If you’re booking tickets to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea show in London this summer, you’re in for a great time. Retelling Judith Kerr’s popular story on stage with singing, dancing and magic, the production is a wonderful introduction to the theatre for kids aged three and up. As the tiger guzzles all the tea in Sophie’s teapot, we’ll bet he’s not wondering whether or not it has caffeine in it. But maybe he should, especially since he comes to visit in the evening. Let’s find out about the pros and cons of regular tea vs decaf. 

What is decaf tea?

Caffeine is a natural chemical found in tea and coffee, which stimulates the central nervous system. It can make you feel more awake and alert, although in larger quantities it can cause anxiety, jitters, and a faster heart rate. Decaf is short for ‘decaffeinated’. Decaf tea has had most of the caffeine (around 96%) removed and contains about 2mg per 200ml cup, compared to 50mg in regular tea. 

Regular tea: Pros and cons

Regular tea contains a variety of antioxidants - plant chemicals that have been linked with good heart and gut health. The presence of caffeine boosts focus and mental alertness, as well as reaction speed. It may also enhance memory. A study by University College London also suggested that a cup of tea could help speed up recovery from life’s daily stressors. However, it didn’t show which ingredients in tea were responsible for this. 

On the downside, drinking regular tea can cause problems with sleeping, since caffeine takes up to 12 hours to leave your body. The substance can stop you getting such a deep sleep, meaning you may wake up feeling less refreshed. Those who are sensitive to caffeine may also experience jitters or a fast heartbeat from drinking regular tea. 

Decaf tea: Pros and cons

Decaf tea contains many of the same antioxidants and beneficial compounds as regular tea, meaning it also promotes good heart and gut health. It’s also a better option in the afternoons or before bed, since the reduced amount of caffeine has a much smaller impact on sleep, and lowers the risk of symptoms like jitters and rapid heart rate. There are few downsides to drinking decaf tea. One is that there are fewer antioxidants in it than regular tea, although they are still present; the health benefits are just a little less potent. Some methods of decaffeinating tea also alter the flavour profile of the drink. However, this is unlikely to affect you unless you’re a real tea enthusiast. 

Regular or decaf tea: which is best?

The decision to choose regular or decaf tea largely depends on your preferences and sensitivity to caffeine. The best approach is perhaps to drink caffeinated tea in the morning to boost your focus and decaf in the afternoon and evening to optimise your sleep. 

Join the tiger for tea

Join everyone’s favourite tiger for tea at the Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer. As one of the best family theatre shows around, it’s a lot of fun and packed with interactive moments. Get your family theatre tickets online today.