Are you team coffee or team tea? Does your day start best with a fresh cup of coffee? Or do you drink cups of tea all day long?
The Dutch (over 16 years old) drink an average of four cups of coffee and three glasses of tea per day. That says something about the popularity of tea and coffee.
But why are these drinks so popular. The reasons for drinking coffee and tea vary. When we think of coffee, we quickly think of the caffeine boost. But what about tea?
What is Caffeine?
Back to basics: coffee contains caffeine.
Caffeine is a natural substance. It is not only in coffee beans, but also in guarana berries and cocoa beans. Caffeine stimulates our nervous system, muscles and heart. It doesn't do that itself.
Caffeine blocks another substance in our body called adenosine. Adenosine cannot then pass on signals to the brain, for example, to go to sleep. And instead of slowing down, the nervous system becomes more active. This in turn stimulates the production of adrenaline and more glucose is brought into the blood.
All this creates the so-called 'energy boost'.
Caffeine is not made specifically for humans. The caffeine in plants protects them against insects and attracts bees. The leaves that fall to the ground ensure that there are not too many plants growing around it that block the sunlight.
What is Theine?
On to tea. Tea contains theine. And that's exactly the same as caffeine!
Hu? Yes really!
The caffeine in tea is called theine. So you have no idea why you don't sleep well at night, but do you drink three cups of tea before going to sleep? Then that could be the cause.
Theine is therefore also a natural substance, but from a different plant. And from the tea plant. There is a slight difference between the caffeine in tea and coffee.
Caffeine in coffee is absorbed into the blood faster. The kick you get from a cup of coffee is therefore greater than that from a cup of tea.
To clarify this, one often takes the example of fast and slow sugars. Caffeine can be compared to a fast sugar that causes a rise in blood sugar. Theine is a slow sugar that hardly causes an increase.
The second difference is an extension of the first. Namely that tea does not make you restless or shaky. People who are not used to coffee, or who suddenly drink more cups in a row, can experience a restless feeling. Sometimes even so much that they actually vibrate.
Cups of tea won't cause it.
How much theine is in tea?
In case you're thinking: 'oh dear, I don't want a caffeine boost from my cup of tea at all!'. Then rest assured.
There is much less caffeine in an average cup of tea. Although it does depend on which tea you drink, how strong you make it and how big your cup is. On average, it contains about 30 milligrams of caffeine. While coffee contains about 85 milligrams of caffeine.
Incidentally, not every tea contains theine. The tea must come from the tea plant. Tea from other plants does not contain theine. Such as mint, chamomile, rooibos and ginger tea.
Other black, green, white and oolong teas do come from the tea plant. So is our matcha tea . White tea even contains the most caffeine, because this tea is made from young buds and leaves.
How much caffeine or theine are you allowed per day?
The Nutrition Center advises to consume a maximum of 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. This is based on the averages mentioned earlier at 4 to 5 cups of coffee and 13 cups of tea. For pregnant women, a maximum of 200 milligrams per day is recommended.
These are guidelines only. Good to take into account, but if you get more than once, that's no problem either.
Why caffeine and theine are (can be) good for you?
So there is caffeine / theine in both tea and coffee. Is that bad? Luckily not. On the contrary. You can even experience a lot of benefits from it.
The stimulating effect of caffeine can help you concentrate and perform better. It can even help you remember things better and feel motivated. And tea also contains all kinds of good micronutrients, is good for blood pressure and cholesterol.
A persistent misunderstanding is that coffee does not count as a hydrating drink. Caffeine would have a diuretic effect. That is not true. Coffee is just as much moisture for your body as water.
You don't lose extra moisture through coffee. All caffeine does is stimulate the kidneys. This will make you have to urinate more quickly. So you lose moisture faster, but not more.
Are you a real coffee drinker or tea drinker? And have you tried one of our teas yet?
