As a general rule, a cup of tea contains about a third of the caffeine content of a cup of coffee. Herbal infusions such a Peppermint and Fruit Infusions do not contain caffeine.
A cup of green tea contains approximately half the caffeine content of black tea and white tea has even less.
Caffeine affects different people in varying ways. Moderate tea drinkers (5 to 6 cups of black tea per day) have no reason for any concern. An upper limit of around 8 cups of black tea, 4 for ladies during pregnancy, is recommended.
It must also be remembered that moderate caffeine consumption does have its benefits such as increasing alertness, reducing fatigue and aiding digestion.
Decaffeinated teas which are the usual traditional black and green teas which have been ‘decaffeinated’ using a non chemical high pressure water process are imported from Germany and are readily available.
An interesting method of reducing caffeine in tea is to brew the tea slightly stronger than usual and then getting rid of the infused liquid tea after one minute. The tea leaves are then reinfused for 3 to 4 minutes. It is said that most of the caffeine in tea emerges in the first minute of brewing so by using this method most of the caffeine is removed. This method can also be used for reducing caffeine in teabags.
