Can You Mix Green Tea and Black Tea?

Green and black tea are less different than they look. Both come from the Camellia sinensis plant, and the main difference is how the leaves are processed. That’s why they blend well: you’re combining two versions of the same leaf.

How green and black tea differ

Green tea leaves are heated early, by steaming or pan-firing, which stops the enzymes that would change them. Black tea leaves are crushed and left to oxidize, which turns many of their catechins into darker compounds called theaflavins and thearubigins.

That gives you the fresh, grassy taste of green tea and the darker, stronger taste of black tea. A mixed cup has some of both.

	Green tea	Black tea
Processing	Heated early, not oxidized	Crushed and oxidized
Typical water temperature	170°F to 180°F	190°F to 210°F
Caffeine per 8 oz	About 29 mg	About 48 mg

How to mix green and black tea

The catch is water temperature. Water that suits black tea is hotter than green tea likes, and hotter water can make green tea bitter. You have two good options.

Option 1: Steep separately (best flavor)

1. Steep the green tea in 170°F to 180°F water for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Steep the black tea in 200°F water for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Remove the leaves or bags and pour both into one cup or pot.

Option 2: Steep together (easiest)

1. Heat water to about 185°F, between the two ranges.
2. Add both teas and steep for about 3 minutes.
3. Taste, then steep for up to another minute if you want it stronger.

No thermometer? Boil the water and let it sit for a few minutes before pouring.

These times are starting points, not rules. Adjust them to suit your tea and your taste.

What’s a good ratio?

Start with equal parts, then adjust:

Ratio (green to black)	Tastes like
1:1	Balanced, a good place to start
2:1	Lighter and fresher, with less caffeine
1:2	Bolder, closer to a breakfast tea

For one mug, try one tea bag of each in a larger mug, or half a teaspoon of each loose tea. Using a full serving of each makes the cup stronger, not just more balanced.

How much caffeine is in a mixed cup?

Mayo Clinic lists about 29 mg of caffeine for 8 oz of brewed green tea and 48 mg for brewed black tea. If you steep them separately and mix equal amounts, you’d get about 39 mg. That’s our estimate, and yours will vary with the tea and steeping time.

8 oz drink	Caffeine
Brewed green tea	About 29 mg
Green and black tea, mixed equally	About 39 mg (estimate)
Brewed black tea	About 48 mg
Brewed coffee	About 96 mg

If you steep one full tea bag of each in the same 8 oz mug, expect more caffeine than this, since you’re using twice the tea. For context, Mayo Clinic says up to 400 mg of caffeine a day may be safe for most adults. If you want less, try decaf versions, like Bigelow’s decaf green tea.

Are there benefits to mixing green and black tea?

Mixing gives you some of the compounds from each tea, but there’s no proven extra benefit from combining them. Don’t expect a blend to do something neither tea has been shown to do.

The evidence for green tea itself is also limited. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says study results on cancer risk have been inconsistent. It also says the small drop seen in total and LDL cholesterol came mostly from studies of extract supplements, not brewed tea.

The best reason to mix them is taste. If you’d like to add more flavor, try ginger and honey.

Is it safe to mix them?

For most adults, yes. The same agency reports no safety concerns for green tea as a drink for adults, but it does contain caffeine. Keep these points in mind:

• Pregnancy: keep caffeine moderate, and ask your healthcare provider about your limit.
• Medication: green tea can interact with some medicines. At high doses, for example, it can make the blood pressure drug nadolol less effective. Ask your pharmacist if you take regular medication.
• Caffeine sensitivity: if you feel restless or get headaches, try less tea or a smaller cup.

For more ideas, browse our green tea blends.