Fruits with natural caffeine, when consumed in moderation, can be an alternative upper to coffee. You probably know that caffeine comes from various beans, leaves, and berries. Here you also can see the list of fruits with Natural Caffeine. You will find a complete list of berries, melons, bananas, peaches and more.
Foods With Caffeine That Provide a Jolt of Energy
There are many lesser-known foods with caffeine, including chocolate ice cream.
If you don’t drink caffeine or just want to have less of it in the afternoon to ensure a good night’s sleep, it’s helpful to be able to identify foods with caffeine
While some sources are obvious, others might surprise you. Amounts vary broadly, even among similar foods and drinks with caffeine.
Tip
Caffeine affects people differently. Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is safe for most adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Taking in too much caffeine can lead to unpleasant side effects such as irritability, nervousness, stomach issues, increased heart rate, headache and difficulty sleeping.
Aim to stick within the recommended daily amount of caffeine, and have it during the day.
1. Coffee and Tea
Perhaps the most obvious, regular coffee and black tea reign supreme when we think about foods with caffeine. The amount varies, depending on the serving size and how strong you make your brew. Some people are surprised to learn that green and white teas also contain have, although usually a lesser amount compared to black tea.
Another potential surprise is the fact that decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. While an 8-ounce cup of regular coffee has about 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of decaf only has around 2 to 15 milligrams, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Specialty coffee and tea drinks also contain variable amounts of caffeine. For example, a Caffè Latte from Starbucks has about 150 milligrams of caffeine.
2. Soda and Other Soft Drinks
Soda is another source of caffeine, and some varieties have more than others. According to the FDA, a 12-ounce can of soda typically has 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine. Pepper-flavored sodas and some brands of root beer, lemon-lime soda and fruit-flavored drink mixes have caffeine, as do most chocolate beverages.
Some bottled waters also contain caffeine, often in amounts similar to those of coffee or tea. And don’t forget about coffee liqueurs, which are used in many mixed drinks.
3. Energy Drinks
Many other beverages, like energy drinks, also rely on a caffeine jolt. In fact, the caffeine in an energy drink can range anywhere from 40 to 250 mg per 8-ounces, per the FDA.
Keep in mind, these drinks will often have more than one serving per container, and if you drink the whole thing, you’ll be taking in a lot of caffeine.
4. Chocolate (and Chocolate Products)
You might be surprised to learn that even chocolate milk has some caffeine, according to a March 2016 article in the journal Nutrients. Cocoa beans naturally contain caffeine, so all chocolate and chocolate-flavored foods have some — assuming they are made with cocoa.
As a rule of thumb, the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine is has. For example, 1 ounce of milk chocolate typically has 6 milligrams of caffeine, but the same amount of dark chocolate has about 20 milligrams, according to the International Food Information Council Foundation.
Sweet treats like brownies, fudge, chocolate cookies, pudding and mousse have variable amounts of caffeine, depending on the amount of cocoa in them.
5. Dessert Foods
Chocolate-, mocha- and coffee-flavored ice cream and frozen yogurt typically have some caffeine, which is increased if you top your frozen treat with some chocolate sauce or hot fudge.
Coffee, mocha and chocolate yogurts might also be hiding caffeine. In general, coffee- and mocha-flavored dairy products and frozen treats have more caffeine than their chocolate-flavored relatives.
6. Caffeine-Fortified Foods
Some manufacturers add caffeine to food products in order to sell them. These caffeine-fortified foods are intended to perk you up without coffee. Energy and “power” bars are popular examples.
Other products that come in caffeine-fortified varieties include sunflower seeds, nuts, frozen waffles, snack chips, beef jerky — even marshmallows, jelly beans and gummy bears.
Surprising Foods That Have Caffeine and Make You Gain Weight Fast
Too much caffeine may be hazardous to your overall health. And it’s lurking in surprising foods.
