People can become addicted to various things, from severe drug addiction to more common ones such as alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, video game addiction, social media addiction, and other addictive behaviors. “Addiction” manifests in many aspects of our lives.
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and many people incorporate Tea drinking into their daily routines. If you observe carefully, you will find that many tea lovers are almost “inseparable from tea”: the first thing they do after waking up in the morning is to have tea; they drink a cup of tea after breakfast, lunch, and dinner; they have tea while working; they drink tea when chatting with friends; they serve tea when meeting guests; they even have tea before bed… Whenever there's a spare moment, tea lovers are either brewing tea or on their way to brew tea, indicating a “deep tea addiction.”
Why does drinking tea make people so addicted? Some believe that the many trace elements in tea directly benefit our health, and certain substances in tea might be addictive. Since tea addiction is caused by trace substances in tea leaves, how does it differ from alcohol addiction or even drug addiction? Here, we will understand why tea is addictive from the perspective of brain neural mechanisms.
First, let's understand what “addiction” is. You may notice that whenever a photo you post on social media gets a like, when you level up in a game, when you complete a task and receive a generous reward on schedule, or even when you eat something delicious, you feel extremely happy. This is because these pleasurable actions always provide us with timely rewards. This reward starts in the “reward pathway” (also known as the “dopamine pathway”) located in the limbic system of our brain. Special neurons release the neurotransmitter dopamine in the reward pathway, a neurotransmitter related to pleasure that brings us a wave of joy, making us feel good. To ensure that we repeat this behavior that brings us pleasure, the reward pathway connects with brain regions controlling memory and behavior. This lays the foundation for addiction.
The green part represents the limbic system, where the “reward pathway” is located.
Addiction refers to repetitive compulsive behavior that continues even when it is known to potentially cause adverse consequences. For example, if you find that having a drink makes you feel very relaxed and happy, you will continue to drink to continuously obtain happiness through drinking.
However, repetitive pleasurable behaviors are not always beneficial. For instance, drinking alcohol activates the reward pathway, causing dopamine neurons to produce large amounts of dopamine, making us feel extraordinarily happy. Our brains always strive to maintain a stable state and avoid frequent exposure to extreme stimulation. Therefore, the brain compensates for these unexpected changes by reducing the number of neurons to cope with the excessive amount of dopamine, so the effect of drinking the next time isn't too strong. At this point, you may find it understandable that “alcohol addiction” is not difficult to comprehend. The mechanisms behind “alcohol addiction” and “tea addiction” are both similar and different.
The primary substance in alcoholic drinks that activates the reward pathway is alcohol. As commonly believed, tea also contains psychoactive substances such as theobromine, Caffeine, and theophylline, among which the addictive substance that makes us “want another sip” is mainly caffeine. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that temporarily dispels drowsiness and restores energy. Therefore, people sometimes consume caffeine to stay alert during activities like thinking, reading, or meetings. Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system, increasing alertness and reducing fatigue. It can also increase the levels of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This can bring about feelings of pleasure and well-being, which might reinforce and lead some people to become addicted to drinking tea.
Drinking tea can enhance feelings of pleasure and relaxation.
Does becoming addicted to tea harm our bodies? Unlike substances such as alcohol, although caffeine can provide us with the pleasure of mental clarity, caffeine addiction is a relatively mild form of addiction and typically does not result in severe physical withdrawal symptoms. Professor Alan Macfarlane, born into a tea plantation family in England and affiliated with Cambridge University, once said in his book Green Gold: The Empire of Tea:
“Drinking tea is an addiction, but it is different from any other addiction. This addiction is mild and relatively easy to quit. There are many people with this addiction. What is most remarkable is that it benefits those who are addicted. Those addicted to it and those around them hardly notice this addiction. Drinking tea is extremely safe, and many people are convinced of its health benefits. People enjoy drinking tea because it wakes them up, keeps them alert, invigorates them, and helps them focus. Its effects are mild, and even drinking it all day long does not produce any harmful side effects. Therefore, tea has always been a potential force for conquering the world. Over the past two millennia, the tea empire has continued to expand, becoming the greatest human addiction in history.”
Moreover, the caffeine content in a cup of tea is minimal, with approximately 1-2 milligrams of caffeine in a 100ml cup of Pu'er tea. According to the recommendations of Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, healthy adults can consume up to 300-400 milligrams of caffeine per day without adverse health effects. Therefore, “tea addiction” differs fundamentally from the usual drug addiction, alcohol addiction, nicotine addiction, etc., as it does not lead to intense cravings and impulses or have negative impacts on health and social life. As Alan Macfarlane believes, “tea addiction” is merely a small habit of pursuing the aroma of tea, enjoying the calmness brought by tea, and the pleasure it provides to the body and mind.
References:
[1] Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare. [2014-8-27] “Recognizing Caffeine Content When Purchasing, Protecting Your Health.” https://www.mohw.gov.tw/cp-3204-21749-1.html.
[2] Yale Medicine. [2025-5-25] “How an Addicted Brain Works.” https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/how-an-addicted-brain-works.
[3] Herman MA, Roberto M. [2015-3-19] “The Addicted Brain: Understanding the Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Addictive Disorders.” Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2015.00018.
[4] Ferré, Sergi. [2025-5-1] “Mechanisms of the Psychostimulant Effects of Caffeine: Implications for Substance Use Disorders.” Psychopharmacology. doi:10.1007/s00213-016-4212
[5] Macfarlane. [2016-16-1] Green Gold: The Empire of Tea.