Many people consume teas on a regular basis for the different health benefits that tea has to offer. However, tea and coffee also contain caffeine, which might be a concern for you.

Teas are available in different varieties and each variety contains a different amount of caffeine. There are various reasons that lead to differences in caffeine content in different types of tea. The common factors that alter the caffeine content in tea are the types of tea, the leaf grades, the brewing method, and the method of  production. 

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine, the fuel for countless mornings and late-night study sessions, is a naturally occurring stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and even cocoa beans. It works by blocking adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical in your brain, essentially saying, "Get ready to rumble!" This leads to increased alertness, focus, and even physical performance. But caffeine isn't just about the buzz. Studies suggest it can improve memory, boost mood, and even enhance athletic performance.

Tea isn't just a gentle alternative to coffee. Depending on the type, it can pack a surprisingly strong caffeine punch. Black tea, like English Breakfast, is typically highest, with an average cup containing 47mg. Green tea offers a moderate kick (28mg), while white tea provides a gentler lift (12mg). Herbal teas, like chamomile or peppermint, are naturally caffeine-free. So, whether you're a coffee devotee or a tea enthusiast, understanding caffeine helps you savor your favorite brew while making informed choices about your energy levels.

Is Caffeine bad for you?

There are many benefits of drinking tea for your health. Boosting metabolism, fighting obesity, and sharpening brains are some of the popular ones. However, the stimulant called caffeine might be a concern for some tea lovers. While caffeine is not entirely bad, it does have some side effects if consumed in high volume.

It is a good idea to track your caffeine consumption level. The symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, headache etc are identified immediately after the consumption of excessive caffeine for some people. It helps to identify your caffeine tolerance level as you are able to enjoy your tea limits from the next day. Remember, the impacts are not the same for all people. 

Continue reading to find out the common side effects of tea on your health when they are overused. 

Insomnia

The caffeine in tea is very helpful for keeping your brain active when needed. However, if you use high amounts of caffeine,  it can interfere with your sleep. It can result in decreasing sleeping time and also cause sleeping difficulties, especially for elderly people.

Anxiety

Caffeine produces the chemical known as adrenaline, the hormone that is responsible for triggering the “fight” response in your brain. However, the overconsumption of caffeine might lead to the uncontrollable release of adrenaline which leads to anxiety disorders.

Increase in heart rate

Excessive intake of caffeine can create an altered rhythm in the heartbeat as it makes your heart beat faster. The level of impact is different for different people. So, if you are one of those who notice changes in the heartbeat rate after intake of caffeine, you should consider decreasing the amount of caffeine intake. 

Complications in pregnancy

The excessive intake of caffeine during the time of pregnancy increases the risk for complications, the study shows. It can lead to the complications like low weight in infants and an increased risk of miscarriage. For this reason, it is suggested not to intake more than 300 mg of caffeine per day during the pregnancy period. 

What affects the caffeine content in a cup of tea?

The tea leaf

It might be surprising for you to know that the same type of tea leaf provides different levels of caffeine when used in different ways. For example, you are more likely to have a high amount of caffeine in a tea when using the broken tea leaves rather than whole leaves for brewing. Likewise, the age of the leaves also impacts the amount of caffeine released in the tea. The new tea leaves are more likely to produce a high amount of caffeine as compared to the old leaves. 

Time for brewing

The amount of caffeine released in the tea also depends on the time taken for brewing. When you place the tea leaves in hot liquid for a longer period of time, it releases more amount of caffeine. 

Climate

The teas which are shade grown have higher levels of caffeine in them. When the tea is grown in a shaded area, there is a change in the formation of chlorophyll and other chemicals which results in releasing of a high amount of caffeine. 

Type of water 

Yes, it is true that the type of water used for preparing tea also has an impact on the caffeine level. However, the impact level is very low.  The water that has high PH level reduces the infusion of caffeine which increases the level of caffeine release. 

Facts about caffeine

Even though millions of people intake caffeine on regular basis, many of them still might have misperceptions about this natural stimulant. For many of us, it is just a natural medicine for keeping our brains active. Although caffeine does not have any nutritional value in itself, it is more than just a chemical that connects our brains and body. Let’s find out some of the fun facts about caffeine.

Caffeine as a natural pesticides

Caffeine is found in different types of plant leaves such as cacao trees, yerba, guarana mate, and different other caffeine-producing plants. Caffeine works as the natural pesticide in such types of plants which helps them to fight against the insects that are harmful to the plants. 

Caffeine does not cause real “addiction”

Yes, caffeine can cause mild physical dependence, but it does not create a real “addiction” as the other drugs do. Withdrawing from caffeine might cause some physical symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and anxiety, but it does not create any long-term harmful impacts like others. This is the reason it is not fair to refer the caffeine dependence as “addiction”.

Caffeine in the world’s most popular drinks

Cola, tea, and coffee are the three of the most popular drinks in the world today. The interesting fact is that all of those three drinks contain some amounts of caffeine. 

Caffeine as the source of calcium

Caffeine not only awakens your brain; but also increases the release of calcium in the muscles which contributes to active body movements. The study has shown that the athletic ability of the body can be increased by 3% after the consumption of caffeine. 

Different types of tea and caffeine content

Some people might be highly sensitive to caffeine. So, they are not sure which tea contains the right amount of caffeine to suit their needs. If you are one of them, then the following information is going to help you a lot. Here, we are discussing the levels of caffeine content in different types of tea so that you can select the tea that is best for you based on your sensitivity level to caffeine. 

Black tea

If you are looking for a tea that contains the highest amount of caffeine, then Black tea is for you. The amount of caffeine in black tea ranges from 64 mg to 112 mg per eight-ounce serving. The caffeine and other ingredients such as flavonoids, flavonols, antioxidants, and theanine content in black tea provide many health benefits such as increasing mental alertness, lowering blood pressure, and lowering the risk of a heart attack. 

Oolong tea

Oolong tea ranges from 37 mg to 55 mg per eight-ounce caffeine serving. The amount of caffeine content is comparatively less than black tea; but slightly more than white tea and green tea. So, if you are looking for slightly less amount of caffeine than black tea, then you can go for oolong tea. 

Green tea

The amount of caffeine content in green tea largely depends on the conditions such as tea plants used, climate, and brewing process as caffeine is naturally occurred in green teas. The caffeine amount in green tea range from 35 mg to 45 mg per eight-ounce serving. 

White tea

White tea is preferred by those people who like to have a tea with a minimum amount of caffeine as this tea has very low caffeine. The caffeine amount in green tea ranges from 15 mg to 30 mg per eight-ounce serving. This tea is best if you are looking for a comparatively low-caffeine tea beverage. 

Herbal tea and caffeine

Herbal teas are caffeine-free teas. The other different teas which contain caffeine are produced from the plant named Camellia Sinensis. On the other hand, herbal teas are produced from different types of dried flowers, roots, seeds, or leaves which makes this tea free of caffeine. If you like to enjoy the tea but want to avoid the caffeine, then there is no other better alternative than this tea. 

Conclusion 

The different popular varieties of teas that Danfe Tea brings to you  from Nepal include Oolong Tea, Black tea, White Tea,  Green tea and Caffeine free Herbal Teas Consumers can enjoy their tea according to their preference for the caffeine content in the tea. Whether it is high caffeine tea or low caffeine tea, one thing is sure you will enjoy the unique flavor of these Himalayan teas.