Does White Tea Contain Caffeine?

Given the minimal amount of processing, White tea is amongst the most delicate of tea varieties. The oxidation process is the major differentiator – meaning that the top reason for the caffeine content in tea depends on how long the leaves are exposed to oxygen. Longer exposure turns the leaves darker and lends them a deeper flavor profile. Tea experts are adept at using a number of methods to create and control the process of oxidation. Rolling, shaping, or crushing the leaves accelerates oxidation, while steaming, firing, or roasting, are methods used to stop this process.

What is White Tea?

The leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant are harvested before they open completely – buds as they are called. These ‘buds’ are covered with fine white ‘hairs’, which is what gives White tea its name. The best White tea is the one that is made of leaves that have been allowed to wither and dry in a controlled environment, rather than those exposed to some kind of artificial oxidation process. These ‘white’ leaves would usually lend the most delicate and freshest taste.

Caffeine in White Tea

While White tea does contain caffeine, the amount of caffeine is lower when compared to any other tea type – containing about 6 to 55 mgs per 250 ml serving. Just like any other tea, the amount of caffeine in White tea would depend on a number of factors, including cultivation, region, processing, and steeping/brewing time. If you are controlling caffeine intake, always check with your doctor first. If allowed to consume caffeinated tea, still do check labels for caffeine content information. White tea is a type of green tea that contains at least 15% less caffeine than traditional green tea. The following factors affect the caffeine content in White tea:

• Grading/type:  Silver Needle has the least amount of caffeine since it contains only tea ‘buds’ and no leaves. The white ‘hairs’ block sunlight and keep water from affecting the leaves, which in turn inhibits caffeine extraction.

• Techniques:  The processing and harvesting techniques affect caffeine content. Always buy from a reputed brand to get the best quality tea and true information about the tea you buy.

• Serving:  Loose-leaf tea usually has lower caffeine content in comparison to tea bags.

• Water Temperature:  White tea should be steeped in water between 175 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit or 79.44 to 82.22 degrees Celsius. Water temperature above this would lead to significantly higher levels of caffeine.

• Steeping Time:  Maximum steeping time should be between 4 to 7 minutes. Leaf white teas should be steeped between 4 to 5 minutes, while bud-only white tea should be steeped for an extra minute or two only. Longer than this would exponentially raise caffeine levels.

When compared with other teas or caffeine-containing beverages, white tea is possibly the better option, especially from a low caffeine intake perspective. If you do not wish to intake caffeine at all, you could try ‘decaffeinated’ teas, which use a chemical process but are still not hundred percent caffeine-free. You could try herbal teas/tisanes, such as peppermint, lavender, hibiscus, rooibos, and several other delicious blends for completely caffeine-free options. Always check with your doctor on what you should include or exclude from your diet. Stay in the best of health!