FAQ: How Much Caffeine Does Black Tea Really Contain?

Caffeine is easily the most beloved stimulant in the country, with most Americans starting their days with a caffeinated drink. Most people elect to use coffee since it contains a high concentration of caffeine. The love of coffee has spawned an entire industry, but one of the details many Americans overlook is that tea is also caffeinated. Many people view tea as a soothing drink and are given the false impression that tea is not caffeinated.

Fortunately, the idea that tea is not caffeinated is slowly dying out, and many health enthusiasts have turned tea into their morning drink of choice. That said, tea's caffeine level differs from coffee and depends on the tea you drink. Just like there are different coffee grinds, there are different tea leaves that affect the flavor and caffeine concentration.

One of the strongest teas on the market is black tea, the tea equivalent of black coffee. Tea enthusiasts worldwide enjoy black tea and prefer a stronger flavor for their morning beverage. The problem is that black tea is often overlooked because people without a direct interest in tea tend to assume most teas are the same. Despite this misconception, black tea has become a popular drink that can offer the caffeine you might need in the morning. The question most people ask is: how much caffeine is in black tea, and does it rival the caffeine concentration of black coffee?

What is Black Tea?

For people who are not avid tea drinkers, the term "black tea" might be unfamiliar since the most common type of tea is green. Those who assume a connection between the 2 are not wrong since black and green tea are harvested from the same plant. Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub that grows worldwide and in different environments. Regardless of the location, 5 distinct types of tea can be harvested from a C. sinensis plant: 

• White Tea
• Yellow Tea
• Green Tea
• Oolong Tea
• Black Tea

While these 5 teas are derived from the same plant, the distinguishing factor is the level of oxidation in the drink. Green tea is the least oxidized tea, while black tea is the most oxidized, contributing to the latter's stronger flavor profile. Another detail affects what kind of tea you get from a C. sinensis plant that not many people know about. 2 varieties of the plant grow in different regions, which determine the quality of the leaves.

These variants are C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. sinensis var. assamica, each having different qualities determining which types of tea can be harvested. Black tea can be harvested from both shrub varieties, but the leaves vary depending on the type of plant used. The black tea harvested from C. sinensis var. sinensis is distilled from the Chinese variety of the plant and is, therefore, more common in China. Conversely, the leaves harvested from C. sinensis var. assamica are from Assam, which is more commonly used to create black tea.

As you might expect, black tea originated in China since C. sinensis var. sinensis was one of the first plants from which it was distilled. Despite its origins in China, black tea spread through Japan, Korea, and Singapore before reaching the Western world. Nowadays, black tea is a beloved drink among American and British citizens and serves as an alternative for people who prefer their drinks with more of a kick. Part of what makes black tea so popular is its caffeine concentration, which is likely of interest to anyone looking to step back from coffee.

How Much Caffeine is in Black Tea?

Caffeine is the driving point for several drinks, including coffee, tea, and soda. While each drink contains caffeine, the exact concentration varies between them. This variety is further complicated by the different oxidation levels in tea that impact the nutrient levels. As a result, some teas have more caffeine than others, with rare types containing more caffeine than a cup of coffee. 

The biggest problem is that the caffeine levels vary depending on how the tea is prepared and where the leaves are harvested. The environment in which the C. sinensis plant grows can alter the saturation of the nutrients and make certain plants more potent than others of the same species. This saturation extends to the leaves used to steep tea, meaning there is a slight margin of error when determining how much caffeine is in a particular tea.

Insofar as black tea is concerned, an 8-fluid-ounce cup has between 14 to 70 milligrams of caffeine, with an average cup containing 47 milligrams. Conversely, a cup of coffee has between 95 and 200 milligrams, meaning black tea has significantly less caffeine than coffee. Despite this disparity, black tea is a viable substitute for black coffee for people looking to reduce their overall caffeine intake. It is also worth noting that coffee has several varieties that can skew the caffeine concentrations, but the issue at hand is black tea. Knowing how much caffeine is in your drink can be essential if you are trying to reduce your caffeine intake while still taking advantage of what it offers.

While no official laws limit how much caffeine an American citizen can consume, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recommended maximum intake. According to the FDA, no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine should be consumed daily to avoid harmful side effects. Fortunately, even the most saturated black tea is not caffeinated enough to dent that limit significantly. 

To reach the maximum intake with the strongest black tea, you must consume almost 6 cups within 24 hours. Conversely, the strongest coffee could eliminate half your daily intake with a single cup, making it harder to enjoy additional servings while remaining within the FDA's recommendation.

While the FDA's recommendation is not backed by legislation, there are valid reasons for limiting caffeine intake. Consuming too much could lead to serious issues that impact you physically and mentally.

Why is it Important to Monitor Caffeine Intake?

