This topic can create much confusion among tea lovers and raise more questions than answers.
Some of the more common questions asked are: * Does green tea contain caffeine? * How about white tea? * Does black tea contain more caffeine than green tea because the colour of black tea is so much darker and so it follows logically or perhaps illogically that it should contain more caffeine? The following information should help dispel some of the myths and answer some of the questions related to Tea and Caffeine.
There are basically 4 types of tea, green tea, black tea, white tea and oolong tea which are harvested from the tea shrub Camellia Sinesis.
Given that all these teas come from the same plant, they would contain more or less the same amount of caffeine.
However, there are some factors that can contribute to the varying levels of caffeine in tea.
What are the factors that can contribute to caffeine content in tea? Tea Caffeine Tip #1 - Tea Preparation Caffeine is water soluble at high temperatures.
Green Tea and White tea is prepared at temperatures below boiling whereas black tea is usually prepared with water at a higher temperature.
As a result tea steeped in hot water for a longer time will release more caffeine than tea steeped in cooler water for a shorter period.
That may explain why black tea is generally recognized as having a higher caffeine content.
Tea Caffeine Tip #2 - Type of leaf The young buds and first leaves generally have more caffeine than leaves picked from the lower part of the tea plant.
The leaves from the small leaf China tea plant Camellia Sinesis tend to have lower caffeine levels than the leaves from the large leaf Assam plant Camellia Assamica.
So plant variety also plays a part in determining caffeine content.
Tea Caffeine Tip #3 - Other factors There are other less obvious factors that could contribute to caffeine content, e.
g.
soil, climate and when the tea was harvested.
Teas that are infused multiple times release varying amounts of caffeine.
Green Tea, Oolong Tea and White Tea are usually infused a few times for a short period each time, approximately 1-2 minutes.
For the first infusion, they release about 60% of caffeine, the second infusion releases about 30% and the third infusion is approximately 10%.
The percentages here are just an approximate.
Given the many variables of water temperatures, steeping times and type of leaf, these figures should be used as a guide only.
For the optimal quality of tea and keeping in mind that caffeine is water soluble at high temperatures, consider the following recommended temperatures for steeping tea.
This is definitely the first step in ensuring that you are not necessarily increasing your caffeine intake.
Black Teas are infused with water that has just come to a boil at approximately 210-212 degree F (98-100 degree C).
They can be steeped 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the cut of the leaf.
For Green and White teas, the water should be slightly cooler at around 165-185 degree F (75-85 degree C), depending on the tea.
Steeping time is usually 1 - 2 minutes but this may vary depending on the tea type.
Moderate amounts of caffeine is generally good for you if you don't have a sensitivity to it.
Caffeine increases alertness, stimulates metabolism and contributes to an increase in dopamine levels in the blood, which improves mood.