Caffeine

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We are often asked how much caffeine is in our different teas: "Does white tea have less caffeine than black or green?" "Does green tea have more caffeine than coffee?"

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With all the varieties of teas and coffees available, the different methods used in their manufacture and preparing them for consumption and the different amounts consumed, the questions are in need of significant qualification.

 

So how much caffeine does tea and coffee have? Scientific studies and consumer group reports can both be less than detailed about what teas were used in their research. We refer to a study published by the British Food Standards Agency in 2004 (http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsis5304.pdf) for a quick comparison: 

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All Teas - average 40 mg per serving 
Instant Coffee -   average 54 mg per serving 
Ground Coffee - average 105 mg per serving

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Most Black Tea exported to the West is from India and the Camellia Assamica plant from which Indian tea is made produces higher levels of caffeine than Chinese teas from the Camellia Sinensis variety.

 

The oxidisation process used in the making of Chinese Black Teas appears to reduce caffeine content rather than increase it. So when you compare Chinese Green Tea to Chinese Black Tea, caffeine content in Chinese Green Teas seems to be higher than in Chinese Black Teas. Both are less than Indian Black Teas and all teas have significantly less caffeine than coffee.

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With White Teas being only lightly-fermented, caffeine levels in general can be assumed to be slightly less than that of Green Tea.

 

Any tea is best made using the traditional Chinese method of tea-making known as Gong Fu Cha (Tea With Great Skill). This highly controlled method of tea-making is characterised by using small teapots and multiple brews with very short steeping times of just a few seconds. This intensifies the flavour of the tea and reduces the caffeine consumed compared to long brew methods common in the West. In Gong Fu Cha, the first 'brew' is for washing the leaves and is discarded and not consumed. This washes away much of the caffeine which is highly soluble in water. This is a great method for those who are sensitive to high levels of caffeine.