It all started in the highlands of Ethiopia, where, according to one popular legend, a goatherd named Kaldi watched his flock frolic around with unusual spunk after nibbling on some berries. It was coffee that the get-up-and-go goats had discovered. And ever since, caffeine has been the world’s go-to, pick-me-up drug. But it’s not only coffee that contains the energy booster—there are many ubiquitous foods with caffeine sitting in your pantry right now.
As vices go, caffeine’s not terrible for your health. In fact, most studies suggest the average adult can safely ingest up to 300 to 400 milligrams of the stimulant per day (about three cups of strong coffee) and experience many of the health benefits of coffee — everything from improved concentration to increased longevity. But too much caffeine can have the opposite effect on overall health, with side effects that include anxiety, increased belly fat, insomnia — even death. And children are particularly susceptible, warn health experts.
Top 10 Most Surprising Foods From Around the World
If you’re wary of your intake — and your kids’ — cutting back on the obvious sources like coffee, tea, and energy drinks is a solid first step. But detecting caffeine culprits isn’t always easy, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require manufacturers to list the content on nutrition labels. Here are seven hidden and surprising sources of caffeine that serve up an unexpected jolt.
1
Protein Bars
Snack bars typically rely on calorie- and carbohydrate-dense ingredients like nuts and dried fruits to keep you energized, but there are exceptions. A Clif Energy bar serves up 50 mg of caffeine, which is more than a can of Coke. And Zone Perfect’s Caramel Pecan Bar contains 14.5 mg — about what you’ll find in a small Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Coolatta.
2
Decaf Coffee
Don’t let the name fool you: decaf does not mean caffeine-free. While FDA regulations require 97 percent of caffeine to be removed from the beans for coffee to be marketed as “decaffeinated,” beans vary wildly in their caffeine content, and that remaining 3 percent can pack a jittery punch, according to research. A 2007 analysis by Consumer Reports of 37 decaf coffees from popular chains found that although most cups had fewer than 5 milligrams of caffeine, some had quite a bit more. In fact, one cup from Dunkin’ Donuts contained 32 milligrams while another from Seattle’s Best packed 29 milligrams. If you’re looking for a reliable low-caf cup, head to the Golden Arches; it was decaf cups from McDonald’s that consistently had the fewest milligrams of caffeine.
3
Non-Cola Sodas
Coke is right up there with coffee as a well-known caffeinated culprit. But while a can of cola will cost you 29 mg of the jumpy stuff, other non-cola sodas contain just as much caffeine — if not more. A Sunkist Orange Soda lags not too far behind notoriously stimulating Mountain Dew with 41 mg. And for all you 90s kids enjoying the recent resurgence of the acid-green citrus pop (now available on Amazon), it wasn’t just the sugar in this famously axed soda that sent you bouncing off the walls. A 16-ounce can of Surge contains a heart-racing 69 mg of caffeine.
4
Ice Cream & Yogurt
If there’s coffee in your ice cream or yogurt, expect a small caffeine boost. According to a report by The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a one-cup “tennis ball-sized scoop” of most popular brands contains 60 mg of caffeine, which is about as much as two cans of Coke. Though some brands fall a bit lower — a half-cup serving of Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch delivers 40 mg of caffeine — that’s still more caffeine than you were probably banking on taking in while you watched Jimmy Kimmel. The same goes for morning picks like Dannon All-Natural Coffee Yogurt, which packs 30 mg of caffeine into each 6-ounce serving. If you’re serious about clocking your caffeine intake, keep your eyes peeled for less obvious coffee flavor terms like “java” and “mocha.”
5
Candy Bars
Any candy bar containing chocolate will deliver a bit of a jolt. That’s because caffeine occurs naturally in cocoa beans, as does the compound theobromine, which also acts as a stimulant. While most candy bars have less than 10 mg of caffeine (a 1.55-ounce HERSHEY’S milk chocolate bar contains about 9 mg), the darker the chocolate, the more generous the jolt, which is why we named this sweet treat one of our foods with caffeine. A half-cup of semisweet chocolate chips has about 30 mg of caffeine, according to a Caffeine and Activation Theory report.
