Does cider have caffeine?
Regular cider has no caffeine. USDA nutrition data list 0 mg of caffeine in hard cider, because it is made from fermented apple juice. A flavoured cider could contain caffeine only if an ingredient such as tea or coffee is added. Check the label, and note that the FDA has warned against caffeine added to some alcoholic drinks.
Updated
Key facts
- Hard cider: 0 mg caffeine per 100 g in USDA FoodData Central (FNDDS). [1] The older USDA Standard Reference entry for hard cider also lists 0 mg. [2]
- For comparison: brewed black tea has 20 mg of caffeine per 100 g in USDA data. [3]
- Added caffeine: in November 2010 the FDA warned four companies that the caffeine added to their alcoholic malt beverages is an "unsafe food additive". [4]
Why plain cider has no caffeine
Cider is fermented apple or pear juice. [5] Caffeine comes from plants such as tea and coffee, not from apples, and fermentation does not create it. The guide on how cider is made lists what goes into the process. The glossary entry for hard cider explains the US term.
Can a flavoured cider contain caffeine?
Only if an ingredient containing caffeine is added, such as tea, coffee or guarana. In the UK, HMRC's list of permitted ingredients for cider does not include them, so such a drink would not be taxed as cider. [6] In the EU, drinks with more than 150 mg/l of caffeine must say "High caffeine content" next to the name, except drinks based on coffee or tea whose name includes "coffee" or "tea". [7] [8]
How do I check?
- Read the name and ingredient statement for tea, coffee, guarana or "caffeine".
- Note that drinks over 1.2% alcohol in the EU and the UK do not have to list ingredients [9] [8], so ask the maker if unsure.
- For tea-based fermented drinks, see does kombucha have caffeine.
Related answers: does kombucha have caffeine · is cider good for you
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Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.
We don't give health advice. For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Does apple cider (juice) have caffeine?
Apples do not contain caffeine, and USDA data for hard cider list 0 mg. [1] Check flavoured juices, which may contain other ingredients.
Is there caffeine in kombucha?
Often, because it is made from tea; a study of nine commercial products found caffeine in a wide range. See does kombucha have caffeine. [10]
Are caffeinated alcoholic drinks allowed?
In 2010 the US FDA warned four companies that the caffeine added to their alcoholic malt beverages was an "unsafe food additive". [4]
Sources
- FoodData Central: Hard cider (FDC ID 2710621, Survey (FNDDS) 2021–2023, published 31 Oct 2024) — USDA Agricultural Research Service
- FoodData Central: Beverages, AMBER, hard cider (FDC ID 174146, SR Legacy) — USDA Agricultural Research Service
- FoodData Central: Beverages, tea, black, brewed, prepared with tap water (FDC ID 173227, SR Legacy) — USDA Agricultural Research Service
- Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages — US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Alcoholic products technical guide: section 2, alcoholic products — HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)
- Permitted ingredients for cider duty — HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III: Foods whose labelling must include one or more additional particulars — legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (official EU text) — EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the European Union)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 16: Omission of certain mandatory particulars — legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)
- Yang J. et al. Microbial and Chemical Profiles of Commercial Kombucha Products. Nutrients 14 (2022) 670 — PubMed Central (NIH)