Does Green Tea Keep You Awake? How Caffeine Can Affect Your Sleep
Does green tea keep you awake? Yes, since there is caffeine in green tea. It could cause you to be more awake if you consume it later in the day. Some people may not notice any difference.
It all depends on how much you consume and how it is made. It could be less if its just one small cup and you don’t put much tea in it. There are also various forms of green tea such as matcha or bottled which can contain more caffeine.
Will green tea before bed affect your sleep? That depends on the person and what their normal sleeping habits are. We will cover why caffeine affects sleep and if you should drink green tea at night. And some alternatives that don’t contain caffeine.
Some things to remember about green tea and sleep.
I think its a great drink on its own but I would not use it to help me fall asleep or help with weight loss. Maybe drink it a little bit earlier and see if it makes a difference.
Quick Answer: Green tea can make you stay up because there is caffeine in it. It depends on how much you have and when. If you feel like its keeping you awake then have it earlier in the day or have tea without caffeine. Green tea with no sugar is very little calories. It will not make you lose weight though.
Key Takeaways
- Green tea does have caffeine in it. How much depends on the product and serving size.
- You may have trouble sleeping if you consume too much caffeine.
- Decaf green tea typically has less caffeine than green tea with caffeine. It may still contain some.
- If you think green tea is causing you to have trouble sleeping. Drink it earlier in the day or opt for another caffeine free beverage.
- Drinking unsweetened green tea can be a lower calorie option but is not going to cause you to lose weight.
Does Green Tea Keep You Awake?
Yes, green tea contains caffeine. So if you’re someone who is sensitive to caffeine you may have difficulty sleeping. Or if you drink it late in the day it may affect your sleep.
There is typically less caffeine in green tea compared to coffee. But there isn’t a certain amount of caffeine that every cup of green tea will contain. Depending on the tea you’re drinking and serving size. It can range anywhere from. Bottled green teas and green tea blends can vary as well.
For more about green tea’s caffeine content and other effects, read our guide to green tea benefits and side effects.
How Caffeine May Affect Sleep
When your body begins to feel sleepy. Caffeine will wake your body up. Which can be helpful at times but can hinder you at night.
There was a study that looked at different dosages of caffeine at various times before going to bed. They discovered that caffeine at a higher dose affected their sleep when given at bedtime and hours before. This study dosed people with caffeine and didn’t test how many cups of green tea would affect your sleep.
According to the FDA everyone reacts differently to caffeine. Some people will feel the effects from a smaller dosage and others will not feel any effects. For broader guidance, read the FDA’s information about caffeine.
How Much Caffeine Is in Green Tea?
According to Mayo Clinic. An 8 oz (237 ml) cup of brewed green tea has 29 milligrams of caffeine in it. Again this can vary depending on your tea and serving size.
These are just some factors that can change the amount of caffeine you get from your cup of tea.
- What kind of tea you’re using
- How much tea you put in your serving
- Size of your serving
- How long you let it steep
- Home brewed vs bottled/blend
Make sure to check the amount of caffeine on the product if its listed. If it’s not listed then we don’t know how much is in your cup of green tea.
Here are some values that we can compare to each other based on serving size.
| Drink | Approximate caffeine | Serving noted by source |
|---|---|---|
| Green tea | About 30 mg | 8 ounces, Cleveland Clinic |
| Green tea | 37 mg | 12 fluid ounces, FDA |
| Regular brewed coffee | 113–247 mg | 12 fluid ounces, FDA |
| Decaf tea | Less caffeine than regular tea, but not necessarily zero | Amount varies by product |
They are only meant as rough estimates and may not be exact for all cups of tea. There are 2 values for green tea because they represent different cup sizes/sources. Check your product for exact numbers if needed.
This article may contain some affiliate links. We just want to let you know that we have an affiliate link to All Day Slimming Tea. Which will direct you to there business. If you decide to buy from our link we may get a small percentage from your purchase. It will not cost you any more money.
While coffee has more caffeine than green tea on average. It all depends on how much you have. You can get more caffeine out of a big cup of green tea than you would from a smaller cup of coffee. Depending on how strong your tea is can also change these numbers.
If you are looking to lose weight by having green tea it’s better to just have it without sugar instead of a caloric drink. You will decrease your amount of calories consumed from drinks.
Does Matcha Have More Caffeine Than Green Tea?
Since matcha is just green tea in powder form you consume more of the leaf. How much caffeine is in your drink will vary based on what type of matcha you buy and how much you put in your cup.
Matcha can be included in your daily caffeine intake. Always read the label or look up the manufacturers info when possible. A matcha latte may or may not have the same amount of caffeine as a cup of green tea.
Does Decaf Green Tea Contain Caffeine?
Decaf green tea may still contain caffeine. As you can imagine it will have less caffeine than your typical cup of green tea. But it is not necessarily caffeine free. According to the FDA decaf coffee and tea may contain caffeine.
If you are very sensitive to caffeine you can always check with the manufacturer or read the package. Another option is to keep track of how you feel when drinking different types of tea. Regular green tea, decaf green tea, and caffeine free herbal tea.
