Without organization, you won’t know what you have, or when you purchased it. An unorganized pile of tea bags is not ideal storage. Try and keep your teas organized according to a system that makes sense to you.

Cupboards or bookshelves in living rooms or studies are good candidates, as are clean linen closets away from bathrooms. This may mean that that kitchen cabinet is not your ideal choice for protecting fine looseleaf tea, especially spice cabinets and pantries. Tea will absorb the aroma of anything stored nearby, which is why we always recommend keeping your loose leaf tea away from strong smells. Dampness and humidity can dramatically reduce the tea’s lifespan, and could even cause mold to form. Keep your teas dry and away from excess moisture. The best way to find tea that makes you feel great is to start with great tea, then try playing with brewing techniques to see how your tea affects you. This complexity, combined with each person’s own unique body response, means that tea is way more complex than its caffeine content alone. This means a cup of early spring green tea brewed at a cooler temperature could actually produce a cup with more L-theanine and less caffeine. Interestingly, L-theanine is more water soluble at lower temperatures than caffeine. In lab tests, it has been shown to lower anxiety and stress levels.īoth ECGC and L-theanine are seen in higher concentrations in younger, early harvest teas grown in biodiverse climates. EGCG may also have a mild sedative effect.

Taken together, the speed and focus from caffeine was preserved, but at lower heart rates and less ‘jitteriness’ and anxiousness.

In lab studies, L-Theanine introduced alongside caffeine seems to have a counterbalancing effect. In addition to caffeine, tea has the natural stimulants theobromine and theophylline, as well as compounds like L-theanine and EGCG that may counterbalance the effects of caffeine. It is tempting to compare mg/cup to coffee and draw conclusions, but tea is a chemically distinct and complex beverage.

Theine and caffeine