How much caffeine is in Kukicha Stem Tea?

Each 8 oz cup (240ml) serving contains approximately 18 mg of caffeine. For comparison, a standard 8 oz cup of brewed drip coffee contains around 95 mg. Actual content varies with dose, water temperature, and contact time.

What temperature should I use for Kukicha Stem Tea?

Target 90°C (194°F). Below this range the cup tends toward sourness and thinness from under-extraction; above it, bitterness rises faster than sweetness.

How long should Kukicha Stem Tea be extracted?

Extract for 2:30-3:30 using Kyusu Teapot, at a ratio of 12g/L (3g leaves to 240g water), prepared at Whole Leaf. Time and ratio move together: a heavier dose generally wants a shorter contact time.

Why does my Kukicha Stem Tea taste bitter?

Bitterness almost always indicates over-extraction. Shorten the contact time, lower the water temperature slightly, or use less leaf. Change one variable at a time so you can tell which one was responsible.

Who should avoid Kukicha Stem Tea?

Caffeine and serving strength vary with dose, preparation, and individual sensitivity. Use individualized medical guidance for pregnancy, medication interactions, allergies, reflux, or other health concerns. This is general educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances.

Reviewed Aug 2026

Green Tea & Matcha · Kyoto, Japan

Kukicha Stem Tea

Name: How to Brew Kukicha Stem Tea
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 8 oz cup (240ml)
Cuisine: Kyoto, Japan
Ingredients: 3 g loose-leaf green tea; 240 g filtered water at 90°C

Roasted stem sweetness, fresh hay, and gentle nutty lift.

A Japanese tea made primarily from stems and veins, offering a light body and naturally mellow taste.

Sensory profile

Comparative scale

sweetnessHigh

acidityLow

bitternessVery low

bodyLow

aromaVery high

You should taste

How it unfolds

Aroma → Palate → Finish

AromaBefore and as you sip

Cucumber

pronounced aroma

PalateWhile it is in the mouth

clear sweetness

FinishAfter you swallow

Almond

restrained body

Where it sits

Stronger than 56 of the 345 other drinks in the catalogue, and weaker than 288.

That is 18 mg in a 8 oz cup (240ml) serving — a concentration of 7.5 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.

CupCura editorial estimate. No public food database has measured this preparation, so this figure is our own and is not independently sourced.

What people say

Reviews and photographs from people who have actually drunk this. Everything here has been read by a moderator before publication.

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Gear for this drink

Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

Direct-drive motor with 64mm stainless steel flat burrs engineered specifically for pour-over, drip, and cold brew clarity.

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Green Tea & Matcha

Kukicha Stem Tea

Sensory profile

You should taste

How it unfolds

Where it sits

What people say

Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2

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