How Much Caffeine Is in Darjeeling Tea?
Darjeeling — the 'champagne of teas' — is Indian black tea grown in the Himalayan foothills. A standard 8 oz cup delivers 40-50 mg of caffeine. First flush (spring) Darjeeling is slightly lighter on caffeine than autumnal flush.
About 45 mg per cup — moderate black tea caffeine.
How it compares
Darjeeling is technically black tea but processed with shorter oxidation than Assam or Ceylon, giving it more muscat-floral notes and slightly lower caffeine than typical breakfast blends.
| Drink | Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|
| Darjeeling 1st flush (8 oz) | 40 |
| Darjeeling autumnal (8 oz) | 50 |
| Assam (8 oz) | 60 |
| Brewed drip coffee (8 oz) | 95 |
Our picks on Amazon
The champagne of teas — delicate, floral, muscatel Darjeeling from the Himalayan foothills. Single-origin, first-flush, direct from India.
Frequently asked
Why do different Darjeeling flushes have different caffeine?
First flush is harvested from younger leaves with lower caffeine density. Autumnal flush is harvested later with more mature leaves and slightly more caffeine.
Is Darjeeling suitable for making chai?
Not really. Darjeeling is delicate and muscat-floral; boiling it with milk and spices wastes its best qualities. Use Assam or a CTC blend for chai and save Darjeeling for straight brewing.
How much Darjeeling can I drink per day?
Three to four 8 oz cups keeps you well under FDA's 400 mg caffeine guideline. Most people who switch from coffee tolerate Darjeeling comfortably across the day.