Tea and Caffeine Explained

When it comes to tea, there are so many different types to choose from, and it can be hard to know which tea is best for you. Whether you favour a strong black tea or whether you are interested in wellness teas and infusions, we at TWG can help you find your perfect blend.

One subject that we are receiving more and more enquiries about is the caffeine content in different colours and blends of tea. Is decaffeinated tea caffeine-free? Is there caffeine in green tea? Is there more caffeine in tea or coffee? Is caffeine in tea bad for you? These are all questions that we are often asked. In this article, we talk about the different types of tea and their caffeine content, from the strongest morning wake-up call to naturally theine-free options that are better for evening consumption.

What is caffeine?

To begin with, let’s establish an understanding of what we mean by caffeine. Caffeine refers to a naturally occurring substance found in the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, where all pure teas originate from. Drinking moderate amounts of caffeine can boost your alertness by blocking neurotransmitters that produce feelings of tiredness. The amount of caffeine in a tea is determined by a variety of factors including:

The age of the tea leaf upon picking:

Tea leaves picked at a younger age tend to have more caffeine than leaves picked at an older age.

The packaging of the tea:

Bagged teas often have more caffeine than loose leaf teas, while powdered teas like matcha tend to have higher caffeine levels than bagged and loose leaf teas. TWG Tea’s Cotton Teabags allow our whole leaf teas to develop their full and unique aroma, giving them ample room to expand during infusion. Each of our teabags contains  2½ grams of whole tea leaves.

The amount of tea used:

Adding higher quantities of tea leaves to the brew increases the caffeine content in a serving, even if the variety of tea used has a relatively low amount of caffeine.

The steeping conditions:

The temperature of the water and the length of the steeping duration can impact the amount of caffeine extracted from tea, with hotter water and longer durations resulting in higher caffeine extraction.

While browsing TWG Tea’s collections, you’ll find that each variety of tea comes with its own tips for preparation to help you curate a memorable experience within each cup.

Different types of tea

Before we discuss the caffeine content in teas, let’s understand how these teas are categorised in alignment with your taste profile. While we have over 800 teas at our store, teas originating from leaves can be fit into at least one of six different types including Green Tea, Oolong (Blue) Tea, Yellow Tea, White Tea, Red (Rooibos) Tea and Black Tea. The taste, scent and colour of your favourite tea is influenced by oxidisation – the tea leaf’s exposure to oxygen upon picking.

Black Tea

A classic for those who prefer full-bodied teas, Black tea is completely oxidised and undergoes the five primary steps of withering, rolling, fermentation, drying and sorting. Our Number 16 Tea is a tremendously rich and woodsy China Black Tea that conjures up the fragrance of cedar and pine forests, and fills the palate with a rich and thrilling savour.

White Tea

White tea is a rare delicacy, consisting of the first few tender leaves and new buds of the tea tree. The leaves are silvery white and are often covered with white down hairs. Totally unprocessed, white teas retain the highest concentration of antioxidants. Our Yin Zhen tea, otherwise known as "Silver Needle", is the finest and most exquisite of all white teas, exuding a creamy flavour with buttery notes of sweet honeycomb. Picked entirely by hand before the leaf opens, extremely small quantities of this tea are produced each year, making it one of the most sought-after teas in the world.

Oolong (Blue) Tea

Blue tea is semi-fermented and combines the fresh fragrance of green tea along with the rich and aromatic complexity of black tea. TWG Tea’s Da Hong Pao is a powerful blue tea that boasts dark and twisted leaves, which produce a full-bodied infusion with flowery notes.

Green Tea

Green tea is not oxidised and retains its natural verdant colour and delicate flavour. To prevent the natural process of oxidation from occurring, freshly picked leaves are dehydrated by Pan-Firing (Chinese Method) or Steaming (Japanese Method), followed by hand rolling, drying and sorting into different grades. If you’re someone who prefers a soft finish on the palate, TWG Tea’s Champasak Rain Tea is a lightly toasted tea evokes memories of a late summer afternoon.

Yellow Tea

The rarest tea in the world, yellow tea used to be picked for and served exclusively to the emperors of China. TWG Tea’s Yellow Tea Buds release a fine aroma with a soft, sweet taste. The leaves, once infused, can be eaten, and leave the palate with an exquisite, floral aftertaste. Yellow Tea is lightly fermented and is associated with several health benefits including anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation.

Red (Rooibos) Tea

Red Tea is produced from a bush known as the Aspalathus Linearis in South Africa. Red tea leaves are generally oxidised, which enhances flavour and produces a distinctive red colour. TWG Tea’s Crème Caramel Tea is a delicate red tea from South Africa with a secret TWG Tea blend of sweet French spices. A dessert in itself, this caffeine-free tea can be served warm or iced, at any time of the day.

How much caffeine is there in different types of teas?

The caffeine content in tea is influenced by a wide range of variables and can’t necessarily be determined by the type of tea alone. This variability can lead to conflicting evidence about the amounts of caffeine you can expect from a cup of tea. But if you’re seeking an estimate, the amount of caffeine in an 8-fluid ounce serving is generally:

Addressing Frequently Asked Questions On Caffeine In Tea:

Is there more caffeine in tea than coffee?

Contrary to popular belief, tea leaves contain more caffeine than coffee. But the caffeine in tea gets diluted during the brewing process. This makes the caffeine in a cup of brewed tea lower than the amount stored in the tea leaf. However, the caffeine in tea is believed to produce a longer and more sustainable duration of alertness compared to the initial boost of energy found in coffee.

Is decaffeinated the same as caffeine-free?

While terms decaffeinated and caffeine-free are often used synonymously, they have distinct meanings. Decaffeinated teas are made by putting tea leaves through caffeine-removal processes. These teas typically continue to retain less than 2.5 per cent of their tea’s original caffeine level.

Meanwhile, caffeine-free teas are made from sources that are inherently devoid of caffeine. Red (Rooibos) tea is a naturally caffeine-free pure tea that tends to resemble the taste of Black tea. Other caffeine-free options include herbal teas such as Chamomile, which comes from the dried flowers of the chamomile plant in contrast to pure teas that are derived from leaves.

Which tea should I drink in the evening?

There’s a wide range of teas that can be enjoyed in the evening based on taste preferences, caffeine tolerances and health benefits.

TWG Tea’s Red tea is a caffeine-free tea that contains a high level of antioxidants and is very rich in vitamin C, mineral salts and protein. Red tea leaves are generally oxidized – a process which enhances the flavour and produces a distinctive red colour.

If you’re someone who prefers a more soothing taste at night, TWG Tea’s soft Chamomile flowers boast a rich honey aroma that yields a golden, caffeine-free cup.

If you’re looking for a small hint of energy at the end of the day, TWG Tea’s decaffeinated Midnight Hour Tea is a black tea blended with fragrant tropical fruits to uplift your evening.