Is there a difference between theine and caffeine? We explain where the active ingredient theine occurs, how it works and what you need to know about it.
What is thein?
Coffee contains the active ingredient caffeine and black or green tea contains the active ingredient theine – at least that’s what many believe. But it is now known that the active ingredient in tea is identical to the active ingredient in coffee. So both drinks contain caffeine.
Caffeine is not only found in coffee beans. In addition, it is also found in numerous other plants – the tea bush, the mate bush, guaraná and the kola nut.
Theine and caffeine are basically the same substance. However, caffeine in coffee and tea works differently. This is because caffeine is released differently in coffee and tea.
Theine and caffeine: 6 important facts
If you like drinking tea and coffee, you’ve probably noticed that the two drinks have different effects. There are various reasons for this. We have summarized six important facts about the effects of caffeine (theine):
The caffeine content in the coffee bush, tea bush and mate bush is different and also varies from plant to plant.
A cup of tea contains less caffeine (theine) than a cup of coffee. This is due to the dose: You brew significantly fewer tea leaves for a cup of tea than coffee beans for a cup of coffee.
The caffeine content in tea is related to its brewing time. In black and green tea there are about 20 milligrams of caffeine in 100 milliliters of water after one minute and about 33 milligrams after five minutes.
Tea has a calming effect. The longer the tea steeps, the more tannins are released. These have a calming effect on digestion.
L-Theanine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in tea. It’s supposed to be relaxing. L-theanine is not found in coffee.
Various antioxidants are contained in the tea. These can trap free radicals in our body and thus protect us from diseases. In addition, they should cause a slow and even absorption of caffeine in the blood. Theine (caffeine in tea) should therefore act less quickly, but the invigorating effect should last longer.
Are there health risks from tea and coffee?
How much caffeine or caffeine you can consume per day varies from person to person. If you are unsure, consult your doctor.
Make sure you prepare your tea correctly. Prepare it with boiling water and do not leave it for several hours. This will prevent germs from forming in the tea.
Always pay attention to organic quality when buying tea and coffee. Because conventional types of tea and coffee can be contaminated with pollutants. In 2018, the consumer magazine Markt found high levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in various types of tea, for example. This drug is suspected of causing liver cancer.
