Tea drinkers often fall into one of two categories: those with firm, established habits and those whose routines are more flexible. These habits might include drinking certain teas at specific times of day, using particular teaware, or following precise brewing techniques.
I certainly have my own tea habits—but they’re far from fixed. They tend to shift depending on my schedule, energy levels, and even what teas I happen to have on hand.
Which tea are you in the habit of drinking?
One aspect that changes frequently is how much tea I drink—both overall and by type. Like many people, I go through periods where my consumption increases or decreases, depending on workload, free time, or simply how well stocked my tea cupboard is.
Recently, I noticed a significant increase in my black tea selection and everyday consumption. This shift was partly due to running out of other favorites—most notably my Japanese green tea varieties and oolong teas with complex flavor profiles.
It was also driven by practical needs. A heavier workload and lack of sleep meant I found myself reaching for more afternoon pick-me-ups. Black tea, with its stronger flavor and perceived boost, quickly became my go-to option.
At first, this wasn’t much of a concern. After all, drinking more tea is rarely a bad thing. But over time, I noticed a subtle shift: I seemed less sensitive to the effects of caffeine, and I began defaulting to black tea out of habit—even after restocking my usual varieties.
While it might be tempting to attribute this entirely to caffeine, the relationship between tea and caffeine is more nuanced than it often appears. As explained in this guide to caffeine levels in different types of tea, factors such as brewing method and leaf type can significantly influence caffeine content.
In my case, the shift had less to do with chemistry and more to do with habit. I had grown accustomed to drinking black tea, and it became my default choice whenever I thought about making a cup.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long to reintroduce variety. Just a few cups of green and oolong tea were enough to remind me why I enjoy them. Even so, it took a few days to break the automatic reach for black tea—proof that even simple habits can be surprisingly persistent.
While a preference for black tea ranks low on the list of serious concerns, the experience served as a reminder: tea habits, like any habits, can be difficult to change once they take hold.
See more of Elise Nuding’s articles in this archive of tea habits and tasting insights.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009–2014. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts may be used with proper credit and links to the original content.
Leave a Reply