I drink tea because (1) I like it, and (2) it has caffeine. I drink tea instead of coffee because, as someone eloquently put it: "Coffee is energizing but tea is invigorating". Feelin' that.
I haven't had sencha in well over a year, as I've been exploring almost exclusively white teas. And I'm beginning to suspect that I've gotten used to the one-two-HELL-YEAH boost from some of those whites, especially Yunnan Sourcing's offerings like Ai Lao Mountain and Snow Flower Bi Luo Chun (the latter of which is, sadly, out of stock).
But it could be the particular sencha that I'm drinking, Yuuki-Cha's Kagoshima Sencha Shimofuri Masashige. I recalled really liking the Shimofuri, so I ordered three 100g packets as soon as it came out. For the price (¨¥1500), it's not bad, though not nearly as good a value as their Kirishima Zarai, which every bit as aromatic and tasty and nearly half the price. (Guess which one came out juuuuuuust a few days after I'd submitted my order.)
Anyway, the Shimofuri isn't invigorating me as much as I'd like. I need recommendations and I know TeaChatterers know sencha better than any other group of tea enthusiasts. I prefer asamushi, but I'm OK with the occasional fuka for variety's sake. Thanks, cheers, and happy cups!
Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
While tea has caffeine (and theobromine), tea's dominant stimulant is theophylline.
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Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
Really? Every source I've come across—study or review—claims that caffeine is by far the most abundant methylxanthine, with theophylline occurring only in trace amounts.Groucho wrote:While tea has caffeine (and theobromine), tea's dominant stimulant is theophylline.
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Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
If you're after caffeine, what about shadowed teas? They should have more of it, right?
Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
Oh, definitely. Gyokuro has anywhere from 1.5 to 2 times as much caffeine as sencha. The gyokuro buzz is special; something about it just sets it apart from any other tea, green or otherwise. The only snag for me is that I don't like gyokuro nearly as much as sencha, mainly because of its strong umami taste.miig wrote:If you're after caffeine, what about shadowed teas? They should have more of it, right?
I seek out senchas that tend to be moderately astringent and very low in umami, with aromas akin to fresh-cut grass, olive oil and cinnamon rather than cooked vegetables, butter, and shellfish. Teas like Hojo's Uji Jubuzan, O-Cha's Tanegashima, and Yuuki-Cha's Kirishima Zarai—all of which are asamushi. Of these three, I'd say the Tanegashima is the best buy. Too bad O-Cha doesn't seem to be offering it this year.
Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
One problem here is that we don't really know how much caffeine is in this tea vs that tea. Categorically we can say in general, yes, gyokuro has more tea than sencha. But perhaps if you wanted to maximize caffeine in sencha you could try matcha-infused sencha?
Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
Why not just buy a tea that you enjoy the flavor/viscosity of and, if need be, pop a caffeine pill. You can buy such pills inexpensively at Walmart.
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Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
That's free-form caffeine though, whereas the caffeine in tea is bound and thus metabolized more slowly. Slow-release caffeine leaves you feeling great all day; immediate-release just revs you up and then leaves you in a ditch four hours later. Also, it gives me facial tics.Groucho wrote:Why not just buy a tea that you enjoy the flavor/viscosity of and, if need be, pop a caffeine pill. You can buy such pills inexpensively at Walmart.
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Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
Couldn't you dilute the pill in a large volume of water and slowly take stops from it throughout the day?
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Re: Sencha highest in caffeine
If my day has reached a point where I need that level of caffeine, I'll just do what I usually do: Aeropress three scoops of the lightest-roast coffee I've got on hand and sip on that for the next four hours.Groucho wrote:Couldn't you dilute the pill in a large volume of water and slowly take stops from it throughout the day?
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