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You may be wondering, “Does Thai tea have caffeine?” After all, there are many teas that can provide as much caffeine as coffee. So is Thai tea one of them? This is a good question worthy of a good answer, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing. Pull up a seat and let’s chat!

Table of Contents
- What Is Thai Tea?
- Is There Caffeine in a Thai Iced Tea?
- Is Thai Iced Tea High in Caffeine?
- Is Thai Tea Stronger Than Coffee?
- Is Thai Tea Stronger Than Black Tea?
- Which Has More Caffeine Thai Tea or Green Tea?
- Healthy Decaf Thai Iced Tea Recipe
- Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine? In Most Cases, Yes!
- FAQs
What Is Thai Tea?
Thai tea is a popular drink in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. Also called “Cha yen”, this tea mix is often created with Ceylon tea leaves (otherwise known as “black tea”), milk, sugar, and spices.
Thai tea can be served warm or cold. When cold it is often mixed with crushed ice giving it a vibe similar to but smoother than a typical iced coffee. Thai restaurants and others that make Thai iced tea from scratch often add a cinnamon stick, star anise, and other delicious flavors to the mix. Needless to say, this famous drink that originated from Thai cuisine is much sought after, even in the United States, both for its universal appeal, spicy flavor, and similarities to that of traditional iced coffee–but without the coffee, of course!
Note: Remember that Thai tea isn’t the same as “Chai tea“. The two are quite different, though they often contain similar ingredients.

Is There Caffeine in a Thai Iced Tea?
In most cases, your Thai iced tea is going to contain caffeine. This is because Thai tea is crafted with black tea which, more often than not, always contains caffeine. It is important to note that it is possible to have a decaf Thai tea. Decaf Thai tea tastes the exact same as normal Thai iced tea but without caffeine.
To make decaf Thai tea, you would simply forgo using typical black tea and would opt for decaf black tea instead. Combine this with milk, sugar, and the usual spices, and voila. You’ve got the perfect decaf Thai tea drink.
Psst…stay tuned for a killer decaf Thai iced tea recipe at the end of this post!
Is There a Lot of Caffeine in Thai Tea?
There can be! It just depends on how it is made.
Usually, you can expect Thai tea to have as much caffeine as a cup of black tea would. This is because Thai iced tea is made primarily of plain black tea, milk, and sugar. Typical Thai tea can reach a caffeine level close to that of what coffee can provide, but it will depend on the strength of the tea brew and the size of the serving.
How Much Caffeine Does Thai Tea Have?
Thai tea can vary in terms of caffeine. At a minimum, you may expect the caffeine in Thai iced tea to hover somewhere around the 30mg range and above. This is because black tea (when consumed straight) would be around 47mg for a cup. However, when diluted with milk, the caffeine content is likely to dip. Thus, though Thai tea does contain caffeine, it likely won’t contain as much as black tea would on its own.
Does Thai Black Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, Thai black tea has caffeine but the amount of caffeine you can expect to find in traditional or westernized Thai iced tea will vary greatly. In most cases, you can expect a great Thai tea to have about 30mg of caffeine or more. But again, this will depend on whose making it, the ingredients, the ratio of milk to tea, and so many other factors.
If you’re very concerned about the amount of caffeine that is in Thai iced tea, consider asking for the caffeine content from whoever is serving the drink before gulping it down. This is especially important for those who may be pregnant or nursing. Consuming too much caffeine per day can spell trouble for ladies in these categories.
Is Thai Iced Tea High in Caffeine?
That depends on what you consider “high”. Thai tea will typically contain about 30-50 mg of caffeine, give or take. This s assuming that one cup of black tea was used to make the Thai tea. But you can expect the amount of caffeine in the drink to fluctuate based on the size of the drink and the ratio of milk to tea in the drink.
Does Thai Milk Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, Thai milk tea has caffeine. However, it can be made without caffeine by using decaf black or green tea instead of regular tea.
Does Thai Tea Have a Lot of Caffeine?
It doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee would, but it’ll definitely give you a jolt. For those looking to kick a coffee habit, this might be the perfect replacement, especially if you’re trying to lower your caffeine intake.
Does Thai Tea Boba Have Caffeine?
Yes, Thai tea boba usually has caffeine. Still, there are other boba flavors, such as taro boba tea that won’t have high caffeine content.
Does Thai Tea Mochi Have Caffeine?
If you’re thinking of grabbing Trader Joe’s Thai tea mini mochi, or something similar, you’ll be interested to know that black tea is usually listed as an ingredient. Thus, if you are very sensitive to caffeine you may wish to avoid Thai tea mochi as it is unclear exactly how much caffeine is in each serving.
Does Thai Tea Ice Cream Have Caffeine?
It is possible that Thai tea ice cream has caffeine. This is especially true if you notice black or green tea listed in the ingredients. Bear in mind that not every label reflects the actual caffeine content in products, especially for food items like ice cream. Thus, it will be up to you to look for ingredients containing caffeine and avoid them (if you feel so inclined).
Does Instant Thai Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, and actually, it can contain quite a bit! To know for sure, be sure to read the label. Otherwise, it’s safe to assume that there could be anywhere from 30-50mg or more caffeine in each serving of your instant Thai tea mix.

