Skip to Content

Does Tea Make You Smarter?

Drinking tea has long been associated with intellectual people. A popular beverage among scholars and other people who frequently hit the books, there’s no denying that drinking tea can make you feel more alert and focused when you’re trying to learn things. 

Research has shown that people who regularly drink tea have more organized cognitive abilities, and tea contains many chemical compounds that can positively impact brain function. Tea also contains ingredients that increase alertness and concentration during mental activities. 

Tea may not give you superhuman intelligence, but it can definitely help you learn more efficiently. Read on to learn more about the mental boosting properties of tea and how it can help make you smarter. 

Tea Makes You Think Smarter

So does tea really make you smarter? It depends on how you define smarts, but scientists in Singapore showed through a twenty-five year study in 2019 that people who drink green tea regularly (4-5 times a week) show brain structures that are organized more efficiently than people who don’t drink tea. 

Improved cognitive structures change your thinking in the following ways: 

  • Memory: More efficient pathways in the brain make it easier for you to remember things. This can have a positive impact on both short-term and long-term memory.
  • Problem-solving: People with effective cognition can solve problems faster and with better results than people who don’t have those improved neural pathways.
  • Attention: People with strong cognition can pay closer attention to the details associated with a concept. They’re also able to hold their focus longer over time so that they can remember and recall the information later. This also improves a person’s ability to learn and assimilate information. (Source: Lumen Learning)

These are just a few of the positive impacts that tea can have on cognitive function. While the tea itself might not make you smarter, it makes the uptake of new information much easier for your brain. 

can tea make you smarter

Is Tea Good for Your Brain?

Aside from making you smarter by improving the cognitive organization of your brain, tea also has other health benefits that can help improve your overall brain health. All tea has been judged as good for your brain health, but green tea in particular is associated with improved cognitive function. 

What Ingredients in Tea Are Good for Your Brain?

There are several different ingredients in tea that are good for your brain and the rest of your body, too. Here are the major active ingredients in tea that are considered good for your brain:

  • EGCG: EGCG (also known as epigallocatechin gallate) is a botanical chemical which causes effects on the body such as reduced inflammation. EGCG is classified as part of a larger group of plant compounds known as polyphenols that are associated with a wide range of positive health effects. (Source: Healthline)
  • L-Theanine: L-theanine is an amino acid that is found in the tea plant and also some species of mushrooms. L-theanine can increase the levels of brain chemicals that induce an elevated mood, such as serotonin and dopamine. L-theanine also reduces the production of stress hormones that negatively impact mood, such as cortisol. (Source: MedicalNewsToday)
  • Antioxidants: Along with EGCG, tea contains several other antioxidants that are associated with positive brain and body health. These antioxidants reduce inflammation and are also associated with the prevention of several systemic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
  • Caffeine: The most perceivable active ingredient in green tea is caffeine, a mild stimulant that is responsible for increasing alertness and mental focus. One of the advantages of ingesting caffeine in tea form rather than coffee or some other beverage is that the caffeine in tea metabolizes more slowly, resulting in a more mellow buzz.  

Tea is full of all kinds of chemicals that can help your brain function more efficiently. The fact that these chemicals also have a positive impact on other parts of your body is all the more reason to incorporate it into your diet as a nutritional supplement. 

is tea good for your brain

Is Tea Good for Studying?

Tea has many useful functions, but one of its best functions is as a study aid. There are many advantages to drinking tea over drinking other types of caffeinated beverages. Tea is also better than taking other types of stimulants such as recreational drugs as a study aid. These are just a few of the reasons why tea is your top choice for studying: 

  • Slow caffeine feed: Because the caffeine in tea metabolizes more slowly than in drinks like soda and coffee, this means you’ll remain focused longer without feeling a strong crash in your energy levels later as the caffeine abruptly wears off.
  • Reduced stress: Tea contains ingredients that reduce your production of the stress hormone cortisol. This means that drinking tea while you’re studying for a particularly stressful test or final can help keep you calm and collected.
  • Improved cognitive function: Tea’s ability to improve your cognitive function means you’ll be able to pay attention longer and remember academic concepts more effectively.
  • Elevated mood: Along with reducing your negative reactions to stress, there are also chemicals in tea that help put you in a more positive mindset. 

This combination of effects makes tea a super-drink when it comes to late-night study sessions. You’ll be able to study longer and maintain your energy levels without developing the irritability and exhaustion associated with other caffeinated drinks. 

What is the Best Tea for Brain Health?

While all types of tea are good for the health of your brain and can potentially help make you smarter, green tea is the type of tea that is most closely associated with positive brain benefits. The fact that this type of tea is less processed than other forms of black tea means that it contains a higher level of brain-boosting chemicals than more processed forms of tea.  

Not a green tea fan? You can still gain the same benefits you get from green tea from other forms of tea too. However, you’ll need to ingest a cup of tea multiple times a week to get the full cognitive advantages of the drink. 

Tea Is Great for Cognitive Function

If you want to drink something that will help improve your mental abilities, you can do a lot worse than drinking tea as your daily morning or evening beverage. Not only can this delicious drink help boost your brain, it can also help prevent a wide variety of other illnesses too. 

Want to Save this Does Tea Make You Smarter post to read later?  Save it to your favorite Pinterest board and pass it on!

does tea make you smarter