Why believe in Tea? A few reasons you're probably not aware of;

Caffeine, originally known as "theine," was first identified in tea in 1827. Later research revealed that the "theine" in tea is identical to the caffeine found in coffee, and the term "theine" was no longer used. Although the caffeine in tea and coffee are chemically the same, the effects of consuming them differ due to three main factors:

1. The amount of caffeine in tea is generally lower, particularly in green and white teas which are steeped for shorter times at cooler temperatures.
2. The presence of L-theanine, an amino acid found exclusively in tea, has a calming effect that counterbalances the jitteriness commonly associated with caffeine while still promoting alertness.
3. The high levels of antioxidants in tea slow down the body's absorption of caffeine, leading to a gradual increase of the chemical in the system and prolonged periods of alertness without any crash at the end.

It is a common misconception that tea contains more caffeine than coffee. While this may be true when measuring the caffeine content of dry tea leaves and coffee beans, it is not accurate when comparing brewed tea and coffee. Typically, a cup of tea is brewed using 2 grams of tea leaves, while a cup of coffee is brewed using 10 grams of coffee beans. A study conducted in 2004 in the UK found that the average caffeine level in a cup of black English style tea was 40mg, while the average caffeine level in a cup of drip coffee was 105mg.

The caffeine content in tea can vary depending on factors such as the brewing method, steeping time and temperature, and the location of the leaves on the tea plant. The youngest leaves, which are found at the top of the plant, contain the highest concentration of caffeine and antioxidants. It's worth noting that the oxidation process does not increase the caffeine content in tea.

Different varieties of tea and the methods used to grow and process them can also affect caffeine content. Some teas, like Silver Needle white tea, Gyokuro green tea, Matcha green tea, Assam black tea, and Ceylon black tea, are considered to have relatively high caffeine content. On the other hand, teas like Genmai Cha green tea, Gunpowder green tea, Hojicha green tea, Kukicha green tea, and Keemun black tea are considered to have relatively low caffeine content. It's worth noting that tea bags and very fine loose tea tend to yield a higher caffeine content than loose tea.