The tea tastes and stirs. That is sure. But beyond these facts, there are many myths about the plant and the drink. We take a close look at them.

1. Tea is caffeine free

But, because the tea bush (Camellia sinensis) and its subspecies contain caffeine in addition to many other ingredients. Therefore, any type of tea that comes directly from this shrub, such as green, black, white and yellow tea or oolong, also contains caffeine. Black tea up to 4%. For herbal and fruit teas, on the other hand, it looks different, their starting plants are caffeine-free.

By the way, it is a myth that black tea is uplifting after five minutes and calming after a long brew time. The caffeine content in black tea is readily soluble in water and is therefore among the first substances to be washed out of the leaves. Therefore, the amount of caffeine in the tea is almost the same regardless of the infusion time. However, if you leave the tea for more than five minutes, more and more tannins dissolve, the tea becomes more bitter.

2. English tea at teatime draws only briefly

On the other hand. Tea time is served with black tea, mainly Ceylon Assam or Darjeeling. The tea is simply poured into a pot of boiling water and then steeped for as long as you like. Since the leaves remain in the teapot until the last sip, the tea naturally becomes stronger and more bitter. To enjoy the tea to the end, hot water from a separate pot is always used.

3. Only waste ends up in tea bags

There is a rumor that the tea bags would only spew waste. But that’s not true. A tea bag is only finely ground, but may well contain high-quality leaves. However, by crushing the leaves more essential oils can evaporate and the tea loses some aroma. However, it is true that inferior tea is often packaged in bags.

4. Three-minute tea wakes up, five-minute tea tires

That is not completely correct. It depends mainly on the type of tea and its active ingredients, as there are differences at home. The myth concerns black tea, which contains approximately four percent caffeine, which is dissolved from the leaves with hot water. In general, the longer a tea steeps, the more ingredients dissolve and the tea becomes darker and more bitter. The caffeine concentration does not change after five minutes, however, polyphenols that can deactivate wakefulness then dissolve. So the tea is less invigorating at best, but by no means relaxing, and it doesn’t make you tired.

5. Tea will not spoil

Well, moldy actually it is not, but much more than half a year you should not store tea. Thereafter, most of the flavorings and some of the healthy and antioxidant ingredients are removed or rebuilt.

6. Milk in tea reduces the healthy effect

No, that could not be confirmed in experiments. The body’s absorption capacity for so-called catechins, important antioxidants that can reduce the risk of cancer, is minimally hindered by milk and has no effect on the body.

7. Tea with rum helps with colds

Not really. Although tea is healthy and hot drinks often have an expectorant effect. The alcohol in rum is anything but healthy. It weakens the immune system, deprives the body of water, and the mucous membranes are poorly supplied with blood. Furthermore, alcohol can influence the effect of possibly ingested drugs. So if you have a cold, drink hot tea without rum.