6
Hot Chocolate
Chances are it’s the sugar content in hot cocoa, not the caffeine, that may leave your kids (or you, no judgment) bouncing off the walls, but any amount of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup will add to your daily intake. A Tall hot chocolate from Starbucks, for example, serves up a not-insignificant 20 mg of caffeine, and the same size mocha — a coffee drink with chocolate syrup — serves up 95 milligrams. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly chocolate syrup pick, choose Nesquik over Hershey’s. Two tablespoons of the later will add 5 mg of the energy booster while the manufacturer of Nesquik claims their chocolate powders are “99% caffeine free.”
7
Fancy Water
A bottle of water that can give you the jitters? Some trendy energy-boosting waters include caffeine and other potent stimulants like guarana—an extract from a Brazilian plant with double the caffeine content of coffee seeds. Vitamin Water Energy has 50 mg per 20 fl oz bottle. Fail to read the label before throwing back a bottle of 100% natural Avitae, and you’ll have consumed 125 mg of caffeine—the equivalent of about two shots of espresso.
Foods and Drinks You Didn’t Know Have Caffeine
For those who are trying to quit a coffee addiction, these foods could still give you a caffeine kick
When you’re trying to wake up in the morning, you might turn to different kinds of coffee and espresso drinks, tea or an energy drink for caffeine. Or, if you have an intolerance, you might avoid those things altogether. In that case, these aren’t the only items you need to scratch off your grocery list. A handful of unsuspecting foods and drinks have the ability to give you the jitters, though many contain less caffeine than your standard cup of joe, which has about 95 milligrams per 8 ounces.
Cereal
Between your bowl of breakfast cereal and cup of coffee before work, you might be getting more caffeine than you bargained for. It’s pretty insubstantial, but Cocoa Pebbles has 1 milligram of caffeine per 3/4 cup.
Chocolate
Dark chocolate is touted for many health benefits, but it also has 12 milligrams of caffeine in 1 ounce. A whole bar (or 5.71 ounces) contains about 70 milligrams.
Chocolate chip cookies
As an added perk to one of America’s sweetest desserts, the caffeine content in chocolate chip cookies is mostly derived from the chocolate added to them. One cup of milk chocolate chips contains about 33.6 milligrams of caffeine, so the little amount that’s in your cookie is small potatoes.
Chocolate milk
If you’re worried about an energy spike from your glass of chocolate milk, think again. One cup contains just 2.5 milligrams of caffeine. On the contrary, one 14-ounce serving of ready-to-drink Nesquik chocolate milk has 37 grams of sugar, which is more than the recommended daily intake for men and women.
CLIF bars
Any CLIF bar that has chocolate in it contains trace amounts of caffeine, but five pack a real punch. Vanilla Almond Latte, Caramel Macchiato and Dark Chocolate Mocha, all part of the brand’s coffee collection, have 60 to 70 milligrams of caffeine each. Cool Mint Chocolate contains 49 milligrams of caffeine and Peanut Toffee Buzz has 44 milligrams.
Cocoa powder
If you’re into healthy baking, keep in mind that unsweetened cocoa powder adds more than just a chocolate taste to your cookies. One tablespoon contains 12.4 milligrams of caffeine, which is what you’d find in a sip of coffee.
Decaf coffee
It’s a common misconception that decaf coffee is completely devoid of caffeine. A 2006 study found between 8 and 14 milligrams of caffeine in almost every decaf cup. The only coffee that passed the test? Instant decaffeinated Folgers Coffee Crystals, which contained 0 milligrams of caffeine.
