One of the first questions we are often asked about our tea by people in the farmers markets is about caffeine. Some people want tea with“ the most caffeine” while others are very wary of caffeine at all. Everybody’s bodies are different and their personal relationships to caffeine are different, but sometimes I do wonder with some people in our coffee dominated society, if there is a misunderstanding about caffeine in tea. I worry both the person looking for the most caffeine and no caffeine are missing out on what caffeine in tea can do for them.
Caffeine is often thought of as a drug used to wake up or stimulate the brain. For the people, looking for “the most caffeine” I can’t help but think it’s viewed as a crutch to get through the work day, whereas for the “no caffeine” people I wonder if since caffeine can be viewed as a drug, they view it as unhealthy. I´ve found a number of yoga studios that offer “tea” only offer caffeine free tisanes despite studies having shown caffeinated teas having many benefits as an antioxidant, digestive aid and notably can improve physical performance.
But doesn’t caffeine cause anxiety? Here is the major difference between caffeine in tea and caffeine in coffee. First off, tea generally has less than half the amount of caffeine as coffee—which is one of the reasons pregnant women are a good customer base for us because their doctors tell them they can have some caffeine, but not multiple cups of coffees worth (multiple cups of tea is fine). Second, and probably most important, tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine—which is a building block of protein increasingly advertised in over the counter supplements, said to have a calming effect that improves attention and focus. In turn, caffeine in tea will generally not have the same jolting, jittery effect often associated with coffee, but a smooth sharpness over time.
To the people looking for more caffeine hoping to get that rush they get from coffee, will you still get it from loose leaf tea? It won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll get a feeling worth experiencing and you can decide if its right for you.
To the people looking for no caffeine, if your doctor says no caffeine, then no caffeine, but caffeine in loose leaf tea can definitely be included on a wellness journey. The many purported health benefits from tea are inseparable from its intrinsic caffeine. Now is caffeine the best thing to drink right before bed? Probably not, but I’d still venture to say it’s better than a glass of wine or a beer.
