Does chocolate have caffeine? Hot chocolate, dark and milk chocolate
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Yes, hot chocolate and chocolate contain some caffeine, because cocoa contains caffeine. The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) lists about 34 mg for a 200 ml chocolate milk made with cocoa powder. The NHS says a 50 g bar of plain (dark) chocolate has under 25 mg and a 50 g bar of milk chocolate under 10 mg. That is much less than a mug of instant coffee (about 100 mg).
Key points
• Hot chocolate made with cocoa powder: about 34 mg per 200 ml (EUFIC).
• 50 g bar of plain (dark) chocolate: under 25 mg (NHS).
• 50 g bar of milk chocolate: under 10 mg (NHS).
• The darker the chocolate, the more caffeine. White chocolate has very little.
• Cocoa also contains theobromine.
Table of contents
- Does hot chocolate have caffeine?
- Caffeine in chocolate bars
- Dark vs milk vs white chocolate
- Chocolate vs coffee, tea and cola
- Chocolate and your daily caffeine total
- FAQ
Does hot chocolate have caffeine?
Yes, a little. Hot chocolate made from cocoa contains some caffeine because cocoa contains caffeine (and theobromine). EUFIC lists about 34 mg of caffeine for 200 ml of chocolate milk made with cocoa powder (EUFIC). That is about a third of a mug of instant coffee. How much is in your mug depends on how much cocoa or chocolate powder you use. More: How much caffeine is too much? · Caffeine pouches in the UK
Caffeine in chocolate bars
The NHS and EUFIC give different figures, so here are both.
| Chocolate | Amount | Caffeine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain (dark) chocolate | 50 g bar | under 25 mg | NHS |
| Milk chocolate | 50 g bar | under 10 mg | NHS |
| Dark chocolate | 14 g (2 squares) | about 7 mg (about 53 mg per 100 g) | EUFIC |
| Milk chocolate | 14 g (2 squares) | about 2 mg (about 17 mg per 100 g) | EUFIC |
Work out your own total: caffeine calculator.
The British Nutrition Foundation uses a higher figure of up to 50 mg for a 50 g bar of plain chocolate in its breastfeeding guidance (British Nutrition Foundation). Products differ, so treat all these figures as estimates.
Dark vs milk vs white chocolate
- Dark (plain) chocolate has the most cocoa and so the most caffeine.
- Milk chocolate has less cocoa and less caffeine: under 10 mg per 50 g bar (NHS).
- White chocolate contains little or no cocoa solids, so it has very little caffeine.
Chocolate vs coffee, tea and cola
| Food or drink | Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Milk chocolate | 50 g bar | under 10 mg |
| Plain (dark) chocolate | 50 g bar | under 25 mg |
| Hot chocolate (cocoa powder) | 200 ml | about 34 mg |
| Cola | 1 can | about 40 mg |
| Tea | 1 mug | about 75 mg |
| Instant coffee | 1 mug | about 100 mg |
Sources: NHS; hot chocolate: EUFIC.
More: Caffeine in coffee vs tea vs green tea · How much caffeine is in cola? · Coffee alternatives in the UK
Chocolate and your daily caffeine total
For healthy adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources is unlikely to cause adverse effects. In pregnancy the limit is 200 mg a day (FSA and FSS, 2024). The NHS counts chocolate towards the 200 mg pregnancy limit, so if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, add it to your coffee, tea and cola. More: Caffeine in pregnancy · Caffeine while breastfeeding
Optimal Native caffeine pouches state the caffeine per pouch on the label: Morning Energy 200 mg, Daily Flow 75 mg and Evening Relax 0 mg, with no sugar.
FAQ
Does hot chocolate have caffeine?
Yes, a little. EUFIC lists about 34 mg for 200 ml of chocolate milk made with cocoa powder.
Does hot chocolate have more caffeine than tea?
No. A mug of tea has about 75 mg (NHS); hot chocolate made with cocoa powder about 34 mg per 200 ml (EUFIC).
How much caffeine is in dark chocolate?
Under 25 mg in a 50 g bar of plain chocolate, according to the NHS. EUFIC lists about 7 mg for two squares (14 g).
Does white chocolate have caffeine?
Very little. White chocolate contains little or no cocoa solids.
Read next: Caffeine-free tea · Coffee alternatives in the UK · How much caffeine is too much?
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