Hot chocolate
The amount of caffeine found in hot chocolate varies by brand, but if you get it in-store at Starbucks, one 16-ounce serving has 25 milligrams of caffeine. The same size at Dunkin’ has just 6 milligrams of caffeine. If you were to make your own at home, brands like Nestle claim they’re 99.9% caffeine free. The packaging doesn’t specify the exact amount of caffeine a cup of cocoa contains, but according to the advertised percentage, it’s insignificant.
Ice cream
Coffee-flavored ice cream from your favorite ice cream stand is a real treat, but did you know that it contains actual coffee? A 4-ounce serving of Haagen-Dazs coffee-flavored ice cream has 29 milligrams of caffeine — but let’s be honest: who eats that little?
Iced tea
Some teas help settle an upset stomach. Others give you the energy you need to make it through an afternoon slump. Lemon Snapple contains 37 milligrams of caffeine and lemon Gold Peak has 34 milligrams.
Sources of caffeine
Caffeine is an alkaloid occurring naturally in some 60 plant species, of which cocoa beans, kola nuts, tea leaves and coffee beans are the most well-known.
Other natural sources of caffeine include yerba maté, guarana berries, guayusa, and the yaupon holly. Caffeine is added to many popular soft drinks, and is also a component of a number of pharmacological preparations and over-the-counter medicines including analgesics, diet-aids, and cold/flu remedies.
Typical amounts in food and beverages
The amount of caffeine consumed in beverages varies enormously and is dependent, for example, on the strength of the drink, and the amount consumed with cup size playing a key role. Coffea canephora (robusta) is known to contain more caffeine than Coffea Arabica (arabica)1-3. However, as a basic guideline an average sized cup of soluble coffee contains approximately 65mg caffeine, whilst a cup of roast and ground coffee contains around 85mg. A 30ml espresso cup contains around 50-60mg caffeine. Finally, a can of cola or a cup of tea contains 25-45mg caffeine. Tea actually contains more caffeine than coffee on a dry weight basis, but a smaller weight of tea is generally used to prepare a brew. Decaffeinated coffee generally provides less than 3mg caffeine per cup. Cocoa and chocolate contain much smaller amounts of caffeine.
Kashi granola bars
A good rule of thumb is to look out for caffeine in anything sugary or chocolatey, and Kashi granola bars are a perfect example. Kashi’s Dark Mocha Almond contains 9 milligrams of caffeine from chocolate and coffee extract. Other granola bars containing chocolate will also have trace amounts of caffeine. Just make sure you check the label because granola bars are among the so-called “healthy” foods that aren’t all that good for you.
Kombucha
Certain brands of kombucha use caffeinated tea in their blend. For example, Health-Ade kombucha contains anywhere between 8 to 15 milligrams of caffeine per serving depending on the flavor, and GT’s Living Foods has 4 to 8 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving.
Non-cola soft drinks
Many people are aware that there’s caffeine in cola, especially diet cola, but it’s in other sodas too. Mountain Dew (diet and regular) contains 91 milligrams of caffeine per 20-ounce serving. Surge has 69 milligrams per 16 ounces, Dr. Pepper has 28 milligrams per 8 ounces and Sunkist orange soda has 31 milligrams per 20 ounces.
Matcha
Considering matcha is derived from green tea leaves, it has almost as much caffeine as coffee. One 8-ounce serving of prepared matcha contains about 70 milligrams. Many matcha drinkers report feeling more refreshed and energized after switching to matcha than they did previously with coffee — so if you’re looking to quit, this could be your answer.
Oreos
Incredibly, caffeine somehow snuck its way into Oreos, a classic store-bought cookie — barely, though. One traditional Oreo contains 1.3 milligrams of caffeine.
Pain relievers
Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers. It allows the body to absorb medications quicker and makes them 40% more effective in providing relief for headaches and other medical symptoms. Some common brands that contain caffeine include Excedrin Migraine (65 milligrams), Midol Menstrual Maximum Strength Caplets (60 milligrams) and Bayer Back & Body (32.5 milligrams).