Earl Grey Tea is a black tea originally produced by the British company of Taylor & Co. in the 1830s. It was named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was a British Prime Minister at the time. The combination of black tea and bergamot makes Earl Grey unique. The flavor of bergamot is light, but it is distinct among other varieties of black tea.
It is enjoyable on its own, but some people prefer to add milk and sugar (or honey) to Earl Grey Tea. This article will explain the effect that different amounts of milk and sugar have on the caffeine content of Earl Grey Tea and will also provide information about the amount of caffeine in black tea in general.
The most popular brands of Earl Grey tea are Yorkshire Gold, Tazo, Celestial Seasonings, and Twinings. Earl Grey tea bags are also available in bulk.
People who drink Earl Grey tea claim it may have a number of health benefits, including relief from headaches, arthritis, and depression.
Earl Grey tea is also believed to help with weight loss because of its caffeine content. It contains more than other popular varieties of black tea and green tea. In fact, it has approximately 100 milligrams of caffeine per eight-ounce cup. An average person should not exceed 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. This level can be reached by drinking two eight-ounce cups of Earl Grey tea.
What Is Caffeine?
Caffeine (also known as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a naturally occurring chemical used to make certain food and drinks (like tea) bitter/acidic and stimulating. It has historically been used for its psychoactive effects to alter mood or promote wakefulness.
While naturally occurring in some foods, most caffeine is produced from another compound called Theobroma Cacao (or the cocoa tree). Caffeine is also added to a variety of products, such as energy drinks, soda, and chocolate.
Caffeine is considered an addictive substance and is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
Does Earl Grey Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, Earl Grey Tea has caffeine.
Earl Grey Tea is a black tea. When you hear people talk about tea, they’re usually referring to black tea. Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, while green tea and white tea are both made from the leaves of other varieties of this plant.
Black teas have more caffeine than green or white teas because they’re oxidized longer before being dried. The longer black teas are oxidized, the darker they become — thus why black teas have a stronger flavor than other types of teas.
According to ConsumerLab, one 8-ounce cup (240 ml) of brewed Earl Grey Tea has about 52 mg of caffeine. This is slightly lower than the average amount of caffeine in black tea (52 to 58 mg).
However, that doesn’t mean that all black teas have a similar amount of caffeine. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, per one 8-ounce cup (240 ml), other types of black tea contain:
Lipton Classic Black Tea — 48 mg
Bigelow Earl Grey Flavored Black Tea — 44 mg
Celestial Seasonings Original Black Tea — 40 mg
What if you have a larger or smaller cup of Earl Grey Tea?
There is no standardized size for cups of tea. For example, a “small” cup at a restaurant may have a volume of 12 oz (354 ml) while a “small” cup at another restaurant might have a volume of 8 oz (236 ml). In addition, many people add milk to their tea and this will also change the volume of the drink.
This means that it is important to always measure your drink instead of just guessing based on the size of your cup. You can see exactly how many milligrams of caffeine you are adding to your drink every time you add sugar, honey, or milk.
Amount of Milk
The amount of milk you add to your tea can make a big difference in the caffeine content. This is because tea contains tannins, which are chemicals that bind to caffeine and make it harder for our bodies to absorb. Adding milk can help break down these tannins and free up the caffeine.
This is why espresso has more caffeine than regular coffee. The tannins in coffee are not as strong as the tannins in tea, which means that milk cannot break them down as easily — thus giving us less caffeine.
The amount of milk that you add to your tea can make a big difference in the total amount of caffeine. If you have a cup of Earl Grey Tea with no sugar, just a small amount (1 tsp) of milk, the caffeine content will be about 40 mg.
However, if you add about 1/4 cup (60 ml) of milk (this is about 2 Tbsp), the caffeine content will be over 100 mg. This is because the added milk allows more caffeine to enter your bloodstream.
Amount of Sugar
Adding sugar to your tea can also make a big difference in how much caffeine you drink. Sugar will also help to break down the tannins in Earl Grey Tea (like milk). This means that the total amount of caffeine in your drink will actually increase if you add sugar.
If you have a cup of Earl Grey Tea with no milk and no sugar, the caffeine content will be about 40 mg. However, if you add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of sugar to the same drink, this number will increase to over 100 mg.
Earl Grey Tea is not only delicious, but also has a lower amount of caffeine than other varieties of black tea. It is easy to make a cup of Earl Grey Tea stronger or weaker depending on the size of your cup and whether you want to add milk and sugar.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you may want to skip the milk and sugar — but if you still want a flavorful drink, adding some honey might be a good solution.
