Caffeine and tannin in cold and hot tea

Caffeine

The effect of caffeine is familiar to everyone: it cheers up and refreshes. Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in most plants used in beverages, such as coffee, tea and cocoa.

The amount of caffeine in tea varies depending on the type of tea, growing method and production. For example, black teas and green matcha tea contain significantly more caffeine than other teas. You can also influence the amount of caffeine when you start making a cup of tea

Usually tea has about 6-28 milligrams of caffeine per one deciliter. By changing the temperature and brewing time, the caffeine content in the tea changes. You get the most caffeine by steeping the tea in hot water for a long time. The heat releases the caffeine, and the longer the tea is warm, the longer the caffeine has time to release.

Extracting the tea with cold water does not release as much caffeine into the tea. The amount may drop by a third or even a half compared to warm extracted tea. This means about two to twenty milligrams per deciliter.

If you want to drink your favorite tea in the morning and in the evening, adjust the amount of caffeine easily: hot in the morning and cold in the evening. By the way, our Hot'n'Cold teas , which are prepared quickly using both hot and cold water, are best suited for this purpose. Find your new favorite tea!

Tannin

When it comes to tannins, the first thing that comes to mind is wine, but it is also found in tea. Tannin is a phenolic extractive substance found in many plants such as grapes, nuts and tea bush leaves. The compound is transferred along with the tea leaves to the tea that is drunk. So it's no wonder if you taste a hint of wine-like dryness in the tea.

Tannins are present in growing and uncooked tea leaves in a different form, as catechins. When the leaves are heated, for example in hot water, the tannins come out. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because tannins belong to antioxidants, which in turn promote the body's defenses.

The tannicity tastes not only dry but also bitter in the mouth. You may notice it in the gums as a tightening sensation. In hot tea, the tannicity comes out more sensitively and more strongly than in cold-extracted tea.

You can therefore get a milder taste by cold extracting the tea. See our instructions for making the perfect Cold Brew tea .