This article answers how much caffeine is in Oolong tea and explains the factors that affect the amount of caffeine in a serving.
I like the taste of tea. I also find it soothing and relaxing and a welcome alternative to coffee. I prefer to drink tea with very little caffeine in it. Because my system is sensitive to caffeine, and I already have my fill with the two cups of coffee I drink, I am careful in the type of tea I choose.
I thought that Oolong tea was relatively caffeine-free. But upon further research, I discovered that I was wrong. Oolong tea contains caffeine. The amount is variable and is affected by various factors.
How Much Caffeine Is In Oolong Tea?
Suppose you have a health condition that requires you to minimize your caffeine intake, or you are the kind of person whose sleeping rhythm is interrupted by even the slightest increase in caffeine (I am such a person). In that case, it is right for you to know how much caffeine is in Oolong tea.
The answer to the question that begins this section depends on the following factors:
- Temperature at which it is brewed
- The length of time it was steeped
- The number of times the leaves of tea are re-used
- Time of year the leaves are harvested
We will consider each of these factors in turn:
1. Brewing Temperature
The temperature at which you brew your Oolong tea has a big impact on the amount of caffeine it produces. You should boil the water at no more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit to minimize the amount of caffeine in your cup.
Indeed, there is no reason to bring water to a boil to enjoy a cup of tea. The optimum temperature for Oolong tea is 90 degrees Fahrenheit. All you need to do is keep the kettle on the stove long enough for the tea to get really hot. You might enjoy our round-up of the best oolong tea brands.
2. Steeping Time
The longer you steep tea the more caffeine it will produce. Oolong tea that is brewed for 1 minute will have much less caffeine than tea that is boiled for more than 5 minutes.
Take the median between the two. A 3-minute brew will allow you to get the best flavor while moderating the tea’s caffeine amount.
3. Re-use Of Tea Leaves
One of the best ways to reduce the amount of caffeine in your tea is to re-use the tea leaves. This can be done several times.
By the third re-use, you will have less than half the caffeine in the first cup. This is also a good way to reduce the boxes of tea you must purchase over a given amount of time.
Don’t worry about the fading of taste. Unlike tea that is grounded down and stuffed in tea bags, whole tea leaves have more potency of flavor. Re-using tea leaves is not the same as re-using teabags. You will not lose much taste by recycling them.
4. Time Of Year
It is better to go with tea leaves that have been harvested later in the year. Younger, less mature leaves contain a great deal of caffeine. Spring and winter-picked teas generally have less caffeine than summer and fall harvests.
Jade Oolong is part of a collection of premium, small-batch, certified organic teas that are in high demand but difficult to source because they are rarely exported. Teabloom is proud to offer these memorable blends.
The tea leaves that you purchase should indicate the time of year they were harvested on the package. The best brands cater to people who know all about tea, and they will provide this information on the products they sell. If you like this post, you might be interested in learning if cappuccinos have caffeine.
Oolong Tea And Black Tea Compared
Oolong tea has less caffeine than black tea. An 8oz cup of black tea has between 45-70mg of caffeine in it. The same amount of Oolong tea will have 10mg of caffeine. To give you a sense of relative proportion, the same 8oz cup of coffee will have 90 to 110mg of caffeine in it. If you are looking for a tea that is heavy in taste and light on caffeine, Oolong tea is the obvious choice.
