Green Tea and Mint Tea: Differences, Benefits and Mixing

Green tea and mint tea look alike in a mug, but they’re different drinks. Green tea comes from the tea plant and has caffeine. Peppermint tea comes from an herb and doesn’t. You can drink them apart or mix them.

Green tea vs. mint tea: what’s the difference?

	Green tea	Peppermint tea
Plant	Camellia sinensis, the tea plant	Mentha x piperita, an herb
Type	True tea	Herbal tea
Caffeine per 8 oz	About 29 mg	Naturally caffeine-free
Typical water temperature	170°F to 180°F	190°F to 210°F
Research on the drink	Many studies, few firm conclusions	Very little

One thing to watch for is the name. A box labeled “mint green tea” still contains green tea, so expect caffeine unless it’s decaf. Even decaf tea may have trace amounts. Check the ingredient list if you’re avoiding caffeine.

Can you mix green tea and peppermint tea?

Yes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports no safety concerns for green tea as a drink for adults, and it says peppermint tea appears to be safe. It also says the long-term safety of large amounts of peppermint leaf is unknown. We found no human trial of the two teas mixed together.

Mixing lowers the caffeine only if it replaces some of the green tea. USDA data works out to about 29 mg for a 1-cup (8 oz) serving of brewed green tea. Using that figure, these are our estimates. Yours will vary with the tea and steeping time.

8 oz drink	Caffeine
Peppermint tea	None
Half brewed green tea, half brewed peppermint tea	About 15 mg (estimate)
Green tea with fresh mint leaves	About 29 mg (estimate)
Plain green tea	About 29 mg

What are the benefits of green tea with mint?

We found no proven benefit from combining them. The evidence for each one is limited.

Green tea: NCCIH says definite conclusions can’t yet be reached for most of its uses. Its small effect on cholesterol came mostly from studies of extract supplements, not brewed tea.

Peppermint leaf and tea: NCCIH says very little research has been done on peppermint leaf, and there isn’t enough evidence to say whether it’s useful for any health condition. A 2006 review found no clinical trials of peppermint tea at all. Since then, a 2025 trial of 25 adults found bigger improvements on computer-based thinking tests after 200 mL of peppermint tea than after warm water. That’s one small, short study without green tea in it, so it’s a reason for more research, not a proven benefit.

Why don’t peppermint oil studies apply to tea?

Most of the positive results for peppermint are about the oil. Peppermint oil is a very concentrated essential oil, and it’s a different product from a cup of tea.

NCCIH says a small amount of research suggests peppermint oil in enteric-coated capsules may improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in adults. A 2022 review of 10 studies with 1,030 people found the oil beat placebo for overall symptoms and abdominal pain, but it caused more side effects. None of that tells you peppermint tea will do the same.

Can mint make heartburn worse?

It may for some people with GERD. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases lists mint among the foods commonly linked to symptoms of GERD, along with coffee and other sources of caffeine. So a green tea and mint blend has two possible triggers.

NCCIH also lists heartburn as a possible side effect of peppermint oil taken by mouth, and capsules are often coated to make that less likely. That’s about oil, not tea, but if you get heartburn after mint tea, cut back and talk with your doctor.

How to make green tea with mint

These are starting points, so adjust them to your taste.

Option 1: Fresh mint leaves

This makes one mug of about 8 oz.

1. Rinse 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves.
2. Heat 8 oz of water to 170°F to 180°F. No thermometer? Boil it and let it sit for a few minutes.
3. Put the leaves and one green tea bag, or 1 teaspoon of loose green tea, in a mug.
4. Pour in the water and steep for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Remove the tea and leaves.

Option 2: Green tea and peppermint tea bags

This makes two mugs of about 8 oz, each with about half the caffeine of plain green tea.

1. Steep one green tea bag in 8 oz of 170°F to 180°F water for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Steep one peppermint tea bag in 8 oz of 190°F to 210°F water for about 5 minutes.
3. Remove the bags, mix the two teas and divide between two mugs.

Want other ideas? Try ginger and honey or fresh orange.

Who should be careful?

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: NCCIH says peppermint in food amounts is likely safe, and little is known about medicinal amounts. Green tea has caffeine, so keep your intake moderate and ask your healthcare provider.
• Caffeine sensitivity: choose plain peppermint tea, which has no green tea in it.
• Medication: green tea at high doses can lower levels of the blood pressure drug nadolol. Ask your pharmacist if you drink it often.