Does Jasmine Tea Have Caffeine? What You Need to Know
Jasmine tea caffeine can vary depending on the tea used as its base. So, does jasmine tea have caffeine? Usually, yes.
Most jasmine tea is made by scenting green tea with fragrant jasmine blossoms, and the caffeine comes from the tea leaves—not the jasmine flowers. The amount of caffeine in your cup depends on the tea base, how much tea you use, and how you brew it.
How Much Caffeine Is in Jasmine Tea?
There isn't one set amount of caffeine for all jasmine teas.
A jasmine green tea, jasmine white tea, jasmine oolong tea, and jasmine black tea can all have different caffeine levels because the underlying tea is different. Brewing time, water temperature, and the amount of tea leaves used can also affect how much caffeine ends up in your cup.
For perspective, the FDA lists typical caffeine content for a 12-ounce serving of green tea at about 37 mg and black tea at about 71 mg—but actual amounts vary by product and preparation.
Research measuring brewed teas has also found substantial variation in caffeine levels among commercial white, green, and black teas, with brewing conditions affecting the amount extracted.
So rather than thinking of jasmine tea as having one specific caffeine number, it's more useful to look at the type of tea base.
Does Jasmine Green Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes. Jasmine green tea contains caffeine.
Jasmine green tea is made by combining green tea leaves with the aroma of fresh jasmine blossoms. Green tea comes from Camellia sinensis, the tea plant that naturally contains caffeine.
Our Jasmine Green Tea Pearls are hand-rolled Chinese green tea scented with fresh jasmine blossoms and are classified as having moderate caffeine. Learn more in our guide to jasmine pearl tea.
So if you're looking for a fragrant tea with some caffeine, jasmine green tea is a beautiful choice.
Is Jasmine Tea Caffeine-Free?
Not usually.
This is where jasmine tea can be confusing.
Jasmine is a flower, but jasmine tea isn't necessarily a tea made from jasmine flowers alone. Most traditional jasmine teas begin with tea leaves—often green or white tea—which are then scented with jasmine blossoms.
A beverage made entirely from jasmine flowers and other caffeine-free botanicals would be a floral or herbal infusion rather than a traditional jasmine tea. Herbal teas are made from plants other than Camellia sinensis.
The caffeine comes from the tea base, not the jasmine.
It's also worth remembering that the color or name of a tea doesn't tell you exactly how much caffeine is in your cup. Even teas of the same type can vary depending on the leaves, serving size, and brewing method.
Does Jasmine Tea Have More Caffeine Than Green Tea?
This is a bit of a trick question.
Jasmine green tea is a type of green tea.
The jasmine scent doesn't automatically add or remove caffeine. If you compare two otherwise similar green teas, the caffeine difference will depend more on the particular leaves and how the tea is prepared than on the jasmine blossoms themselves.
For example, our Jasmine Green Tea Pearls are a jasmine-scented green tea with moderate caffeine.
What Affects the Caffeine in Jasmine Tea?
Several factors can influence how much caffeine ends up in your cup.
- The tea base: The biggest factor is the tea used to make the jasmine tea. Green, white, oolong, and black teas all naturally contain caffeine.
- How much tea you use: More tea leaves generally means more caffeine available to extract.
- Steeping time: The longer tea leaves steep, the more caffeine can be extracted. Research has found that brewing time can significantly affect caffeine levels in brewed tea.
- Water temperature: Brewing temperature can also influence extraction, although its effect varies by tea type and brewing conditions.
That's one reason you shouldn't treat a caffeine number found online as an exact measurement for every cup of jasmine tea.
What Is Jasmine Tea?
Jasmine tea is traditionally made by allowing fresh jasmine blossoms to add aroma and flavor tea leaves.
The most common version is jasmine green tea, although jasmine can also be paired with white, oolong, and black teas.
The result is a tea with the character of its underlying tea base combined with the unmistakable floral aroma of jasmine.
That's why jasmine teas can taste quite different from one another.
A jasmine green tea tends to have a fresh, smooth character, while jasmine white tea can be softer and more delicate.
Our Jasmine Silver Needle is a jasmine-scented white tea made from young tea buds. We classify it as low caffeine, making it a good example of how the tea base can influence the caffeine level.
What Does Jasmine Tea Taste Like?
Jasmine tea is best known for its beautiful floral aroma.
Depending on the tea base, you may notice:
- Fresh jasmine blossom
- Soft floral sweetness
- Light honey-like notes
- Fresh or vegetal green-tea notes
- Delicate white-tea sweetness
- A clean, lingering finish
The jasmine should complement the tea rather than completely overpower it.
High-quality jasmine teas are traditionally scented with fresh jasmine blossoms, sometimes through multiple scenting cycles, allowing the tea leaves to gradually absorb the floral fragrance.
How Is Jasmine Tea Made?
Traditional jasmine tea begins with a tea base, often green tea.
Fresh jasmine blossoms are harvested when their fragrance is at its strongest. The flowers are layered with the tea leaves so the blossoms can release their aroma into the tea. Depending on the style and quality of the tea, this scenting process may be repeated several times.
Our Jasmine Green Tea Pearls are a classic example: young green tea leaves are hand-rolled into pearls and naturally scented with fresh jasmine blossoms.
Jasmine Silver Needle uses a different base—delicate white tea buds—and is scented with jasmine blossoms to create a much softer, more refined cup.
How to Brew Jasmine Tea
For a flavorful cup of jasmine tea:
Use: about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8 ounces of water
Water temperature: around 175–190°F, depending on the tea
Steeping time: about 3–5 minutes
For example, our Jasmine Green Tea Pearls are best brewed at 190°F for 3–5 minutes, while Jasmine Silver Needle is brewed at 180°F for 3–5 minutes.
If your jasmine tea tastes bitter or overly astringent, try using slightly cooler water or a shorter steep.
The Bottom Line: Does Jasmine Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, most jasmine tea contains caffeine.
The important thing to remember is that jasmine itself isn't what determines the caffeine level. The tea base does.
Jasmine green tea contains caffeine. Jasmine white tea contains caffeine. Jasmine oolong and jasmine black tea contain caffeine as well.
If you want a jasmine tea with moderate caffeine, try a jasmine green tea such as our Jasmine Green Tea Pearls.
If you'd prefer something more delicate with lower caffeine, Jasmine Silver Needle is a beautiful option.
And if you're looking for a truly caffeine-free jasmine beverage, look for an herbal or floral infusion made without Camellia sinensis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jasmine Tea Caffeine
Does jasmine tea have caffeine?
Usually, yes. Most jasmine tea is made from a caffeinated tea base, most commonly green tea.
Does jasmine green tea have caffeine?
Yes. Jasmine green tea contains caffeine because the underlying tea leaves naturally contain caffeine.
How much caffeine is in jasmine tea?
It varies depending on the tea base, amount of tea, and brewing method, so there isn't one caffeine number that applies to every jasmine tea.
Is jasmine tea caffeine-free?
Traditional jasmine tea usually isn't. A caffeine-free jasmine beverage would need to be made without true tea leaves, such as a jasmine flower or herbal infusion.
Does jasmine tea have more caffeine than green tea?
Not necessarily. Jasmine green tea is a type of green tea, and the jasmine scent itself doesn't add caffeine.
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