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Types of tea fall into two groups. In NCCIH and peer-reviewed review terms, true teas, from white and green to oolong, black and pu-erh, come from one plant, Camellia sinensis, and differ in processing; herbal infusions such as chamomile and hibiscus come from other plants. This guide to the kinds of tea sets out what NCCIH and a peer-reviewed review say about processing, lists USDA SR Legacy caffeine values per 8-ounce cup, and explains what FDA says about caffeine on labels.
Peptide Labs does not sell foods. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- NCCIH says green, black and oolong teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but are prepared using different methods.
- A 2023 peer-reviewed review describes white tea as lightly fermented and pu-erh as a post-fermented tea made with a microbial pile process.
- Per 8 fluid ounces in USDA SR Legacy data, the brewed black entry lists about 47 milligrams of caffeine, oolong 38 milligrams and green 28 milligrams.
- USDA lists 0 milligrams of caffeine for brewed chamomile, hibiscus and other herb infusions, and FDA says decaffeinated teas still contain some caffeine.
Types of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant
NCCIH, part of the National Institutes of Health, says “green, black, and oolong teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but are prepared using different methods.” A 2023 review in the World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Assad and colleagues) classifies tea types by degree of fermentation and adds white and post-fermented teas; the review speaks of fermentation and oxidation, and NCCIH of fermentation. The table pairs each type with the source’s wording and its USDA SR Legacy entry, where one exists.
| Tea type | Processing, in the source's words | Source | USDA SR Legacy entry (FDC ID) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | a light fermented tea; a very light fermentation phase | Assad et al. 2023 review | None in SR Legacy |
| Green | steamed, pan fried, and dried but not fermented | NCCIH | Green tea, brewed (171917) |
| Oolong | partially fermented | NCCIH | Oolong tea, brewed (174120) |
| Black | fermented | NCCIH | Black tea, brewed (173227) |
| Pu-erh | post-fermented, with a microbial pile process | Assad et al. 2023 review | None in SR Legacy |
In the review’s terms, green tea is the type where no fermentation or oxidation occurs, white tea is lightly fermented, oolong is semi-fermented and the black type is fully fermented and oxidized. NCCIH describes the green type as leaves that are steamed, pan fried and dried but not fermented, and says black tea is fermented and oolong tea is partially fermented.
Pu-erh belongs to a further group. The review names pu-erh, Qingzhuan and Fu-brick as examples of post-fermented teas, and says Chinese dark teas and post-fermented teas “require special microbial processing called the pile process.” For white tea, the review describes only a slight fermentation phase with drying. USDA SR Legacy has no entry for white tea or pu-erh, so no USDA values are shown for them; a package label, where present, is the figure for that product. Matcha also comes from the tea plant and has its own guide.
Caffeine in different kinds of tea per cup
The table lists USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy entries for brewed tea and herbal infusions per 8 fluid ounces. Every row uses the same weight, 237 grams, the cup portion USDA gives for the brewed black entry, so the rows compare; USDA’s own portions differ slightly, and the oolong entry has none. Caffeine has no FDA Daily Value, so the caffeine column carries no %DV; potassium uses the FDA Daily Value of 4,700 milligrams.
| Tea (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Calories | Caffeine | Potassium (% DV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black tea, brewed (173227) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 47 mg | 88 mg (2%) |
| Oolong tea, brewed (174120) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 38 mg | 28 mg (1%) |
| Green tea, brewed (171917) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 28 mg | 19 mg (0%) |
| Black tea, brewed, decaffeinated (174871) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 2 mg | 88 mg (2%) |
| Green tea, brewed, decaffeinated (171910) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 0 | 0 mg | 36 mg (1%) |
| Hibiscus, brewed (171946) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 0 | 0 mg | 47 mg (1%) |
| Herb tea other than chamomile, brewed (173232) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 0 mg | 21 mg (0%) |
| Chamomile, brewed (174156) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 0 mg | 21 mg (0%) |
In USDA data, the brewed black entry lists about 47 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces, oolong 38 milligrams and the green type 28 milligrams, while the decaffeinated black entry lists about 2 milligrams. USDA lists 0 milligrams for the decaffeinated green entry and for every herbal infusion in the table. All brewed rows list 0 to 2 calories per cup in USDA data. USDA SR Legacy figures are averages of the samples USDA analyzed, not a measurement of any one pot.