When Should You Stop Drinking Green Tea?
There is no definite time that will work for everyone. You may find that you can drink green tea in the morning and not have it affect your sleep. Or you may find that you can’t drink it at any time. How much you drink and how much caffeine you consume from other sources can play a role.
You can always test this out by yourself.
- Drink your last cup of green tea earlier. Maybe in the morning or early afternoon for the next week.
- Keep everything else in your routine the same. Bedtime, other caffeine, and when you go to sleep.
- See if there is a change. It may take more than one night to determine if green tea is making you stay awake.
- Drink less or try decaf. See if there is any difference by changing only one thing.
- Be mindful of the blend you are drinking. Herbal teas can sometimes have green tea or other forms of caffeine in them. Black tea, yerba mate etc.
This is just from my experience and you should test what works best for you. Many factors can play a role in why you are not sleeping. Such as stress, medication, illnesses and schedule. Keep a short journal to see if you can find any correlation.
Green Tea Makes Me Jittery What Should I Do?
If you feel overly awake after drinking green tea it could be too much caffeine for your body. You can try drinking a smaller cup, letting it brew for less time or drinking it earlier in the day.
Make sure you are also keeping track of other sources of caffeine you may be consuming. Coffee, black tea, energy drinks, soda, chocolate and even some vitamins. Keep in mind that the recommended daily amount by the FDA is an average and not what you personally can consume and sleep fine.
Speak to your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping. Or if you are taking certain medications/pregnant speak to your doctor before increasing your caffeine intake.
Caffeine-Free Drinks to Try in the Evening
If you want something warm to drink in the evening try some of these caffeine free options. They do not have any tea in them that would give you caffeine. Chamomile, Rooibos and Peppermint are all good choices. Just remember to read the label they could have other forms of caffeine in them.
If you are watching your weight at night don’t add any sugar or syrups to your drink. No teas are going to help you burn fat.
Chamomile tea is known to help with sleep. However it has not been shown to help with insomnia. It may also not be safe for everyone. Read more about this here from the National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health.
Check out some of our herbal tea recipes that you can make at home. Here are some of our favorite teas to drink at night. We do not believe that drinking tea will help you burn fat.
If you find yourself needing to pee during the night maybe cut back on your tea or drink it earlier in the night.
Simple Caffeine-Free Evening Tea
Makes: 1 mug
Preparation: 2 minutes, plus the steeping time listed on the package
Ingredients
- 1 chamomile tea bag or one serving of loose chamomile
- 8 to 10 ounces hot water
- A small strip of orange peel, optional
Directions
- Put the chamomile in a mug.
- Add hot water and steep according to the package directions.
- Remove the tea bag or strain the flowers.
- Add orange peel if you like.
Check that the tea is pure chamomile if you want to avoid caffeine. A blend that includes green or black tea may contain caffeine.
Green Tea, Calories, and Weight Management
There is nothing that will make you lose weight by drinking green tea.
By drinking green tea without any added sugar it will be lower in calories. You could decrease your calories from drinks by swapping out a drink that has sugar in it for unsweetened green tea. You can add anything you want to your green tea just know that it will have more calories.
If you are trying to lose weight by drinking green tea. Keep in mind you can swap out your drink that has more calories in it for green tea. That will help you lower your calories from drinks. There is no fat burning property to green tea.
Here is an article about what studies have shown about green tea and health from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can green tea keep you awake at night?
Some people may find that green tea will keep them up. Green tea has caffeine in it. Which can keep you up if you drink too much or at a certain time of day.
Is green tea less caffeinated than coffee?
Green tea usually has less caffeine than coffee. But there is no specific number for how much caffeine is in each. It depends on how much you drink and what brand. Always look up how much is in the product you are consuming.
Does decaf green tea contain caffeine?
Decaf green tea will still have caffeine in it just not as much as normal green tea. If you need to be strict on how much caffeine you are consuming. Look up what is in your product.
Is green tea a good bedtime drink?
If you are someone that caffeine will keep you up at night maybe don’t drink green tea before bed. Try drinking it earlier in the day or switch to a different drink that has no caffeine.
Does green tea help you lose weight?
No you will not lose weight just from drinking green tea. By switching your drink to unsweetened green tea you are lowering your calories from drinks. As stated above there is no study that shows green tea will make you lose weight.
I think something I can take from this is that everyone will react to green tea different. Maybe just watch what you do in your day and don’t add sugar if your watching your calories. Also if green tea keeps you awake then drink something without caffeine at night.
Final Thoughts
Green tea can cause you to stay awake at night if you are sensitive to caffeine. By keeping track of when you drink your last cup of tea you can see if it is affecting your sleep.
If you like to drink something before bed switch to a caffeine free tea. Make sure you read what’s in your tea as well. If you are having trouble sleeping consult your doctor.
This article is for general information and is not personal medical advice. If you have any questions about caffeine please consult your doctor. Especially if you are pregnant or taking medications.
Want to learn more about All Day Slimming Tea? Click here.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, so I will receive a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you. This recipe post does not claim what the product may claim on its product page.
