Does green tea have less caffeine than black tea?
Green tea and black tea come from the same plant – Camellia Sinensis – and as such contain more or less the same amount of caffeine. The difference is in the method of preparation. Caffeine is highly water-soluble at high temperatures and goes into solution very quickly. Generally green tea is prepared with water that is between 170°F to 180°F whereas black tea is prepared with water that is between 200°F and 212°F. Since black tea is generally prepared with water that is a higher temperature, more of the caffeine leaches into the tea resulting in higher caffeine readings. If green tea is prepared at the same temperature as black tea the caffeine levels are virtually the same.
