Can tea really get us “drunk”? It’s a question we get asked frequently given our name. In Chinese culture, the term “drunk” is a romantic expression used to describe one’s indulgence in true passion. You could be drunk by starlight; or the intense beauty of the sun setting over a mountain range; or like Beyoncé, you could be Drunk in Love.
But there are some real psychoactive effects we get when drinking tea that give us a feeling of a mildly altered state. The effect of getting “tea drunk” can be the result of multiple factors, and depending on the individual, it can be one or a combination of all of them.
Caffeine and L-Theanine
The first, and probably most expected, is the effect caffeine has on humans. All true tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, which has caffeine in the leaves. In tea, caffeine stimulates us, gives us energy, and can make us hyper.
Another compound in tea, called L-theanine, is known to calm our nerves and relax us. It’s an amino acid that affects our brain chemistry by increasing GABA production and our levels of serotonin and dopamine. Combined with caffeine, this gives us a blissful, elated feeling. L-theanine increases our alpha brain wave activity, which is what causes the clear-minded, almost meditative sensation in tea. It’s a key factor in the relaxed but alert feeling we often experience with tea.
Since ancient times, many tea drinkers have reported joyfulness when drinking tea, and it’s believed that L-theanine and its effect on our brain contributed to this feeling. Many believe that tea became so wildly popular in ancient China because of its pleasant psychoactive effects, many of which are due to L-theanine.
When we talk about the most desired bodily effects of tea, we’re searching for a focused and clear mind paired with a calm body. Similar to accounts from ancient times, this balance of mind and body brings an elated sense of joy to our souls. This element of joy can be related to how many people romanticize being tipsy—caffeine and L-theanine are not compounds that alter us nearly as much as, say, alcohol. When you’re at that level of joy and elation, everything around you starts to feel a little more blissful.
Tea on an Empty Stomach
Tea is slightly alkaline, not pH-neutral. Because of this, drinking tea on an empty stomach—or drinking it with a sensitive stomach—can cause slight discomfort. Everyone has different levels of stomach sensitivity, so this tends to be a pretty rare reaction.
The polyphenols in tea, including catechins, can lower one’s blood glucose. We explore how tannins shape tea in another article. Lowering blood glucose in this way is commonly viewed as a health benefit of tea. But for those who already have low blood sugar or haven’t eaten much, polyphenols can cause dizziness and even make one feel incoherent. The levels of catechins in tea vary from tea to tea.
Combine These Facts and You’re Drunk
The combination of excitement, joyfulness, potential upset stomach, and dizziness creates a feeling similar to the familiar drunkenness we feel from alcohol. Depending on the individual, some might experience only the positive aspects of being tea drunk, and some the opposite. Similar to drinking alcohol, sometimes the earlier part of tea drunkenness is pleasant, like being tipsy, and then it can be taken a bit overboard.
But unlike alcohol, tea does not alter your motor skills, lead you to make choices you might not make when sober, or lead to forgetfulness or hangovers. This sensation of being “drunk” that people talk about with tea is infinitely milder than anything alcohol creates.
What Teas Are More Likely to Get You “Drunk”?
If you’re after the feeling of being “tea drunk,” you’ll want to seek out teas that are high in the psychoactive compounds we outlined above: catechins, caffeine, and L-theanine. It is known that buds hold higher levels of caffeine and L-theanine, so choosing bud-heavy teas like White Tea and Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) could be a source of positive “tea drunkenness” to explore. Catechins are usually found in higher quantities in less oxidized teas, like Green Tea and Sheng Pu Er Tea. Gua Pian is a green tea made using only leaves with a unique La Da Huo step in the processing. This gives the tea a pleasantly toasty flavor that complements its grassy umami taste, buttery mouthfeel, and bold sugary undertone.
Have you been tea drunk with us before? Let us know about your experiences in the comments!
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