FDA’s consumer page on caffeine says “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day” as “an amount not generally associated with negative effects,” and adds that there is “wide variation in both how sensitive people are to the effects of caffeine” and how fast they clear it. FDA advises anyone who is pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding to talk to a healthcare provider about caffeine. Our guides to foods high in caffeine and too much caffeine cover the rest of that FDA page.
Herbal infusions are a separate group
Herbal infusions are often sold as tea, but they are made from other plants. NCCIH gives chamomile the Latin names Matricaria recutita and Matricaria chamomilla, and says there are two types, German chamomile and Roman chamomile. USDA SR Legacy files brewed chamomile, brewed hibiscus and a combined entry for herb infusions other than chamomile alongside the true teas, and lists 0 milligrams of caffeine for each.
Our single-plant guides cover chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, rooibos tea, ginger tea, turmeric tea, cinnamon tea and nettle tea. Yerba mate is a different plant again and is covered in its own guide. A blend can mix true tea with herbs, so the ingredient list on the package says which plants are inside.
Decaf, ready-to-drink tea and caffeine on labels
FDA says “Decaffeinated” does not mean caffeine-free: decaffeinated teas “have less caffeine than their regular counterparts, but still contain some caffeine.” USDA SR Legacy shows the same pattern for black teas, about 47 milligrams per cup regular against 2 milligrams decaffeinated.
FDA says packaged foods must list caffeine in the list of ingredients when it is added as a stand-alone ingredient, but when an ingredient inherently contains caffeine, caffeine will not appear on the list. Under that FDA rule, a bottled or instant tea may name tea leaves without naming caffeine. FDA adds that many packaged foods voluntarily state how much caffeine they contain, and that restaurants are not required by law to tell you how much caffeine is in what they serve. USDA SR Legacy keeps separate entries for ready-to-drink, instant and diet teas, and the Nutrition Facts label on a bottle is the figure for that product.
- Milk in tea: adding milk changes calories, protein and calcium; the sibling guide to types of milk lists USDA values per cup.
- Values vary: USDA SR Legacy figures are averages of the samples USDA analyzed.
- Allergens: FDA’s list of nine major food allergens does not include tea; check the label of any blend for added ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of tea?
NCCIH says green, black and oolong teas come from one plant, Camellia sinensis, and a 2023 peer-reviewed review adds white tea and post-fermented teas such as pu-erh; herbal infusions come from other plants.
Which kinds of tea list the most caffeine?
Per 8 fluid ounces in USDA SR Legacy data, the brewed black entry lists about 47 milligrams, oolong 38 milligrams and the green type 28 milligrams.
Do herbal infusions contain caffeine?
USDA lists 0 milligrams of caffeine for brewed chamomile, hibiscus and other herb infusions; a blend that includes true tea leaves is a different case, so check the ingredient list.
Is decaf tea caffeine-free?
No. FDA says decaffeinated teas have less caffeine than their regular counterparts but still contain some; USDA lists about 2 milligrams for a cup of the decaffeinated black entry.
Why is caffeine missing from some tea ingredient lists?
FDA says caffeine must be listed when it is added as a stand-alone ingredient, but not when it comes from an ingredient that inherently contains it, such as tea leaves.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Types of Milk: Dairy Milk Types and Plant Beverages Compared With USDA Data, Green Tea Benefits: What the Research Shows, Caffeine and Side Effects, Black Tea: Benefits, Caffeine, Nutrition and Research, Matcha Benefits: Caffeine, L-Theanine and What Studies Show, Types of Coffee: Brewed, Espresso, Instant and Decaf in USDA Data.