Everyone needs a little pick-me-up drink in the morning in the form of caffeine. Tea is a choice of caffeinated beverage that has many health benefits. It has a high number of antioxidants. But, it is crucial to consider the caffeine content when choosing a tea.
Some studies ideate that compared to coffee, tea leaves contain more caffeine. Varieties of herbal teas do not contain any caffeine at all. It might be difficult to determine tea's caffeine content outside of a laboratory. There are many factors that play a role in the caffeine content in loose-leaf tea.
There is some amount of caffeine in the tea that comes from the camellia sinensis plant. Camellia sinensissinensis - indigenous to China which tends to be lower in caffeine. Then there is Camellia Sinensis Assamica indigenous to Assam, India. This variety tends to be higher in caffeine.
Tea leaves that follow the cut, torn, crush (CTC) method tend to produce a more concentrated cup of tea. This has a higher caffeine level. Loose tea tend to produce tea that is lower in caffeine.
Studies have shown that the teas harvested in the spring tend to be higher in caffeine. Additionally, growing in shade has proven to increase caffeine content. The shading process creates a stress response in the plant that leads to chemical processes releasing caffeine- compensating for the lack of sunlight.
Hot water increases the caffeine content of a particular tea. This means that teas like black tea, prepared using boiling water, will have more caffeine. Green tea or white tea prepared using cooled-down water will have lesser caffeine.
Steep time also influences the caffeine present in tea. The longer you infuse the tea leaves, the higher the caffeine level will be.
This is well-known- the more tea leaves you use, the higher the amount of caffeine. If you’re looking for a super strong cup of tea, you can use more than the recommended one teaspoon per 200 ml of water. You may want to use less tea for 200 ml in case you intend to lower your caffeine intake.
There is about 40 to 70 milligrams of caffeine per 220-gram of black tea. Coffee has about 95 to 200 milligrams. If your black tea intake is in a larger cup, you can account for a similar amount of caffeine every morning.
The caffeine content in green tea is 35 to 45 milligrams per 220-gram serving. It is less than the amount in black tea but is still higher than other types of herbal tea. Green tea is a lighter source of stimulants. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake but don’t want to stop it altogether, green tea is a good choice for you.
P.S. The caffeine present in tea affects different people in different ways. This is according to their unique sensitivities and biochemistry. So make your choice after observing your caffeine tolerance.
