Cha2go
Caffeine Data · Reviewed April 2026

Does Tulsi Tea Have Caffeine?

Pure tulsi tea — steeped holy basil leaves — is caffeine-free. Tulsi is often blended with green, black, or matcha tea; those blends contain whatever caffeine the base tea provides.

By David Nguyen · Contributor & Product Researcher
Quick answer
0 mg (pure)
per 8 oz cup

Zero caffeine if the only ingredient is holy basil.

How it compares

Tulsi is traditionally used in Ayurveda as an adaptogen — a category of herbs studied for stress response. It's caffeine-free, so it works as an evening or afternoon wind-down. Blends that add green tea add caffeine.

DrinkCaffeine (mg)
Pure tulsi tea (8 oz)0
Tulsi green tea blend (8 oz)30
Tulsi + matcha blend50

Caffeine-free picks we recommend

Organic India Tulsi Original Holy Basil Tea
Organic India Tulsi Original Holy Basil Tea

Traditional Indian tulsi (holy basil) tea — adaptogenic, caffeine-free, used in Ayurveda for stress support. USDA Organic, Non-GMO.

Frequently asked

Is tulsi the same as basil?

Close cousins, not identical. Culinary sweet basil is Ocimum basilicum. Tulsi (holy basil) is Ocimum tenuiflorum — a different species with a more clove-like, peppery flavor.

Is tulsi safe to drink daily?

Tulsi has been consumed daily in Indian households for centuries. It may interact with thyroid medications and blood thinners — check with your doctor if you're on either.

Go deeper

Sources: Caffeine values are typical ranges aggregated from USDA FoodData Central caffeine values (fdc.nal.usda.gov); Center for Science in the Public Interest — Caffeine Chart; Journal of Food Science, various studies on tea catechin + caffeine extraction. Individual product values vary with leaf age, steep time, and brewing method.
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