Does a Green Tea Latte Have Caffeine?

Green tea lattes are the perfect combination of brewed green tea and milk. Does a green tea latte have caffeine? Keep reading to find out.

Does A Green Tea Latte Have Caffeine
Green tea latte is not just tasty but an easy way also to do so

If you ask most tea drinkers, green tea is a popular choice. Whether they drink it straight, add honey, or create a delicious green tea latte, it’s a beloved beverage in the tea drinking community.

Whether you’ve been drinking tea for years or are looking to expand your palate, a green tea latte is not only tasty but an easy way to do so. If you’re thinking about switching your morning beverage from coffee to a green tea latte because it doesn’t have caffeine, you may want to reconsider. A green tea latte does have caffeine.  

Read on to learn more about tea-based lattes and how much caffeine you should expect from their variations. 

The Tea in Green Tea Lattes

green tea leaves powder in a bowl
Green tea leaves are finely ground into a powder that quickly dissolves into hot water

The word latte is Italian for “milk.” Originally, the term was caffè latte, or caffè e latte, “coffee and milk,” before it was shortened to simply latte. There are various nuances of this idea in language and culture. For example, if you order a latte in Italy, they will hand you a glass of warm milk! 

A green tea latte is a natural alternative for someone looking to lower their caffeine intake. A green tea latte is a portion of brewed green tea with milk to create that creamy texture. Typically, there are two ways to make a green tea latte: with brewed green tea or matcha

Matcha is green tea leaves that have been finely ground into a powder that mixes and dissolves into hot water. Then, steamed milk of your choice is added to make it into a “latte.” Matcha has a stronger, grassier taste than regular green tea, so it pairs well with milk.

You might also be interested in learning is jasmine tea caffeinated.

The Amount of Caffeine a Green Tea Latte Has

Some people switch from coffee to tea, thinking there is no caffeine in their drinks, but that’s not the case. Tea, also known as camellia sinensis, naturally contains caffeine, just like coffee.

The good news is that a brewed green tea latte has 28 mg of caffeine per eight ounces of tea, while traditional black coffee has around 96 mg per eight ounces. So, you’re still consuming less caffeine per serving than conventional coffee. 

A matcha green tea latte is trendy, and the caffeine content is different from brewed tea. One teaspoon is considered a serving of matcha and contains 70 mg of caffeine

Are There Green Tea Lattes That Don’t Have Caffeine?

There typically aren’t. Since green tea leaves, and other tea leaves for that matter, naturally contain caffeine, you’re going to have caffeine in any green tea latte you purchase or make. 

Of course, you can find decaffeinated green tea that you could use in a green tea latte. However, you need to keep in mind that any decaffeinated tea will still contain traces of caffeine. So, while your beverage will be mostly decaffeinated, if you need to be completely caff-free, choose herbal tea instead as these are not made with camellia sinensis. If you like this post, you might be interested in learning if cappuccinos have caffeine.

How Milk Interacts With Caffeine in Tea

a cup of green tea latte
Milk has basically no impact on how much caffeine is in your green tea latte

Traditionally, a green tea latte is made with green tea and warm cow’s milk. With more and more plant-based options hitting the market, you can now order or make them with almond milk or another vegan option.

If you’re hoping that adding milk will stop the caffeine from absorbing into your system, you’ll be disappointed. Milk has no impact on how much caffeine is in tea, and it won’t prevent your gastrointestinal system from absorbing caffeine. 

Author

  • Aisling O'Connor

    Aisling is an Irish food and drinks writer and journalist fueled by coffee and herbal tea. She followed up her journalism degree with nutrition studies. Find Aisling on LinkedIn.