Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine? How Much vs Coffee and Chai
Thai iced tea, with its bright orange color and creamy, sweet flavor, is a favorite at Thai restaurants and boba shops. If you’re watching your caffeine, or want one in the evening, you might wonder how much of a kick it packs. Here’s what’s in Thai tea and how it compares with coffee and other teas.
Quick answer: Does Thai tea have caffeine? Yes. Thai tea is made from black tea, so it contains caffeine. A cup has roughly as much as black tea, which Mayo Clinic lists at about 48 mg per 8 ounces. That’s about half the caffeine of brewed coffee, but large restaurant servings and strong brews can add up.
What Is Thai Tea Made Of?
Thai iced tea, called cha yen in Thailand, is usually made from strongly brewed black tea. Many blends add spices such as star anise. The tea is sweetened with sugar and topped with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk or both, then poured over ice. The vivid orange color in many restaurant versions comes from food coloring in commercial Thai tea mixes, not from the tea itself.
Does Thai Tea Have Caffeine? How Much?
Because it’s brewed black tea, Thai tea’s caffeine is similar to a cup of black tea. The exact amount depends on:
- Brew strength: Thai tea is often steeped strong, which can raise the caffeine.
- Serving size: restaurant and boba-shop drinks are often 16 to 24 ounces, two to three times a standard cup.
- Milk and ice: these dilute the tea, so each sip has a bit less caffeine.
- The mix used: some instant powders contain less tea than a fresh brew.
Thai Tea Caffeine Compared With Other Drinks
| Drink (8 oz unless noted) | Approximate caffeine |
|---|---|
| Brewed coffee | 96 mg |
| Espresso (1 oz) | 63 mg |
| Brewed black tea (the base of Thai tea) | 48 mg |
| Brewed green tea | 29 mg |
| Decaf coffee | 1 mg |
Figures from Mayo Clinic. Chai tea is also black-tea based, so its caffeine is in a similar range to Thai tea.
How Much Caffeine Is Safe?
According to Mayo Clinic, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day may be safe for most adults. One Thai tea is well under that limit, but it counts toward your daily total along with coffee, soda and energy drinks. People who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding should ask their health care professional about limiting caffeine.
Signs you’ve had too much include headaches, restlessness or feeling nervous. If you’re sensitive, avoid Thai tea in the late afternoon or evening so it doesn’t keep you up; caffeine late in the day can make it harder to quiet your mind at night.
The Bigger Concern: Sugar
For most people, sugar is a bigger issue than caffeine in Thai tea. Sugar plus sweetened condensed milk can make a large drink very sweet. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to about 6 teaspoons (25 grams) a day for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men, and a single large Thai iced tea can use up much of that.
Thai tea with milk and sugar also contains calories, so it will break a fast if you practice intermittent fasting.
How to Enjoy Thai Tea With Less Caffeine or Sugar
- Order a small size or share a large one.
- Ask for less sweet: many shops can make it half-sweet.
- Make it at home so you control the sugar and milk.
- Try a caffeine-free version: brew Thai spices with rooibos or decaf black tea.
- Skip the dye: loose black tea and spices make a naturally amber drink without food coloring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Thai tea have more caffeine than coffee?
No. Thai tea is made from black tea, which has about 48 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces according to Mayo Clinic, compared with about 96 mg in brewed coffee.
Will Thai tea keep me awake at night?
It can if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Try to avoid it in the late afternoon and evening, or choose a caffeine-free version made with rooibos.
Is Thai tea healthy?
Black tea itself is a low-calorie drink, but traditional Thai iced tea is high in added sugar from sugar and condensed milk. It’s best as an occasional treat or made less sweet.
Does Thai tea boba have caffeine?
Yes. Thai tea boba is made with black tea, so it contains caffeine. The tapioca pearls add calories and sugar but no caffeine.
Can I drink Thai tea while pregnant?
Thai tea contains caffeine and a lot of sugar. Mayo Clinic advises people who are pregnant to talk with their health care professional about limiting caffeine.
The Bottom Line
Does Thai tea have caffeine? Yes, about as much as black tea, or roughly 48 mg per 8 ounces, which is about half the caffeine in coffee. Big servings add up, and the added sugar is often the bigger concern. Choose smaller sizes, ask for less sweet or try a caffeine-free rooibos version.
Sources
- Caffeine: How much is too much?, Mayo Clinic
- Added Sugars, American Heart Association
Sources accessed October 7, 2026. This article is general information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your doctor or a registered dietitian.