Is Thai Tea Stronger Than Coffee?
In terms of the strength of these beloved caffeinated beverages, Thai iced tea will likely have less caffeine than coffee would. This likely isn’t a surprise, as even one cup of coffee can contain as much as 95mg of caffeine.
Does Thai Tea Have More Caffeine Than Coffee?
Thai tea does’ typically have more caffeine than coffee. However, if you consume a Thai tea that’s large enough, it’s possible for you to get as much caffeine as you would in a cup of coffee– but you’d need to drink a lot of Thai tea to do that!
Remember that caffeine content when it comes to tea in general will vary greatly. It often depends on the brand, whether or not you’re using loose leaf tea leaves or Thai tea mix, regular tea bags, or the like. Caffeine content can even vary by brand! Thus, you may get more caffeine from one type of Thai tea than another.
Is Thai Tea Stronger Than Black Tea?
No, Thai tea does not tend to be stronger than black tea. This is because Thai tea is made with pure tea but the amount of caffeine in Thai tea is weakened due to the addition of milk. Black tea is usually combined with milk and sugar, further depleting its caffeine content.
If you’re using a tea bag to steep tea, you may be wondering if the caffeine levels in your tea bag are enough to give you an energy boost similar to that of pure black tea when consumed straight. The answer? Yes and no. It depends on the brand, how long you allow the tea to steep, and how many tea bags you use. You may very well get quite a jolt from consuming traditional Thai iced tea this way– but you’ll have to prepare the Thai iced tea a certain way to do it!
Which Has More Caffeine Thai Tea or Green Tea?
That’s a good question! Without a doubt, black tea (which comprises much of Thai tea) tends to have more caffeine than your standard green tea. Having said that, because traditional Thai tea is so diluted with milk and sugar, the caffeine content in black tea is often slashed. Because of this, we’re going to say that both Thai iced tea and green tea are likely to have about the same amount of caffeine in them, give or take.
Does Green Thai Tea Have Caffeine?
As mentioned, black tea (47 mg of caffeine) tends to have more caffeine than green tea (20-50mg of caffeine). Thus, if you consume Thai tea that is made from green tea (yummy!) then you can expect the green Thai tea to have less caffeine than the traditional way you would make Thai iced tea from black tea leaves.
Healthy Decaf Thai Iced Tea Recipe
Ready to learn how to make a Thai ice tea recipe? If so, you’re in the right place. For the purposes of this post, I decided it might be nice to offer up a decaf Thai iced tea recipe. However, you should feel free to use regular black tea bags or Thai tea mix for making your Thai iced tea instead if you wish!
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 4 decaffeinated black tea bags
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey (can substitute with 3/4 cups of white sugar instead)
- 2 anise stars
- 1 green cardamom pod, smashed
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 cup coconut milk (you could also use sweetened condensed milk here, but if you do, you may wish to either reduce the amount of sweetener you use or not to use none at all! Whole milk or evaporated milk works as well.)
- ice
Directions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Once boiling, add your tea bags, sweetener, star anise, cardamom, and cloves. Boil this for 4 minutes before removing from the heat.
- Allow your tea to steep off of the burner for about 30 minutes. Then, allow the tea to cool.
- The longer you steep your tea the better your Thai tea will taste! You can allow your tea bags to steep for up to two hours if you wish but only do this if you’re okay with a stronger flavor.
- Remove the tea bags and strain the tea. Refrigerate the remaining tea until it is cold.
- Fill your glass with ice when ready to drink and pour your Thai iced tea. Make sure to leave enough room for at least 3 tablespoons of coconut milk (or milk of choice) in one 8 oz. glass.
Enjoy!
Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine? In Most Cases, Yes!
In most cases, Thai iced tea is going to have caffeine. Having said this, Thai milk tea’s caffeine content will vary depending on what ingredients you use, the size of the drink, and the ratio of milk to tea.
I hope this helps answer the question. See you next time!
FAQs
Is Thai tea stronger than coffee?
No, Thai tea isn’t usually stronger than coffee.
Which has more caffeine Thai tea or green tea?
These two might be equal in terms of caffeine, however, there are many variables at play. It may be that Thai tea has a bit more caffeine in it than green tea. But again, this will depend on several factors.
Is Thai tea stronger than black tea?
No. Thai tea is a black tea that is diluted with milk and sugar. Thus, Thai iced tea would not be stronger than black tea.
Does Thai tea keep you awake?
It can, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Most sources recommend that you stop consuming caffeine early in the afternoon. Thus, we’d recommend avoiding Thai iced tea too late in the day.