Does Earl Grey Tea have caffeine?
In this article, we will answer the question “Does Earl Grey Tea have caffeine?”, what are the health benefits and health risks of Earl Grey tea.
Read on if you want to know how to prepare Earl Grey tea and what this tea is made of.
Does Earl Grey Tea have caffeine?
Yes, earl gray tea has caffeine except for the herbal Earl Grey teas and decaf Earl Grey tea. The coffee content of the earl gray tea varies with the blend, the base tea, and the steeping time.
Longer steeping times extract more caffeine. On average, earl gray tea has about 30 mg of caffeine per cup. However, some blends have twice as much as 30 mg of caffeine per cup.
What does Earl Grey Tea taste like?
The Earl Grey tea has a distinct bergamot flavor irrespective of the blend type. The blends scented with the original bergamot oil have a much more authentic and strong bergamot flavor. Opt for conventional earl grey blends with an intense flavor to make earl grey iced tea or cold brew.
To make the base for herbal Earl Grey, the top picks are African red bush tea – rooibos or Honeybush. Both lend a sweet and earthy flavor to the blend.
What are the ingredients of Earl Grey Tea?
Earl grey tea is simply flavored black tea leaves. When the black tea leaves are under the production process, they are mixed with natural oils and flowers to yield organic Earl Grey tea. No artificial colors or flavors are used in the making of Earl Grey tea.
In addition to the black tea leaves, bergamot oil is another important ingredient of Earl Grey tea. The bergamot oil has a tart flavor and is extracted from the peels of Sicilian citrus fruit.
The most common types of flavors used for Earl Grey tea are blue mallow flowers (cornflowers), rose petals, lavender, and a variety of citrus fruits. Balck Chinese or Ceylon tea forms the base.
Modern manufacturers of Earl Grey tea often use rooibos, green tea, and even Pu’erh tea instead of the black tea as the base. The flavor and the base of the Earl Grey tea may differ but the bergamot oil is a constant ingredient in every blend of Earl Grey tea.
Some blends of the Earl Grey tea are strong compared to others. Similarly, some are made specifically to use with milk.
What are the side effects of Earl Grey tea?
Consuming excessive amounts of Earl Grey tea can hinder the absorption of potassium from your body. This is ascribed to the bergamot oil present in Earl Grey tea.
Bergamot oil disrupts the potassium channels and makes the cells hypersensitive to the stimulus. This manifests itself in the form of muscle spasms and cramps.
How to prepare Earl Grey tea?
- It is recommended to use Springwater for making Earl Grey tea. The general rule of thumb is to use fresh, pure, cold filtered water.
- Flavored teas with a green tea base required short brewing times and low temperatures as compared to the Earl Grey blends with a black tea base.
- The tea needs to be brought to a rolling boil. Follow the specific brewing time and temperature guidelines if given. Otherwise, use 2g loose leaf tea per 8 oz. cup of water.
- Make sure the steeping vessel is covered during brewing. The heat should not escape the vessel.
- Longer steeping times yield a strongly flavored Earl Grey tea. However, prolonged steeping may also result in the release of bitter or astringent compounds into the brew. Ideally, you should brew your tea as per the recommended time, taste-check the brew, and steep for a few more minutes if needed.
- Although you can add milk and sugar to the tea if you like, most tea aficionados like their tea plain to cherish its original flavor.
What are the health benefits of drinking Earl Grey tea?
Energy booster: Just like coffee, Earl Grey tea contains caffeine that quickly revitalizes you with an energy boost. Unlike coffee, Earl Grey tea does not leave you feeling dehydrated and deprived of vitamins and minerals.
Good for your teeth: Earl Grey tea contains fluoride and an antioxidant called catechin. Both of these compounds play an important role in dental health by combating oral infections and preventing dental decay and cavities.
Immunity booster: Bergamot oil contains antioxidants that fight the free radicals formed as a result of oxidative stress. Free radicals are toxic compounds that are a threat to the immune system.
Good for your heart: Bergamot lowers the LDL cholesterol levels in your blood, thus preventing the risk of plaques and blockages.
Other FAQs about Tea that you may be interested in.
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Does smoking tea get you high?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Does Earl Grey Tea have caffeine?”, what are the health benefits and health risks of Earl Grey tea.
