![]() 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, we normally use 2 grams of tea per 6 ounce cup, and 10 grams of coffee for the same quantity of water. While this is true when measuring coffee and tea in its dry form, 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 body's absorption of caffeine - resulting in a gentler increase of the chemical in the system and a longer period of alertness with no crash at the end. (More on the WONDERS of L-theanine in a note at the end.)ģ. L-theanine, an amino acid found only in tea, has a relaxing effect that counteracts the jitteriness of caffeine without reducing the increase in alertness. 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" in 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. Without going too deep into the science, let's discuss the truth of caffeine in tea. Even many of the most widely read and respected tea books still promote the old beliefs about caffeine and tea which have long since been proven nothing more than old wives tales. Sadly, the myths seem more widely accepted than the truths. Caffeine may be one of the most often discussed and least understood elements in your cup of tea.
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