Does white tea affect your sleep?

White tea contains caffeine, which can affect sleep if consumed too close to bedtime. If you are sensitive to caffeine, it is generally recommended to avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon.

What is white tea?

White tea is a style of tea made from the young leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is considered to be the least processed type of tea and is known to be rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which are believed to provide numerous health benefits.

Does white tea contain caffeine?

While most tea does contain caffeine (some exceptions below), the amount is relatively low when compared to caffeinated beverages such as coffee and energy drinks.

However, it's still important to be mindful of when you consume white tea, as any amount of caffeine could potentially disrupt sleep patterns in some individuals and lead to restlessness. This is particularly true for those who are sensitive to caffeine.

If you're looking for caffeine-free alternatives to white tea, tisanes (herbal teas) such as chamomile or lavender are good options.

Research on white tea and sleep

That being said, caffeine is not the only compound found in white tea that affects sleep. It also contains L-theanine, an amino acid first found in green tea, which has a considerable amount of research behind it.

Some studies have shown that it can help reduce stress levels¹, and may even improve sleep quality².

Another study found that a combination of GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid) and L-theanine decreases sleep latency and improves NREM sleep³ more than either compound on their own.

Although more research is needed, a review of multiple studies by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggests that L-theanine is a safe and effective sleep aid⁴.

With tea being such a beloved beverage, new perspectives and insights into its potential health effects are still being investigated⁵ and we expect more information to be available in the future.

Ultimately, it depends upon the individual whether or not tea affects their sleep. If you are concerned about white tea and its potential impact on sleep, it is always best to consult with your primary care physician.

Where to get White tea?

In our shop, we have high quality loose leaf white tea. Check it out.

Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16930802/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31623400/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30707852/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25759004/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36496738/
6. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/caffeine/