All real tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, which contains caffeine. To eliminate caffeine intake completely, one must switch to herbal tea. As a result, that first quick steeping or "washing" removes both the caffeine AND the healthy elements found in tea. As importantly, the antioxidants and other health benefits of tea tend to be extracted more quickly than the caffeine. Caffeine is extracted over time, and so the first 30 seconds of a five minute steeping cycle may only extract 20 to 30% of the caffeine (the amount depends on the leaf and processing style). The truth, however, is something else entirely. The theory is that most of the caffeine is washed away in this initial steeping. It still contains about 5-10 mg per cup.Ī common myth is that you can "make your own" decaf tea by briefly steeping the tea and throwing away resulting liquor. Decaffeinated tea, in fact, is not caffeine free at all. A common misconception is that those who are caffeine intolerant should stock up on Decaf tea. Caffeine tolerance varies greatly among individuals, with some being much more caffeine sensitive than others. There has been much concern in the United States recently about the possible dangers of caffeine. In fact, most sodas have more caffeine as well. In comparison, the same volume of coffee yields at least double the amount of caffeine. This is also true of very fine loose tea. old growth) make the following teas stand out in their class:Īlso, keep in mind that, because tea bags contain broken leaves of smaller size, they produce an infusion with more caffeine than loose tea does. Assamica), growing methods (shaded or high grown vs. Black tea, the varieties used (Sinensis vs. While it's difficult (and usually incorrect) to make broad factual statements about how much caffeine is in Green Tea vs. Simply put, there is no scientific basis to the claim and it results simply from measuring the caffeine in the cup after typical brewing methods and incorrectly crediting those results to the tea itself. You'll find a number of high profile tea companies, websites and books promoting this common myth. Let's be clear: Oxidation does NOT increase the amount of caffeine in tea. But a tea steeped for five minutes in boiling water is going to transfer a LOT more caffeine to the cup than a tea steeped for two minutes at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Black, Oolong, Green and White tea leaves themselves have surprisingly similar caffeine content. The greatest impact on caffeine content is the water temperature and length of steeping time. The youngest leaves, highest on the plant, contain the greatest concentration of caffeine AND antioxidants. With tea, studies also show that leaf location on the tea plant affects content of caffeine in that tea. The amount of caffeine in coffee or tea depends on a number of factors, including the method and length of brewing or steeping. It found that the average caffeine level in the cups of tea (black English style teas) was 40mg vs 105mg in the average cup of drip coffee. A widely cited 2004 British study looked at 200 cups prepared by consumers going about their normal brewing routines. After all, one normally uses 2 grams of tea per 8 ounce cup, and 10 grams of coffee for the same quantity of water. While this is true when measuring coffee and tea in their dry forms, this is false when comparing brewed coffee and tea. ![]() The biggest myth about the caffeine content between coffee and tea is that tea contains more caffeine than coffee. ![]() The high levels of antioxidants found in tea slow the absorption of caffeine - this results in a gentler increase of the chemical in the system and a longer period of alertness with no crash at the end. It works with caffeine in a synergistic way to calm the body without reducing caffeine alertness.ģ. L-theanine, an amino acid found only in tea, reduces stress and promotes relaxation. There is significantly less caffeine in the average cup of tea - especially when including green and white teas brewed at shorter times and cooler temperatures.Ģ. While the caffeine in tea and coffee are, technically, identical, the experience is different due to three key factors:ġ. It was later shown that the "theine" of tea was identical with the caffeine of coffee, and the term "theine" was then dropped. Originally called "theine", caffeine was first discovered in tea in 1827.
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