Let’s talk Caffeine

Many people start their morning with a big cup of coffee to jump start their energy level. These coffee lovers often ask about the differences in caffeine levels for coffee verses tea. However, it is a little more complicated than just an amount of caffeine.

  • For starters, if you are drinking any part of the tea leaf, there is caffeine. Herbal teas do not contain part of the tea leaf and therefore do not contain caffeine. 
  • A cup of coffee contains approximately 95mg of caffeine. A cup of black tea contains approximately 47mg of caffeine. A cup of green tea contains approximately 35mg of caffeine. A cup of white tea contains approximately 17mg of caffeine.
  • Coffee has caffeine which provides an energy spike that occurs very quickly and dissipates within 5 hours.
  • The caffeine in tea has an extra component, theanine. 
  • Caffeine is a stimulant while theanine has a relaxing, stress reducing effect, while also improving cognitive function. This means you get a more subtle stimulation with less of an initial spike and less of a crash when it wears off. You get the energy and the focus.
  • The effects of caffeine in tea can last up to 10 hours. 

Where in the plant does the caffeine come from?

  • The buds on the camellia sinensis plant (tea plant) have the highest concentration of caffeine.
  • As you move down the plant, toward the roots, the caffeine levels decrease. So for example, the first leaves have slightly less caffeine than the buds, and each leaf further down the stem has less caffeine.
  • Additionally, the first picking in spring has slightly more caffeine than later pickings.