How much caffeine is in Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea?

A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea has 16 to 25 mg of caffeine.

That's about a quarter of a cup of brewed coffee, and 5% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 7 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.

Ranges: the chart uses the middle of the published range (20 mg for this size).

Bedtime

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Sizes

Size	Volume	Caffeine	mg per fl oz
Short	8 fl oz (237 ml)	1 to 15 mg	1.0
Tall	12 fl oz (355 ml)	1 to 15 mg	0.7
Grande shown above	16 fl oz (473 ml)	16 to 25 mg	1.3
Venti	20 fl oz (591 ml)	16 to 25 mg	1.0

Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

Latest time to drink it

For an 11 pm bedtime, a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea stays under the 50 mg most people sleep fine with, even late in the evening. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to start one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.

Bedtime	Very sensitive under 25 mg	Average under 50 mg	Not very sensitive under 100 mg
9 pm	Any time	Any time	Any time
10 pm	Any time	Any time	Any time
11 pm	Any time	Any time	Any time
Midnight	Any time	Any time	Any time
1 am	Any time	Any time	Any time

For a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line.

How long it lasts

The caffeine from a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 17 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.

Time after	3 hours	6 hours	9 hours	12 hours
Still in you	14 mg	9.3 mg	6.1 mg	4 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 7 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea is stronger than 19% of the 38 teas we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (1.3 mg) it is stronger than 19% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 20 of these.

Less caffeine

Bubble Tea 19 mg, 8 fl oz cup
White Tea 15 to 20 mg, 6 fl oz cup
AriZona Arnold Palmer 12 to 14 mg, 12 fl oz serving

More caffeine

Gold Peak Chai Tea Latte 25 mg, 14 fl oz bottle
Starbucks Chamomile Mint Blossom Tea 25 mg, Grande
Green Tea 28 mg, 8 fl oz cup

Same caffeine: Gold Peak Sweet Tea, Hojicha, Sencha.

FAQ

Is Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea high in caffeine?

No, it is low. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea has 16 to 25 mg, which is 21% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.

How much caffeine is in a Short Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea?

A Short (8 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea has 1 to 15 mg of caffeine, 12 mg less than a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea.

How much caffeine is in a Venti Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea?

A Venti (20 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea has 16 to 25 mg of caffeine, the same as than a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea.

Can I drink Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea at night?

For most people, yes: even late in the evening a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea stays under 50 mg at an 11 pm bedtime.

How long does the caffeine in Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 16 to 25 mg, about 9.3 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 4 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea have more caffeine than a cup of coffee?

No. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Emperor's Clouds & Mist Tea has 16 to 25 mg; an 8 fl oz cup of coffee has 95 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from starbucks.com; recipes, brewing and batches vary, so a real serving can differ. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.

These are estimates for information, not medical advice.

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