"Tea comforts the spirit, banishes passivity, lightens the body, and adds sparkle to the eyes."
- Shen Nong, Medicinal Herbs
Probably what Shen was experiencing was caffeine—alongside other bioactive compounds in ancient tea trees. No speculation here, just facts:
Tea (an extraction of Camellia sinensis) contains caffeine. Always. Unless it's been decaffeinated (via pressure cooking with carbon monoxide) or heavily roasted (e.g., houjicha), it has about half the caffeine of coffee. Caffeine content varies by steeping method, not by tea type.
Tisanes (non-tea plants like herbs and flowers) generally don’t contain caffeine. Exceptions exist: yaupon, yerba mate, guayusa, guarana, cascara. But most herbal infusions won’t give you a caffeine boost.
This is why we push back against the term "herbal tea"—it’s inaccurate. If there’s no tea in the cup, it’s a tisane. Language matters, and understanding what’s in your cup has health implications.
Tea plants produce caffeine as a defense mechanism—it's a natural insecticide.
Caffeine, also called "theine" in tea, is a methylxanthine alkaloid (C8H10N4O2). It’s a central nervous system stimulant. But unlike coffee, tea also contains l-theanine, which counteracts caffeine’s vasoconstriction effects, delivering calm focus rather than a jolt.
(Fun fact: Caffeine is technically toxic to humans. Fortunately, our livers metabolize it efficiently. Tea’s mild stimulant effect is a biological loophole.)
Looking for a stronger caffeine kick? Choose well-processed tea from healthy plants, and steep strategically. Ask your vendor—if they know their craft, they’ll have answers.
(Questions? Our inbox is always open, and your inquiriesare always warmly received.)
Caffeine Content of Brewed Teas, Journal of Analytical Toxicology
https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/32.8.702
The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681988/
Analysis of Caffeine