Should I Be Drinking Black Tea Rather Than Coffee?

Do you greet the morning with a steaming cup of coffee? If so you’re probably aware what it is in your coffee that wakes you up so well, but have you ever considered what that caffeine is really doing to you? Black tea has a similar effect on the body, but at a much lower intensity that makes it a much healthier option for your breakfast or work-break boost.

The stimulating effect of tea was only discovered after caffeine was already known to affect coffee drinkers, and at first they were thought to be two different substances. During the 19th century the caffeine in tea was known as “theine”. Once it became clear that the coffee-like effects of tea were in fact down to exactly the same chemical, this term was replaced by the familiar name “caffeine” which was already in use for the substance in coffee.

Caffeine stimulates us, making us more alert and giving us quicker reaction times. It can also aids in concentration. This is thought to be a result of its action on the levels of oxygen circulating in our bodies. Reactions in our respiratory system and our cardiac system cause an increase in oxygen. There is also evidence of further beneficial effects on the metabolism and digestive system, and it may even reduce the chances of developing cardiac disease.

Despite these potential benefits to our health and performance, experts warn that too much of a good thing can be harmful. If you take in extremely high amounts of caffeine it can cause you to suffer palpitations and become short of breath. There is also the more familiar side effect of insomnia. Some people drink tea or coffee to help them stay awake, but if large amounts are consumed too often it can result in difficulty sleeping even when you want to rest.

One way to ensure that you get the benefits of caffeine without overindulging is to drink tea rather than coffee. The caffeine levels in tea are naturally lower. Each cup of tea contains about half the caffeine that you would get from coffee. This means that if you like to have something hot to drink several times throughout the day you can significantly reduce the amount of caffeine you consume.

Different types of tea will contain different amounts of caffeine. This will depend on factors such as the part of the plant from which the leaves were collected, as well as the exact variety of plant which is cultivated. Older leaves from the base of the plant tend to have built up higher levels of chemicals than the new growth at the top. Harvesting methods and the way you make your tea can have an impact on caffeine levels too. The longer you leave the leaves in to brew, the more caffeine will be in the tea you drink.

Black tea is completely oxidized during processing of the leaves. This is what gives it such a strong taste, but it also means that a high proportion of caffeine is retained, making this the most caffeine rich type of tea you can drink. It still contains much less caffeine than coffee, though!