A frequently asked question is does tea have caffeine? More granular, individuals often wonder, does green tea have caffeine or does black tea have caffeine? How much caffeine in tea vs coffee? A lot of folks who are looking to drink more of it will be a little hesitant because they are not sure if it will be the same jolt as coffee. From the start, you should know, that it might not be the exact same. We will examine this more below. However don’t think you have to skip out on tea just yet.

In this article, you will learn answers to the highly sought-after question, “does tea have caffeine?” how much, the differences between tea and coffee, and more.

This post is all about does tea have caffeine?

 

How Much Caffeine Does Tea Have? 

The answer to “Does tea have caffeine?” is not as easy as it seems. The chart I have above from adagio teas is a helpful infographic on the caffeine amount basics. Many factors go into the amount of caffeine in your cup of tea, and not everyone is on the same page about exactly how many milligrams each tea style has. However, there are a few factors that experts agree contribute to the amount of caffeine in your cup.

1. The amount of time the tea is brewed.
2. The temperature of the water.
3. The age of the tea leaves or buds.
4. The climate.

What is the difference between tea and coffee

Not all caffeine is the same or the way we absorb it is not all the same. You may relate to drinking that cup of coffee and then the shakes or jitters start. You feel like everything is high alert. That feeling is what caused me to eventually stop drinking coffee. I had to make the switch because the jitters from coffee were sending my anxiety through the roof.

That is because caffeine from coffee is known to absorb right into the bloodstream so there is nothing there to slow it down and release steadily. Tea is different! Tea has many chemical components including tannins and amino acids in the form of L-theanine. Studies show that L-theanine is known to help create activity in the brain that encourages relaxation. When combined with caffeine, it is said that there is a much slower release of the caffeine. In “Tea: A User’s Guide” by Tony Gebely, he refers to this state has “mindful alertness”. With tea, I realized that the caffeine didn’t get my heart racing. Of course, the amount of caffeine isn’t there, however, if you drink enough tea, you may have one of the 3 a.m. nights. Don’t let it fool you!

Decaffeination

What about decaf tea? Does tea have caffeine if it is decaffeinated? What has been shown is that even decaffeinated tea will have a very tiny amount, as does coffee.

To decaf tea, a solvent of choice is used in order to remove the caffeine from the oxidized leaves. After the process is complete, the leaves are dried again. The caffeine is usually in powdered form and is sold. If you enjoy the taste of tea but what something decaf you can go this route.

A better suggestion would be to find some herbal teas that you can enjoy. There are so many different blends out on the market today with amazing flavor and zero caffeine. An example would be Canyon Chai by Bellocq Tea Atelier. One of my favorites!

Which tea has the most caffeine?

Matcha green tea and most highly oxidized black teas tend to have the highest concentration of caffeine. Although not as high as coffee, for tea, it’s where you will get the best bang for session.

Matcha is like the espresso of tea. According to “Matcha” by Jessica Flint and Anna Kavaliunas, matcha can contain up to 60 percent the caffeine of an espresso, and 75 percent the caffeine of a coffee. Among the caffeine, matcha is said to have many other health benefits. I usually start my mornings with matcha, it’s easy to make a latte out of or you can simply enjoy it plain.

As for highly oxidized black teas, remember that factors such as temperature of water or time tea is brewed may have an effect on caffeine levels in your cup. Black teas tend to brew at the highest temperatures and for the longest time. This isn’t always a guarantee, because you can experiment with different temperatures and times of your steep, which may adjust your caffeine levels.

Is it worth it to make a switch from coffee to tea exclusively?

As you saw above, my situation was my situation. I believe there are clear advantages to drinking tea. Tea has more variety of flavor in my opinion. You will never run out of different types and styles to try. I liken tea to wine in that way. The disappearance of shakiness from tea is very important to me and a lot of people. Tea is super versatile, just like coffee. You can drink it hot, cold, cold brew it, make nitro tea, have lattes, etc.  A few questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you okay with a little less caffeine than normal?
2. Is a lot of variety meaningful to you? You may try coffees from different parts of the world. Tea you will be able to do that as well, maybe more so. Is that important?
3. Are you able to invest a bit into purchasing the good tea and accessories to make it? While you aren’t going to go broke, it does take some set up to really make a great cup of loose-leaf tea. Things like a good kettle, teacup, tea itself, something to brew it in. You could also start with bagged which is generally cheaper.
4. Quite simply, how much will you miss the taste of coffee?

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