"Nigel" > writes:

> [...the idea that caffeine can be easily soaked away...]
>
> This is wishful thinking and an oft repeated tea myth that could well
> do with laying. I reproduce below a posting I made on Teamail some
> years ago - but I have seen no data to the contrary since:
> [...]
>
> In summary Hicks et al measured the caffeine and theobromine (total
> methylxanthine) content of six different teas (three bagged and three
> loose leaf, including black, oolong and green types). They measured
> caffeine extraction in boiling water at 5 minutes (69%), 10 minutes
> (92%) and 15 minutes (100%).

Thanks, Nigel, for taking the trouble to swat down this endlessly
recurring rumor!

This may seem like a small point, but I wonder if "boiling water" here
means water that was boiled or water that continues to boil for the
duration. At 15 minutes that could make a big difference.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html