Caffeine in Tea vs Coffee
Caffeine is a natural substance found in leaves and seeds of some plants, and it works to provide protection against parasites and insects that try to eat these plants. In this capacity, it works as a natural pesticide. However, there is another use of caffeine, and that is as a stimulant. Human beings have been consuming this alkaloid for hundreds of years in the form of tea and coffee, the beverages that contain caffeine in varying amounts. There are many who think that it is coffee that contains caffeine and tea is innocuous in this regard. However, caffeine is found in tea leaves too. This article attempts to find out the differences between the effects of caffeine in tea vs. caffeine in coffee.
Caffeine in Tea
For millions of people around the world, tea happens to be a wake me up beverage that they cannot do without early in the morning. There are many who would take 2-3 cups of tea in the morning itself to get the energy to work throughout the day. These people consume tea frequently throughout the day to stay charged and wide awake. There is a great variation in quantity of caffeine in different teas, and in general an 8 ounce cup of tea can provide 15-57mg of caffeine to a person. Caffeine in tea provides energy for a long time that increases gradually and does not crash suddenly but returns to normal levels in a gradual manner. Tannins are also there, in addition to caffeine, in tea, and when tea is made, caffeine gets bonded with tannins and our body has to break down these bonds in a gradual manner to have the effects of caffeine.
Caffeine in Coffee
For most people around the world, there is nothing better than a cup of hot coffee first thing in the morning to get up and become refreshed. Coffee contains caffeine that stimulates our heart and the central nervous system and it also elevates our blood pressure for a short period making us wide awake. Caffeine content in a cup of coffee is very high, and depending upon the kind of coffee you use, you could have 80-135mg of caffeine with every cup of coffee. Caffeine in coffee stimulates a person quickly, but the high one feels after a cup of coffee does not remain for a long time, and he is down to normal levels with a thud in quick time, as well. This is because there is no hindrance in the uptake of coffee by our body and thus the spike effect of caffeine in coffee.
What is the difference between Caffeine in Tea and Coffee?
• While there are differences in brewing, as well as tea and coffee types, in general, a cup of coffee contains more caffeine than a cup of tea.
• An 8 ounce cup of tea provides 15-57mg of caffeine whereas a cup of coffee provides 80-135mg of caffeine.
Caffeine in tea binds up with tannins and our body has to break that to feel high of caffeine. This is the reason why coffee provides a high much quicker than tea. However, this high does not remain for long, and there is a thud leading to normal energy levels quickly. On the other hand, with tea, there is a gradual increase in the uptake of caffeine and also a gradual decrease in energy levels.