I first heard about the concept of tea drunk a few years into my tea journey. At the time I thought there was no way that a beverage like tea could have such psychophysical effects. It turns out that people have been getting tea drunk for centuries! Here’s everything you need to know about what tea drunk is, the pitfalls to watch out for, and which teas are most likely to help you achieve that elusive state of euphoria.
What is Tea Drunk?
Tea drunk, or cha zui, is a feeling of intoxication from drinking tea that is often compared to the effects of alcohol. Some describe it as a pleasant buzz or a sense of euphoria. Others might experience unpleasant nausea instead. Several components of tea affect the brain such as caffeine, catechins, and L-theanine. The consensus is that these are the primary causes of tea drunkenness, but it isn’t something that has been scientifically studied and tested.
That being said, there are accounts of people feeling tea drunk dating back centuries. This poem from Lu Tong (790-835 AD) always struck me as describing the feeling of getting tea drunk.
One bowl moistens the lips and throat;
Two bowls shatters loneliness and melancholy;
Three bowls, thinking hard, one produces five thousand volumes;
Four bowls, lightly sweating, the iniquities of a lifetime disperse towards the pores.
Five bowls cleanses muscles and tendons;
Six bowls accesses the realm of spirit;
One cannot finish the seventh bowl, but feels only a light breeze spring up under the arms.
The French missionary Jacques de Bourges was among the first people outside Asia to write about tea. He wrote the following in his 1666 publication Relation of the Voyage of the Bishop of Beryte to Cochinchina.
During our abode at Siam, after our dinner … we drank some tea . . . we found it very wholesome, and comparing the effects of this tea with those of wine … it is doubtful which of these two may obtain the preeminence if not this leaf.
I asked my followers on Threads what they think tea drunk is. Here are some of the responses.
“I’ve been told by tea sages more learned than I that is a calm, quiet euphoria invoked by a very good tea (and session). I think there’s another dimension. Sure, there’s that whole Zen crap, but I think tea drunkenness in its more social stages can be loud, bawdy, and boisterous. I fluctuate.” – lazyliteratus
“As someone who smoked weed daily before I got into tea, I can’t help but compare the two experiences. It’s honestly like the heady sensation of being high but without the brain fog and much more energizing and subtle. Like a cloak of positivity has been draped over your brain 😂
Also based on discussions with a few tea friends, we have a theory that cannabis users may be more sensitive to tea drunkenness than those who have never partaken. I think this is in part just knowing what to look for.” – sweetapple_ca
“For me it’s like the spice from Dune. I grow tea, so it’s all over me all the time. My eyes turned green and I can make yellow traffic lights go longer so I can get through them. That’s what tea drunk is for me…” – the_anthony_grown_life
Is Tea Drunk Real?
Tea Drunk is something I heard about when I first got into tea. I hadn’t started brewing gongfu style yet and puerh was still on the horizon so I didn’t understand the hype. It wasn’t until years later that I first experienced it for myself. The teahouse where I worked at the time held a comparative tasting of silver needle white teas. After tasting six different teas gongfu style in rapid succession the whole group had a blissed-out feeling that left us sitting there long after the last sip of tea was finished.
While I think tea drunk is real, it’s important to remember that every tea session is ever so slightly different. Even if you drink the same tea brewed the same way, the experience can vary based on everything from your mood and the weather to who you are sharing tea with. Constantly chasing that high is only going to lead to disappointment that ultimately reduces your enjoyment of tea.
The Dangers of Tea Drunkenness
On the flip side of all of this, there is a potential to experience negative effects such as jitters, nausea, and headaches. Most of these are a response to too much caffeine consumption. Everyone has different tolerance levels, so listening to your body is important. Avoid drinking tea on an empty stomach. If you plan on having a long session, having dry snacks to munch on such as nuts and dried fruit is a good idea. There can also be a temptation to over-brew your tea. More doesn’t necessarily mean better. Brewing for a long time or using larger than necessary volumes of leaves will only result in a stomach-churning bitterness.
Which Teas Will Get You Tea Drunk?
While there is never a guarantee of that euphoric feeling happening, look for teas that are higher in caffeine and/or L-theanine. They should be unflavored and unblended. Brewing gongfu style can also help since it yields multiple concentrated infusions. Here are some teas that are worth exploring.
Have you ever been tea drunk? Was it brought on by a particular tea or circumstance? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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