Caffeine is an extremely effective tool essential to many people's daily routines. Unfortunately, like all stimulants, it is possible to overindulge in caffeine and endanger your health because our bodies are not designed to ingest excessive quantities of stimulants. Caffeine can overburden our bodies and cause serious health issues when consumed without regard for portion control. 

One of the most pressing issues with caffeine consumption is that it is an addictive substance, meaning overconsumption could result from an inability to stop. Stimulants provide a pleasant sensation that conditions our body to seek more when the effects wear off. Studies have confirmed that caffeine triggers the same brain chemicals that cocaine and amphetamines do, meaning it can be just as addictive as some of the worst drugs in the world.

These same studies confirmed that people who consumed caffeine began experiencing withdrawal headaches within 16 hours of consumption. When your caffeine consumption is chronic, these withdrawal symptoms can become more severe and overwhelming. Caffeine dependency is a common issue with modern Americans, especially since so many use caffeine to survive extremely long workdays. Unfortunately, caffeine dependency is only one of the issues associated with excessive caffeine consumption. Some side effects can cause physical health issues, severely affecting your quality of life.

The most notable physical consequence of caffeine consumption is cardiovascular since the stimulation from caffeine sends the whole body into overdrive. Some people can experience increased heart rates that alter their heart rhythm, potentially causing physical damage. There was a case study in which a woman consumed a massive amount of caffeine powder, developed a rapid heart rate, and experienced kidney failure. However, there appears to be a demographic that can resist the cardiovascular effects of caffeine, although it is still wise to exercise in moderation regardless of cardiovascular fortitude.

Another important detail is that chronic caffeine consumption can lead to insomnia since the stimulation from caffeine (or any stimulant) opposes the body's natural drowsing effect. Caffeine keeps the body energized, so consuming it within five hours of when you would go to sleep can affect your sleep quality. Caffeine has been recorded to remain in the body for up to 5 hours, but there have been exceptions where the caffeine was filtered faster than that, depending on the person's metabolism. 

Nevertheless, caffeine consumption within that timeframe could cause its effects to bleed into the hours designated for sleep. Even if you fall asleep with caffeine in your system, you will likely wake up throughout the night because your body is still energized.

Despite the issues associated with caffeine consumption, several benefits have made it a worthwhile stimulant. People have come to rely on it because it can keep them going in the face of exhaustion and stress. The consequences of overconsumption are a cautionary tale to ensure you do not exceed the daily recommended intake. Fortunately, the low caffeine levels in black tea compared to coffee make it a smarter choice since it is easier to stay within the recommended intake levels regardless of refills. 

Is Black Tea Preferable to Coffee?

Some people cannot go a day without their morning coffee because it gives them the energy they need to face the challenges ahead. While coffee is a potent source of caffeine, it is remarkably strong and can significantly reduce the amount of caffeine you can drink throughout the day. Furthermore, people sensitive to caffeine or suffering from health conditions it might exacerbate should avoid heavy caffeine concentrations. 

While decaffeinated coffee exists, people in these demographics might still need a caffeine boost to get through their day. In these circumstances, black tea can be superior since it has less overall caffeine than coffee. That said, black tea also offers various health benefits that can reinforce your body in ways coffee cannot.

One of the most interesting details about black tea is that it promotes heart health, which can help mitigate the cardiovascular issues associated with caffeine consumption. This is not to say black tea can eliminate the risk, but it can fortify your cardiovascular health and reduce caffeine's impact. Additionally, black tea has been connected to reduced blood pressure, which can be elevated when we consume large quantities of caffeine. 

Once again, black tea cannot eliminate the consequences of heavy caffeine consumption. Nevertheless, the health-improving benefits of black tea make it an altogether healthier caffeinated drink than others. This is hardly surprising because the main competition is coffee, soda, and energy drinks.

Black tea can offer the healthy alternative you need to alter your caffeine intake. The real challenge is finding a source of black tea leaves specifically designed to optimize the health benefits. Fortunately, that situation is more easily resolved than you might think.

Finding the Right Blend

Black tea's caffeine concentration is significantly lower than other caffeinated beverages, though it outranks green tea by a fair margin. Nevertheless, black tea remains one of the most sought-after beverages by health enthusiasts. This is especially true for people looking to minimize the consequences of caffeine intake while still enjoying its benefits. 

Caffeine can be useful, but only when consumed in moderation and with minimal harmful additives. Black tea might be from the same plant as green tea, but its effects are more pronounced in certain areas. This has led to black tea being one of the more costly drinks on the market, though it is worth the price. The trick is finding a reliable vendor offering an optimized black tea blend.

We at Teami have a longstanding relationship with tea since we have always maintained its benefits for health and beauty. The caveat is that we have never believed in offering tea by itself and instead prefer to create optimized blends. That is why we have products like our Energy Tea Blend, which combines black tea and oolong with goji berries and Rhodiola rosea to maximize your energy without oversaturating your body with caffeine. We encourage you to visit our website and try one of our specialized blends for yourself. After all, finding the right blend is a Teami effort.