Is tea an addictive substance?

[JBR]

Some researchers now say that coffee is “addictive”. By which they’re claiming there’s physical as well as psychological withdrawal if you stop drinking it. But then I wonder if tea (real tea, not the herbal kind) is perhaps similarly addictive? Tea contains the known active ingredients caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, and a unique amino acid, L-theanine.

Opinions, members?

 

[Raven]

I don't think I'm addicted to tea but I sure do enjoy a good cup of tea and a chocolate
chip cookie.

 

[hollydolly]

I am definitely addicted to tea... I can't go more than a few hours without tea...

 

[Nathan]

I'm really not addicted to tea, but when I get tired of drinking coffee I switch to tea, in the afternoons.

 

[Murrmurr]

I usually drink tea every day all day long. But when I don't, there aren't any sort of withdrawal symptoms; no anxiety or crankiness or anything.

So I'll say No.

 

[oscash]

I usually have a cup of tea first thing in the morning. Usually don't have another one until afternoon and another one about 10pm. Wouldn't say I'm addicted, it's just a habit.

 

[jujube]

Caffeine "withdrawal" can cause constipation for some people.

 

[Old Salt]

I think a lot of things that are called addictive these days are simply pleasant habits. And if we miss them after giving them up we're told those are withdrawal symptoms.
Real addictions are: alcohol, nicotine and opioids. There might be others but I can't think of any at the moment. I must sign off now, because I am hungry and addicted to pasta!

 

[debodun]

I average 3 large cups of tea a day. I have caffeinated first thing, then after that its decaf or herbal.

 

[Tommy]

Supposedly caffeine is habituating but not addictive.

 

[JBR]

Real addictions are: alcohol, nicotine and opioids. There might be others but I can't think of any at the moment. I must sign off now, because I am hungry and addicted to pasta!

Well, I remember reading a book by Dr. Robert de Ropp in which he said that besides those, by the late 1800s American drug researchers deemed cocaine one of the most terrible addictions, personally & socially.

 

[dobielvr]

I drink decaf. Hot tea-iced tea.
No probs w/with drawl.

 

[Old Salt]

Supposedly caffeine is habituating but not addictive.

Why does everything have to be labelled these days? If we love to eat or drink or indulge in a favourite activity it will become something we most likely do frequently, no label needed. Of course one could say that everything that enhances our lives and makes us indulge frequently can be called habituating but I find the labelling just plain silly.

And this is not a criticism of what you wrote @Tommy, just a general observation.

 

[Ruthanne]

Personally I don't drink enough tea to know if you can get addicted to it. I alternate coffee with tea and sometimes neither.

 

[Tommy]

Why does everything have to be labelled these days? If we love to eat or drink or indulge in a favourite activity it will become something we most likely do frequently, no label needed. Of course one could say that everything that enhances our lives and makes us indulge frequently can be called habituating but I find the labelling just plain silly.

And this is not a criticism of what you wrote @Tommy, just a general observation.

I hear ya Old Salt and agree with what you're saying. The OPs question was whether tea is addictive and I was simply responding to that.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Anything can be addicting- both psychologically, and physically. Excessive ingestion of anything will cause changes in bodily systems, as well as mental issues. Addiction to water is polydipsia. Tea increases urination, and with excessive tea drinking can ironically lead to dehydration.

 

[David777]

Simple reality not just about tea. If one regularly drinks any caffeinated drinks, a human body will via complex body chemical system down regulation, change a person's homeostatic balances. Enough so that when one stops consuming, minor negative visceral effects like grogginess and lethargy will be noticeable.

That will tend to motivate a person to continue drinking caffeinated drinks and over time consume greater quantities of. So in that sense, caffeine is a lightly addictive substance because a decision to stop doing so does not result in such an unpleasant state that an average person might just use self control to stop.

That noted, it is not inherently wrong to consume caffeinated drinks, even regularly, but rather one ought do so wisely while realizing excessive consumption is not without negative effects and that there are advantages in not regularly drinking such, being in balance.

 

[MarciKS]

it's the caffeine you get addicted to. if you don't want the addiction then get decaf.

 

[Old Salt]

it's the caffeine you get addicted to. if you don't want the addiction then get decaf.

I've tried decaf. For no other reason than to find out what it tasted like. That was my first and last time. I steer away from all products that have been "improved" for health reasons because I can't stand the way they taste compared to the regular product.

 

[MarciKS]

I've tried decaf. For no other reason than to find out what it tasted like. That was my first and last time. I steer away from all products that have been "improved" for health reasons because I can't stand the way they taste compared to the regular product.

I don't taste any difference. I also don't mind them. It was merely a suggestion if they don't like the addiction is all.

 

[Old Salt]

I don't taste any difference. I also don't mind them. It was merely a suggestion if they don't like the addiction is all.

Oh, sorry, there was nothing personal intended. I see a subject that interests me and I jump right in! I acknowledge that as a fault!

But I have tried so many different soft drinks over the years that contained artificial sweeteners, as one example, and they all left a terrible after taste in my mouth! Then there's skim milk, what a difference in taste to whole milk.

I have to admit though that the new, sugarless "Coke" and "Canada Dry" appear to have solved the secret of tasting like the real thing. I don't know how they (and most likely other soft drinks I haven't tried yet) changed the formula because the label still mentions "Aspartame." Puzzled, but happy, since I am a Diabetic!

 

[MarciKS]

Oh, sorry, there was nothing personal intended. I see a subject that interests me and I jump right in! I acknowledge that as a fault!

But I have tried so many different soft drinks over the years that contained artificial sweeteners, as one example, and they all left a terrible after taste in my mouth! Then there's skim milk, what a difference in taste to whole milk.

I have to admit though that the new, sugarless "Coke" and "Canada Dry" appear to have solved the secret of tasting like the real thing. I don't know how they (and most likely other soft drinks I haven't tried yet) changed the formula because the label still mentions "Aspartame." Puzzled, but happy, since I am a Diabetic!

No worries. I don't care for diet soda but the Zero sodas are pretty good. I am prediabetic. I switched to almond milk. But I never taste any difference between caffeinated and decaf. I would stop drinking caffeine if I could stay awake.

 

[Old Salt]

No worries. I don't care for diet soda but the Zero sodas are pretty good. I am prediabetic. I switched to almond milk. But I never taste any difference between caffeinated and decaf. I would stop drinking caffeine if I could stay awake.

Last, and only time, I tried decaf, it tasted awful to me. But that was roughly forty years ago and the taste might have improved greatly!