Does dandelion root tea have caffeine?

The evidence doesn't support dandelion root as a source of caffeine, and it doesn't support any claim that pairing dandelion with caffeine changes how caffeine affects the body — no trial has tested that combination. Dandelion root's documented compounds (diuretic, choleretic and antioxidant activity, among others) don't include caffeine or a related stimulant.

What the evidence doesn't support

It doesn't support dandelion root as a caffeine source, a way to "boost" caffeine's effect, or a way to offset caffeine's downsides like jitteriness or a crash. None of those pairings has been tested in a human trial. Dandelion root coffee substitutes and blended teas are widely sold as caffeine-free options, and that reputation is accurate for dandelion itself — but a product being marketed alongside caffeine claims, or blended with other caffeinated ingredients, isn't the same as research showing an interaction.

What's actually documented about dandelion's composition

A 2006 review of Taraxacum officinale's chemistry and pharmacology catalogues the compounds studied in dandelion — diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-coagulatory and prebiotic activity have each been studied to some degree, mostly in the lab and in animals. None of those studied compounds is caffeine or a stimulant. A separate federal drug-safety reference (LactMed) lists dandelion's constituents as vitamins, minerals, terpenoids and caffeic acid, among others — caffeic acid is a distinct antioxidant compound found in coffee, tea, apples and many other plants, and its similar-sounding name has nothing to do with caffeine as a stimulant.

Caffeine itself is a specific, well-studied compound found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), cacao and kola nut. Dandelion isn't related to any of those plants and isn't reported to contain caffeine in the pharmacology or food-composition literature reviewed for this site.

Questions people ask

Does dandelion root tea have caffeine?

Plain dandelion root tea, made from roasted or dried root steeped in water, does not naturally contain caffeine. A blended product that adds real tea leaves, coffee or another caffeinated ingredient would — that caffeine comes from the added ingredient, not the dandelion.

Does dandelion root have caffeine?

No. Its documented compounds are unrelated to caffeine; see the composition section above.

How much caffeine is in dandelion root tea?

None, if it's plain dandelion root. If a specific product lists other ingredients like black tea, green tea or coffee, check that product's label for its actual caffeine content — it depends on the recipe, not on the dandelion.

Is dandelion root coffee caffeine-free?

Roasted dandelion root, sold as a coffee substitute, is caffeine-free for the same reason plain dandelion root tea is: the root itself doesn't contain caffeine, regardless of how it's roasted or brewed. A blended "dandelion coffee" product that adds chicory, barley or actual coffee would need its own label check, since those ingredients vary the caffeine content, not the dandelion. See dandelion root coffee for how it's made.

When to talk to a doctor

Dandelion is not a substitute for caffeine or a way to change how caffeine affects you — none of that is supported by the research reviewed here. If you're managing caffeine intake for a health reason, or have questions about how dandelion fits alongside your diet or medication, ask a doctor.