TEA DRUNKENNESS: MYTH OR REALITY?

The Effect of Tea on the Human Body

It's a fact that high-quality tea has an impact on the body and the brain. This can be easily demonstrated by examining the chemical composition of dry tea leaves. Tea contains substances such as alkaloids, tannins, catechins, vitamins, and amino acids. All of these have effects on the body, including vasodilation, diuretic effects, antimicrobial properties, and more. However, what interests us is the influence on the brain, right? Well, it's the alkaloid caffeine that affects the brain. It stimulates the nervous system. Amino acids, especially L-theanine, have a relaxing effect. The combination of simultaneous relaxation and heightened concentration is known as the "tea effect" or "tea state."

Teas with a unique, relaxing effect on our nervous system include GABA teas. You can learn more about them and give them a try here.

Under certain conditions, tea affects the nervous system of anyone. Although the degree of the effect is individual and situational, it cannot be said that "tea does not work at all" for someone. If "tea doesn't work," then the reason lies somewhere here:

Tea Quality: Conditions in the place where the tea grows or the care of tea bushes did not provide the leaves with the necessary microelements for the desired effect. For example, severe heat or rain during harvesting.

Processing Errors: The tea leaf was either excessively or insufficiently heated, depriving it of the correct aroma, taste, and impact.

Improper Storage: Direct sunlight evaporates the residual moisture in the leaves and turns the tea into straw.

Aging Tea: Some varieties lose potency with age, while others may improve. This is a topic for a separate discussion, but the age of the tea, especially when it comes to storage in tea shops, often negatively affects its potential.

Weak Individual Susceptibility to a Specific Tea.

The person didn't pay attention to the tea effect.

So, it's not about tea not working in principle, but rather a combination of factors that can affect the tea's impact on an individual.

Ethanol vs. Caffeine and Amino Acids: Who Wins?

When Tea Has an Effect

Not all types of tea induce the tea effect. The tea effect depends on three main factors:

Tea Type: Different types of tea can have varying effects due to their chemical composition. For instance, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and herbal tea may produce different results.

Brewing Strength: The strength of the brewed tea plays a significant role. Weakly brewed tea may not produce any noticeable effect, or the effect may be minimal. On the other hand, if the tea is brewed strongly, the effect tends to be more pronounced.

Quantity Consumed: The amount of tea you drink also matters. Drinking just a couple of small cups of tea may not introduce enough active compounds into your system to trigger a noticeable effect. In most cases, achieving a significant tea effect requires extended tea sessions. However, some premium-quality teas or teas from old-growth trees can produce an effect even with a small amount of consumption. Old trees tend to have well-developed root systems that enrich the tea leaves with microelements that contribute to both flavor and the desired effects.

Our List of Teas with Powerful Effects and Bright Post-Tea Drinking Experiences:

Sheng Pu-erh "Lan Ban Zhang," 2010:
A well-aged farmer's Sheng Pu-erh made from high-quality leaves harvested from large trees in the Ban Zhang mountain region. It has a delicate aroma with hints of dried apples, berry acidity, and honey. Over the course of 12 years, it has developed a balanced and deep flavor profile, bringing forward fruity, honeyed, and floral notes. It leaves a pleasant, slightly binding aftertaste. We recommend savoring this tea mindfully and in multiple steepings. With each cup, you'll experience the meditative, grounding, and concentration-enhancing effects of this well-aged Pu-erh.

Shu Pu-erh "Chen Xiang 'Yellow Seal'," 2003:
A premium-level aged Shu Pu-erh, a sibling to the "Red Seal," and we recommend tasting them together. While they share a similar character, they have distinct flavor profiles and effects. This tea is ideal for evenings, as it relaxes and calms the nervous system, helping you gather your thoughts and gently conclude your day. Unlike the camphoraceous and resinous profile of the "Red Seal," the "Yellow Seal" exhibits sweet, dry notes with woody undertones. It's a unique Pu-erh with a harmonious flavor and a meditative, powerful yet serene state of being.

Da Hong Pao "Big Red Robe" Oolong:
This tea is renowned throughout China. Its distinction lies in the deep roasting process, which imparts a strong, pure sweetness to the taste and a vibrant aroma with notes of caramel, tobacco leaves, red berries, and yellow flowers. It possesses a long, full-bodied aftertaste. The effects of Da Hong Pao are hard to ignore — it instantly sharpens your focus, concentration, and mental clarity while leaving your body relaxed and free from stress and physical tension. We recommend this tea to those who appreciate the extraordinary, both in taste and in experience.

"Tea drunkenness" refers to a highly pronounced tea state.

Can you get drunk from tea?

The answer here depends on the understanding of the word "drunkenness." If you consider it to mean any alteration of consciousness caused by ingesting something, then yes, you can become "drunkenness" from tea. "Tea drunkenness" refers to a highly pronounced tea state. However, if you use the term in the context of "alcohol drunkenness," then no, tea intoxication is different from alcohol. Alcohol intoxicates a person with ethanol, which is not present in tea. Tea intoxicates with caffeine and amino acids, as mentioned earlier.

In conclusion, you can experience tea intoxication if certain conditions are met, but it has a different nature than alcohol intoxication.

In our opinion, many interesting things lie in the processes rather than the results. If you're here, it's likely that tea is quite an interesting subject for you. From our experience, we recommend focusing more on the process of tea drinking. It's much more enjoyable and intriguing than chasing a specific state.