So, today I decided to look into something I’ve been curious about for a while: the caffeine content in Assam black tea. I’m a big fan of this tea, you know, for its strong, malty flavor. But I’ve always wondered just how much of a kick it’s giving me.

First off, I brewed myself a cup. I used one of those pre-packaged tea bags from the grocery store. Nothing fancy. I let it steep for about, I don’t know, maybe 4-5 minutes? I like it strong, but not bitter. While it was brewing, I did some quick searching online. I found that an average 8-ounce cup of Assam tea has around 80mg of caffeine. That’s about the same as a regular cup of coffee, which surprised me a bit.

But then I read that the actual caffeine can change depending on how long you brew it and the type of tea leaves. Made sense. I mean, a longer brew probably means more caffeine, right? Also, I learned that Assam tea generally has more caffeine than other black teas. I’ve tried English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast, and now I think I understand why I feel a bit more buzzed after the Irish one.

• I did another search and it said that the “Assamica” variety is high in caffeine.
• It also said that Chinese “camelia” variety of tea leaves tend to be lower in caffeine.

I also found some information about a specific type of Assam tea called “Halmari Gold”. It’s supposed to have between 47-90 mg of caffeine per cup. That’s quite a range! I guess it really does depend on various factors. I made a mental note to look for this Halmari Gold next time I’m shopping. Maybe I’ll do a little taste test and see if I can tell the difference.

After finishing my cup, I definitely felt more alert. Not jittery, just… awake. It was a nice, smooth boost. I decided to keep track of how long this feeling lasted. It was a good couple of hours before I felt like I needed another pick-me-up.

So, my little experiment confirmed what I read online. Assam tea does have a decent amount of caffeine, and it’s a great way to start the day or get over that afternoon slump. I’ll probably stick to my usual brewing time, but it’s good to know that I can adjust it if I need more or less of a caffeine hit. Plus, I discovered a new type of tea to try! All in all, a successful morning of tea exploration.

Conclusion

It was interesting to find out that Assam tea is on par with coffee in terms of caffeine content. This explains why I’ve always felt so energized after a cup. I like having it as an alternative to coffee sometimes. It is nice to switch things up. Also, learning about the different factors that influence caffeine levels was pretty cool. It makes each cup of tea seem a bit more unique, you know? I’m going to pay more attention to my brewing process from now on. I might even start experimenting with different brewing times to see how it affects the taste and the caffeine kick.