brewing will naturally contain less caffeine.
Cold Brew
Switching to a cold brew method is a highly effective way to reduce stimulation, as cold water extracts less caffeine than warm or hot water.
Use Less Leaf
The simplest way to control caffeine is to manage the quantity of tea used, since more leaf material equates to more caffeine. Instead of the usual 5 grams, try starting with 3 grams to lower the overall potency of your cup.
Want a full crash course on tea brewing? You’ll want to read our article 👉 How to Brew Green Tea
Does Earl Grey tea contain caffeine if it’s decaf?
So is Earl Grey tea caffeinated even if it’s marked as “decaf”. The term decaf does not mean that the tea is caffeine free, it merely means that it has gone through a decaffeination process.
When decaffeinated, the caffeine content of Earl Grey black tea can be 2–5 mg caffeine.
While this isn’t enough to give you a sleepless night, it’s important to point out that the caffeine content is not 0, like most people may think.
If you are actively trying to reduce caffeine, bancha is often recommended as one of the gentlest options. We explain why in our breakdown of bancha tea caffeine.
The final verdict
So, does Earl Grey black tea have caffeine?
Yes, it does.
Earl Grey tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine, making it suitable for daytime drinking but not ideal right before bed. The exact Earl Grey tea caffeine content depends on leaf quantity, water temperature, and brewing time.
If you are exploring teas with different caffeine levels, browsing a loose leaf tea collection can help you compare styles and find what suits your routine best.
If you enjoy black tea and want a balanced level of stimulation, Earl Grey can fit comfortably into your routine. Just remember that even decaf versions still contain trace amounts of caffeine.
And if you’re still exploring different tea styles and caffeine levels, Japanese tea samplers are an easy way to experience multiple teas side by side without committing to a single variety.
