After a busy day of work, it's finally time to rest. Many people have the habit of Drinking Tea in the evening, while others do not. Sometimes, one might suddenly feel like having Tea at night. It is commonly believed that drinking tea before bed can cause insomnia, as tea contains caffeine which can keep you in an excited state and has a stimulating effect. Therefore, many fans of dark tea avoid drinking it in the evening for fear of sleepless nights.
However, not all teas lead to insomnia. If you're wondering whether drinking dark tea affects sleep, well, it generally doesn't (results may vary from person to person).
Dark tea is a low-caffeine health beverage (due to its high maturity of raw materials and roasting processes) and, compared to cola and other types of tea, it does not affect sleep.
The raw materials for dark tea are relatively mature, and after initial processing, the caffeine content in dark tea is significantly lower than in other teas.
Dark tea undergoes post-Fermentation. Its production process focuses on refining rather than shaping. Dark tea is first roasted over a seven-star stove to enhance its aroma, then stomped by a team of seven people, and finally naturally air-dried for forty-nine days to allow slow fermentation. The high-temperature roasting process causes much of the caffeine to evaporate.
As a result, dark tea contains significantly less caffeine and polyphenols than green or Black Tea. The content of tea polysaccharides and gallotannins increases notably, while esters, alcohols, and aldehydes in the aroma components decrease markedly, with a noticeable increase in heterocyclic compounds. This results in a reduced stimulatory effect on the stomach and nerves.
So, is dark tea bad for sleep? No, it doesn't affect sleep and can even improve it. However, if you plan to drink tea before bed, try to have a lighter brew!