Tea & Caffeine

Caffeine occurs naturally in the leaves, seeds or fruit of over 100 plant species, including the Camellia Sinensis from which tea is derived. Other common sources include coffee, cocoa beans & cola nuts. It’s also added to many energy drinks & some pharmaceutical products.

Despite popular myth, tea does have less caffeine per serving than coffee & can be drunk in greater quantities without adverse effects.

A typical cup of black tea (190mls) contains 40-50mg of caffeine: about 1/2 the amount in the same size cup of instant coffee (75mg of caffeine) & around one third the caffeine in freshly brewed or percolated coffee (100+ mg of caffeine). Less fermented teas generally contain significantly less caffeine than black teas.

The consumption of up to 300mg of caffeine per day (about 6 cups of black tea or 3 cups of freshly brewed coffee) is reported to have no adverse effect in the vast majority of the adult population.

It is believed that some caffeine in your diet may actually be good for you, but if you want to cut down on caffeine, stick to the lighter style oolongs, green and white teas or try rooibos, honeybush and other fruit and herbal infusions.

Rooibos & honeybush infusions are also high in antioxidants but contain no caffeine at all, making them suitable even for children to drink.