Caffeine content in beverages commonly consumed in Jordan

Abstract

This study aimed to determine caffeine levels in beverages commonly consumed in Jordan. A total sample of 167 caffeinated products were collected from the market in Amman city (the capital of Jordan) and prepared according to the label instructions. Caffeine content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were analyzed in triplicate. Caffeine concentration ranged from 12.37 to 194.61 mg/100 ml in coffee samples, 2.57 to 16.11 mg/100 ml in tea, 3.46 to 19.06 mg/100 ml in cocoa and 10.15 to 32.56 mg/100 ml in energy and soft drinks. Expresso coffee and Turkish coffee had the highest content of caffeine among all beverages studied (194.6 and 146.6 mg/100 ml, respectively). This is the first study to investigate caffeine contents in wide types of beverages in the Arab world. The findings of this study are useful for nutrition education, both to control caffeine intake and to establish safe limits of caffeine in beverages consumed in Jordan.