So here’s a quick take on Caffeine and Tea.

Tea and Caffeine Overview

First, it’s important to note that there are teas and there are tisanes. Teas include the Camellia sinensis plant whereas tisanes do not (tisanes are often called ‘herbal teas’). All true teas contain some caffiene although at varying levels. Decaffeinated teas still have a small amount of caffeine content, but most of it has been removed (learn how to decaffeinate your own tea here).

The Reality of Tea and Caffeine

Each cup of tea will vary in its actual caffeine amounts. This is due to a number of factors from the size of the leaf to the location of tea bush to the length of time you steep the tea. In general, there are a few ‘truths’:

• The longer you steep the tea, the more caffeine it will have
• The smaller the leaf, the more caffeine it will have
• Tea caffeine is the same as any other caffeine (at one time it was thought to be different)

Having said that, these ‘truths’ don’t make a huge difference in terms of caffeination. The biggest factor in the amount of caffeine in your tea is the fermentation time. The longer the tea is fermented, the more caffeine it has and vice-versa. Thus, black teas have the most caffeine and white teas the least. Oolong teas have a bit more than green. Caffeine content will vary from tea to tea, but these are general guidelines:

• Black Teas: 20% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee
• Oolong Teas: 10-15% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee
• Green Teas: 5% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee
• White Teas: 1% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee
• Herbal Teas (tisanes): completely caffeine free with a few exceptions (see below)

A cup of coffee typically has around 15mg of caffeine per ounce. However, there is another difference between tea and coffee. Teas contain polyphenols and it is thought that these slow the absorption of caffeine into the body. Which means the caffeine in tea is absorbed more slowly, so it doesn’t hit you as fast or as hard and it lasts longer without the sudden drop in energy that you might get from coffee.

As you know, there are positive effects of caffeine: it can wake you up, increase alterness and concentration and enhance the senses. Caffeine also stimulates the digestive juices and metabolism. 

Mate Teas Will Wake You Up

Mate Teas are a South American herbal tisane. However, they are unlike other herbals since they do have a high caffeine content. Mate Teas come from the Yerba Mate plant and typically have the same amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee. They have a higher content of caffeine that even black teas, so if you want a morning kick in the pants, try a Mate tea. These are the lone exception to the rule that herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free. 

Hopefully that clears up most of your questions about Caffeine and Tea. At a minimum, you should now have a good understanding of which teas to choose in the morning versus the evening! If you have any other questions about teas and caffeine, please add them below. 

If this is you, start off the year by trying a new type of tea. You might be pleasantly surprised! Here are some thoughts on which teas to try out first:

• Fruity tea drinkers. This represents somewhere around 80% of the new tea drinkers IMHO! If you enjoy a fruity herbal tea, try drinking a fruity true tea. This means a fruity green, white, oolong or black tea. Herbal teas have great health benefits as well, but by adding a tea that comes from the tea plant, you’ll be adding new and different health benefits from the herbals. And you’re just missing out on some great tea! One other trick: try something like our ToLife White tea, which is a combination of Rooibos (fruity herbal) green tea and white tea. 
• Black tea drinkers. Many people grow up drinking black teas - like an Earl Grey - so they continue drinking them forever. I recommend trying an Oolong tea. Oolongs are technically between a green and black tea in terms of fermentation and have some of the taste and benefits of both. So if you like black, you’ll probably enjoy Oolongs as well. If you only drink iced black tea, try icing a fruity Oolong or even a white tea. You might be suprised by how much you like it. 
• Green tea drinkers. There’s another group that was introduced to green tea at some point (maybe during those college years) and hasn’t veered out into other types of tea. I would recommend trying white teas or maybe an Oolong. White teas are slightly more difficult to make than other teas (you need to get the temperature close and they are easy to oversteep), but you’ll probably like them. 
• Chai tea drinkers. So you like a little spice in your life, huh? If you’re hooked on chai, I would just recommend trying other chais. There are white chai teas, black chai teas and green chai teas. Each has its own unique qualities, so branch out a little. You might also like something like Azteca Fire, which is a spicy tea with a different taste, or a Mate tea. 
• Rooibos tea drinkers. This is typically similar to the fruity tea drinkers above and the advice is pretty much the same. Try drinking a fruity green, white, oolong or black tea - maybe even ToLife, which does have Rooibos included.
• Coffee drinkers. And if you like teas, but still have a cup of coffee in the morning, this is the year to quit! Kick the habit with MateVana, one of our best coffee replacements, or a strong black tea like English breakfast (add a bit of milk to make it more coffee-like). 

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Start with a good travel tea cup, if they don’t have a favorite. It makes a world of difference when you can get your favorite teas on the go - and gives you another reason NOT to grab a soda out of the fridge on your way out. One of my favorites is our new Frosted Tea Tumblers that actually let you steep the tea on the go using built-in infusers. No waiting whatsoever and they come in several colors. 

