The world’s most caffeinated drink? A fact-based comparison

Introduction

What is your favourite pick-me-up? Or are you looking for the world’s most caffeinated drink, one with a long-lasting effect that helps you stay focused and clear-headed while you work? In this article, we introduce the drink with the highest caffeine content in the world.

Despite its high caffeine content, its effect is long-lasting and pleasant, without side effects such as a racing heart or jitters!

Contents

1. Caffeinated drinks compared
2. The world’s most caffeinated drink
3. The distinctive effects of guayusa tea
4. Conclusion

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1. Caffeinated drinks compared

To keep this article from becoming 30 pages long, we’ll briefly cover only the key facts here.

If you’d like to read more about each caffeinated drink, we recommend our free e-book “Comparison of Caffeinated Drinks”.

There, we go into much more detail about the origins, cultivation, active compounds and effects of each caffeine-rich drink, especially the world’s most caffeinated drink.

In this article, we bring together the key facts so that by the end you’ll know which drink has the highest caffeine content in the world.

1.1 Guarana

With a caffeine content of 2% to 7%, guarana is one of the world’s most caffeine-rich plants. Unfortunately, it doesn’t taste particularly good, so it is usually used as an added ingredient rather than as a drink in its own right.

You can find all kinds of guarana products on Amazon from the brand Sevenhills.

1.2 Caffeine content of yerba mate

The maximum caffeine content of yerba mate is 1.4%. Many people think mate is stronger than coffee, but that isn’t true. You can find out more in our articles “Effects of yerba mate” and “Tea varieties compared”, where we cover the topic in more detail. We also have a comprehensive article about the flavour of yerba mate, including quality grades and preparation.

That rules mate tea out of the running for the world’s most caffeinated drink. If you’re still looking to buy high-quality yerba mate, we recommend the brand Caa Mate, whose founders we know personally from trade fairs in Germany.

3. Coffee

Coffee can contain up to 3.2% caffeine. Which coffee has the most depends on the variety and where it is grown. The main distinction is between Arabica and Robusta, which differ considerably in both caffeine content and cultivation methods.

Arabica contains about as much caffeine as yerba mate: 1.4% caffeine. Robusta coffee, by contrast, contains a substantial 2.7% to 3.2% caffeine. It is therefore the coffee with the highest caffeine content.

Even so, coffee is not the world’s most caffeinated drink. We recommend our guayusa-coffee blend. You can buy it from our shop or from Amazon. The blend is made with 50% guayusa (more on that further down the article) and 50% original Ecuadorian Robusta coffee from permaculture farms.

4. Green tea / black tea

Tea is the proper term for an infusion made from tea leaves. Matcha is also green tea, but it has considerably more antioxidants and a more pleasant flavour. Read more about the differences between regular green tea and matcha in the linked article.

Strictly speaking, “peppermint tea” is not tea but a herbal infusion.

The caffeine content of tea leaves varies widely, from 0.9% to 6%, partly because of how they are processed. Black tea acts faster than green tea, even though both come from the same plant.

The most caffeine is found in white tea.

Tea is not the world’s most caffeinated drink either. For good-quality tea, whether green, black or white, browse Tezen’s shop.

5. Kola nut

Strong, but largely overlooked. Kola nuts contain between 2% and 3% caffeine, so they are not the world’s most caffeinated drink, but they are still an interesting source of stimulation. Find out more about kola nuts in our free e-book, “Comparison of Caffeinated Drinks”. 

Unfortunately, we do not have a partner company that sells kola nuts or powder, but at Amazon you’ll find a wide selection.

6. Cascara (coffee cherry)

The coffee cherry fruit also contains caffeine. At 0.5% to 1.3%, however, cascara tea is relatively low in caffeine.

7. Cocoa

Cocoa is stimulating not only because of theobromine but also because it contains caffeine. Its caffeine content, however, is negligible.

At 0.1% to 0.7%, cocoa ranks towards the lower end of caffeinated drinks. It does, however, contain around 1.9%—a very large amount of theobromine, which is also stimulating.

When buying cocoa, check that the powder does not contain added calcium carbonate. Raw cocoa powder is the best choice. You can find it, for example, here.

8. Guayusa

With 2% to 7.6% caffeine, guayusa tea is the most caffeinated drink in the world.

The leaves contain very few bitter compounds, making them ideal for an energising tea, hot or cold over ice. Here are the top 10 ways to prepare guayusa.

You can buy guayusa tea from our shop or from Amazon. Amazon is convenient for small orders of just one pack; for larger orders, our shop is a better option, as each variety is €1 cheaper there. Newsletter subscribers get an additional 10% discount.

2. The world’s most caffeinated drink

Guayusa is the most caffeinated drink in the world. Traditionally, Indigenous hunters in the Amazon use guayusa tea to feel more alert, focused and calm while hunting.

At first glance, “calm” may seem at odds with caffeine. However, the combination of active compounds in guayusa can produce a particularly balanced state of alertness, with a clear, sharp mind and a very high energy level.

Guayusa is ideal for athletes looking to improve their physical performance. You can read about the key active compounds in guayusa in our article here. In addition to supporting physical performance, guayusa is suitable for anyone who has to do a lot of mental work each day, because the focus-enhancing and alertness-supporting effects are particularly helpful.

If you prefer coffee, there is an alternative: we have combined Robusta coffee with guayusa powder to make a blend. This means coffee drinkers can enjoy the world’s most caffeinated drink without giving up coffee’s flavour. Its effect gives you a quick kick, plenty of energy and lasting focus with a sustained sense of alertness.

3. The distinctive effects of guayusa tea

As mentioned above, guayusa has a unique effect. Its high caffeine content keeps you as alert as coffee. Other active compounds, such as theobromine, theophylline and L-theanine, create a pleasant feeling without side effects such as jitters, a racing heart or racing thoughts!

It also contains twice as many antioxidants as green tea. These antioxidants can also help you stay alert, energetic and focused.

Mixed with coffee, guayusa creates an interesting combination. Coffee lovers still get the quick, strong hit from coffee’s caffeine, which then gives way smoothly to guayusa’s alertness. You can make your own blend with our powder or order our 50/50 blend.

For more detailed information, we recommend our article on the effects of guayusa. It provides a detailed overview with sources and graphics.

4. Conclusion

Who knows? Perhaps we have yet to discover the most caffeinated drink, or the plant that could form its basis. Guayusa itself only became widely known in 2009, after remaining hidden in the Amazon rainforest for thousands of years.

Try the effects for yourself. With our discount code “BLOG-5” you get a permanent 5% discount on all products in the shop. As a newsletter subscriber, you’re part of our community and get 10% off everything.

We look forward to your order of the world’s most caffeinated drink. You’ll find it in our online shop as Original and in a range of flavours.