I don't understand how the fermentation process in black tea increases the amount of caffeine. Does the process actually create more caffeine? The other possibility is that the natural caffeine is destroyed in green tea, but my understanding is that green tea is minimally processed.
Source of information about caffeine content:
http://www.republicoftea.com/pages/caffeine.asp
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2 responses so far ↓
1 charmedchiclet // Feb, 2008
Green tea does NOT have less caffeine than black tea. Whoever told you that was wrong. They have the same amount of caffeine, based on the amount in the original tea leaves.
2 earth_wind_poker // Feb, 2008
Plant Variety
It is the plant variety, not oxidation, that causes black tea to have roughly the twice the caffeine as green tea.
The Chinese green tea is a slow growing shrub that produces small, narrow leaves. Usually cultivated from seeds, it has less caffeine, ranging from 1% to 3% in dry weight.
The Indian black tea is a quick growing tree that yields large, broad leaves. Usually cultivated using the vegetable propagation method, it contains more caffeine, ranging from 3% to 5% in dry weight.
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