Another great choice is a unique tea tin. Every tea connoisseur loves a beautiful way to store their favorite teas. I recommend the Origami Tea tins in large or small sizes. Because of the varied styles, you are unlikely to see the same one elsewhere. And they keep tea sealed and protected from light, so your tea leaves will stay fresh for up to a year (depending on the sensitivity of the tea). You can even grab some tea to fill that tin up for an extra bonus! 

The next suggestion is the Perfect Tea Tool kit. This set includes everything you need to make great tea (including Matcha) and fits nicely in a stocking. And the bamboo set is very attractive, so it looks great on your counter or with your other tea accessories. And because it is made of bamboo (a renewable resource), it will last through the heat and water issues quite well. 

A great tea cup is also always a good suggestion. Teavana offers glass, porcelain, or ceramic in various shapes, sizes and colors. Finding a unique tea cup that fits their personality and style is a great way to show them how much you pay attention (and know them). And every tea drinker loves a new tea cup that no on else has! Several of our glass and stoneware (or ceramic) tea cups are handcrafted by artisans, so every cup is a work of art and unique in the little details. One suggestion: put breakable cups at the top of the stocking . . .  

Finally, don’t forget Tea! Choose a few of their favorite teas and add it to the stocking in the bag it comes in or in a tin (as we mentioned above). Tea is lightweight and perfect as a stocking stuffer. And for serious tea drinkers, it might just be the best gift they get this year! I always recommend getting not only their favorite tea, but another tea they might like. This way they get to try something new in addition to enjoying their favorite types. 

That’s just a few suggestions for stuffing the stocking of a tea lover. I think these are some of the better gift items for tea drinkers, since all make their tea experience a little more enjoyable by making it easier or more delicious. If you have other stocking stuffer ideas (or want to vote your favorite) by all means add a comment!

In general, serious tea drinkers often have a specific type of tea they prefer, like Oolong or Green tea. And they have everything they need to make the tea, so tea makers or teapots are only good insofar as they are different or unique. And gifts for these tea drinkers should start and end with actual teas. So here’s our suggestions:

Tea Gifts for Serious Tea Drinkers

A great place to start is with Tea of the Month Clubs. Our new clubs can be customized based on the type of tea preferred: Green, White, Black or Herbal. And these clubs send tea every month for six or twelve months, so it feeds the habit of heavy tea drinkers! We also have a more general tea of the month club for those who want a bit more variety in the selection (it also sends more tea every month). 

Next, our Emperor’s Collection Gift Set is another good choice for serious tea drinkers. What makes this set unique is the teas: all are very rare teas not offered outside the gift set. And it includes four unique golden tea tins to store the teas. Providing a serious tea drinker with access to rare teas is always a good gift idea!

Another problem for those who drink a lot of tea is heating water. It’s not great fun to wait while a kettle heats up water for tea. So the Zojirushi Hot Water Dispenser is another great gift idea. It keeps your water hot all the time. So instead of heating water with a kettle, you simply get the water already hot from this great dispenser. And it keeps the water at the temperature you prefer, so your favorite tea is just the steep time away! 

For a smaller gift, try our Chaufferette Glass Teapot Warmer. Using a simple tea candle (any will work), this glass teapot warmer will keep your tea warm for hours. So you can make a larger pot of tea and keep drinking from it all day. And the glass design of this warmer makes it attractive, especially as the candle flickers away. 

Another great item is a tea book that details the history and traditions of tea. We recommend The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur’s Guide. It’s a great little book that works, since it has so much information about teas. It also includes a great guide to tea at the back that examines the teas of the world in an interesting, thoughtful way. Might be the perfect way to finish off your gift buying for a serious tea drinker!

If they have every tea they could want, why not give them a great way to store their teas? Our Red Tulip Tea Chest includes the tea tins for storing six of your favorite teas beautifully. It’s also available in a Mappa Burl wood color. This Japanese set has the famous shine of Japanese lacquerware and is a gorgeous way to keep your teas. 

Going back to teas, our World Tea Collection Gift Set is another good option. It combines some unique teas from around the world and including white tea, green tea and Oolong tea. The popular teas included are bound to please and the set also includes attractive, reusable tea tins to store these teas in. The tins can be kept and used over and over again - and they are our popular Origami tins. 

The final suggestion would be a Yixing teapot. Yixing teapots are a bit different: they are made from a unique Chinese clay that actually ’seasons’ over time and emphasizes the qualities of your favorite tea. This makes Yixing pots only for serious tea drinkers, since you should use this teapot on only one type of tea. So if your friend has one type of tea they drink on a regular basis, a Yixing teapot is perfect. And they come in very unique styles and designs. Most Yixing pots are smaller, since they are typically used by someone who makes one type of tea daily and drinks a couple of cups at a time. And what tea drinker couldn’t use another teapot? 

