Black tea vs Matcha: caffeine compared
Matcha (1 tsp in 8 oz) has 70 mg of caffeine, 23 mg more than Black tea (8 oz, 47 mg) — 1.5× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Matcha is the stronger drink: 8.8 mg/oz versus 5.9 mg/oz.
| Black tea | Matcha | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 8 oz | 1 tsp in 8 oz |
| Caffeine per serving | 47 mg | 70 mg |
| Per fl oz | 5.9 mg | 8.8 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 12% | 18% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 8.5 | 5.7 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | already under | 2.4 h |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 11:00 PM | 8:34 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 6:27 PM | 3:34 PM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 24% | 35% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Black tea or Matcha?
Matcha (1 tsp in 8 oz) has about 70 mg versus 47 mg in Black tea (8 oz): 23 mg more, or 1.5× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Black tea or Matcha?
Matcha: about 8.8 mg per fl oz versus 5.9 mg for Black tea. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Black tea servings equal one Matcha?
About 1.5 servings of Black tea (8 oz) match the caffeine in one Matcha (1 tsp in 8 oz).
When should I stop drinking Black tea or Matcha before bed?
For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Black tea by 11:00 PM, last Matcha by 8:34 PM. Half-life varies from about 1.5 to 9.5 hours between people.
Method
Caffeine per labeled serving, from the same drink table every calculator here uses (FDA/USDA reference amounts and manufacturer labels; see caffeine content of every drink). Brewed drinks vary batch to batch, so read these as typical values. Decay uses a 5-hour average half-life with a 45-minute absorption ramp; cutoff = bedtime − 5 h × log₂(dose ÷ limit). Percentages use the FDA's 400 mg/day figure for healthy adults and the 200 mg/day limit ACOG gives for pregnancy.
Source — Black tea: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 173227), checked 2026-10-13. 20 mg per 100 g × 237 g.
Unverified — Matcha: Depends on powder and dose; no reliable reference value. Treat 70 mg as a rough estimate.