Hopefully this gave you some good ideas! If you are a serious tea drinker, please post additional suggestions below. It should also be noted that you can always buy some more tea for those who really enjoy it! I don’t think they will object.

Easy Tea Gifts
First comes the easy gifts. We ship them out packaged and will even gift wrap them if you so choose. These gifts are still special, but they make the holiday season a little easier! Here are our easy tea gift ideas:

Teavana Tea Gift Set
This is the classic tea gift that includes everything you need to make tea. It also includes four popular Teavana teas and a bit of sugar to make them exceptional. More experienced tea drinkers might prefer another gift set.

Green Tea of the Month Club
So this one can’t be easily wrapped up, but we do mail out a gift card explaining it for you (you just click the button). And this gift keeps giving - either 6 or 12 months of tea. And you can choose from a general tea of the month club or specific ones like herbal, green, or black. Perfect for the serious tea drinker!

Imperial Blooming Tea Collection
Blooming teas are pretty interesting: they ‘bloom’ into a flower as they steep. This collection is great as a romantic tea gift as well, since you can enjoy a blooming tea together. You might want to add a glass teapot as another gift, since a clear teapot is essential to enjoying these teas. Includes six blooming teas.

Belle Luna Tea Collection
This is the beauty sleep tea set designed to make her very happy! It combines relaxing teas that help you get your beauty sleep with teas that help beautify your skin. Just have a cup each night and wash away the worry and the wrinkles! It includes four teas that are also delicious.

Any of these is an easy way to make a big impression on the tea lover in your life! And they are all very easy to pick up and give! 

Our next installment is Tea Gifts for Serious Tea Drinkers. Stay tuned.

Oolong tea is often served at Chinese restaurants for good reason. It’s the perfect tea for enjoying a meal - and a must-have for eating high-cholesterol meals. Oolong does a couple of things:

• Oolong teas help you digest your food.
• Oolong teas help lower the intake of fat from high-cholesterol meals.
• Tannic acid in Oolong teas help reduce your cholesterol.
• Oolong teas help increase your metabolism.

With this set of benefits, we should really be thankful for Oolong! Not only will it help you digest your food, but it helps keep the fat out of your system and burn whatever fat gets in. So enjoy a cup of Oolong with your turkey (or tofu) dinner, preferably just after you eat. Not only is it a healthy choice, you’ll really enjoy the taste!

Shop our Oolong teas here. 

And have a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Teavana Tea station focuses on world music with upbeat rhythms and rich sounds. It is music that sits well with a great cup of Oolong, Rooibos or Darjeeling. Not only will it brighten your day, it will make your tea taste better! So come enjoy our Teavana selections with your hot cup of tea.

“Our study focused on Sjogren’s syndrome, so learning that EGCG also can prevent and delay insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes was a big surprise,” Hsu said in a statement.

EGCG is a catechin that is very abundant in green tea. EGCG helps prevent cancers and is involved in numerous tests for helping improve everything from skin damage to multiple sclerosis. We already know the other benefits of green tea, but this is a new one:

EGCG also dramatically slowed the development of type 1 diabetes in the rodents. At 16 weeks, they found, 25 percent of the mice given the green tea compound had developed diabetes, compared to 67 percent of the mice given water. At 22 weeks, 45 percent of the EGCG group had diabetes, while 78 percent of the control group did.

Earlier studies have shown that green teas (and other teas) can help control blood sugar levels for those who already have diabetes. But this is the first study I’m aware of that actually shows green tea delaying the development of diabetes. In the end, we should probably all drink more green tea:

The current study supports earlier research showing EGCG’s impact on helping prevent autoimmune disease, the researchers conclude.

The next step is to perform some studies on humans to see if the same effect holds true. Although other teas (like White teas) have more antioxidants than green tea, green tea is the best one to drink for EGCG. And this is another great reason to try some green tea!

So which teas were upgraded? These:

• MateVana Mate Tea
• Precious White Peach
• Dao Ren Green Tea
• Choconut Green Tea
• Sencha Green Tea
• Dragonwell Green Tea
• Rose Marzipan Delight Black Tea
• Strawberry Slender Pu-Erh Black Tea
• Azteca Fire Herbal Tea
• Organic Mango Green Tea
• Mandarin Orange Organic Green Tea
• Irish Breakfast Black Tea
• Rooibos Cloud 9
• Rooibos Hazelnut Dolce (formerly Rooibos Caramel Creme)
• Eastern Chamomile Herbal Tea (formerly Egyptian Chamomile)

So the next time you try one of the teas above, they will have a better flavor coming from a better leaf. So you can steep it a little longer without making the tea bitter.