Where does tea stand on the PH scale? Is tea acidic or alkaline? Does it matter? Tea is naturally on the acidic side of the Ph scale. How does that affect the taste of the tea? What about the effect acidity may have on our bodies?
Have you ever had heartburn and wondered if your tea was causing it? Do you know what teas to drink to ease that same heartburn? This article answers all these questions and more. Go grab your cup of tea and let’s get started.
Is Tea Acidic?
Most teas are low in acidity and that’s a good thing for us tea lovers. When looking at the acidic levels of the tea take into consideration the following.
the type of tea
how you drink tea
how often do you drink tea
what you add to your tea
When looking at the PH chart note that a higher number does not mean more acidity. Black teas can have a PH level of between 7-10 which is on the lower end of the acidity scale. Fruit teas range between 2-and 3 on the PH scale. This makes them have a very high acidic level.
I’ve included a chart to show you the actual scale of PH levels.
So as. You can see from the chart, that while tea PH levels could be 7,8 or 9 it puts them in the low acidic range. PH levels are easy to measure yourself with PH Strips you can purchase at your local pharmacy.
You can also taste the acidity in most teas. The acid content of a tea will show in its sourness. The more sour tea is the higher the acidity. It’s one of the reasons some people do not like teas that contain fruit. The fruit is at a higher acidic level and gives the tea a stronger sour taste.
Sencha is a more expensive tea, with a sweeter taste to it. It has the highest amount of polyphenols, which are responsible for the health benefits of green tea.
What Makes Tea Acidic?
It’s all about the PH levels. Tea is not the sole display of PH levels. These PH levels are in everything we eat and drink. While all foods and drinks contain PH levels. All PH levels are not the same.
Acidity in our foods can give us indigestion and heartburn, as well as acid reflux. There are many things that factor into how acidity affects us. One is the level of acidity. For teas those levels are:
Tea Average PH Level
- Black
- 4.9-5.5
- White
- 6.9-9.7
- Green
- 7-10
- Yellow
- 6.9-9.7
- Oolong
- 5.9-8.2
- Matcha
- 7-10
- Mint/chamomile
- 6-7
- Lemon
- 3
There are other things that affect the PH level in tea. Those include:
- how long do you steep your tea
- the amount of tea leaves used
- bags vs loose leaf
- temperature
- how diluted your tea is
- additives like citrus flavoring, milk, and herbs
There are things you can do to reduce the PH levels of your cup of tea if you want to. Some people use tea to calm an upset stomach. Others find that tea causes more issues. It depends on the person as well as the tea brewed.
It is a black tea, why call 'Honey' because during the tea tree grows, the bud chews onto the leaves and sucks back the juice, during the tea process, the tea taste comes out with a very mild honey aroma and taste.
What other factors affect the level of tea acidity
Phenolic Acids – In tea, the phenolic acids bring out the flavor and aftertaste of the tea. They also contain many health benefits. But higher levels can make the teas taste more sour or bitter.
Soils – Tea is grown all over the world. The soil a tea is grown in can affect the acidity of the tea. The microbiological compounds of the soil affect the tea leaves.
Oxidation – The more tea is processed the more acidic than tea will be. This is just the tea leaf and nothing else added or even brewed. That is why green tea is lower in PH levels then
Tea brewing methods – I tell people to brew the tea the way they like it. I like my tea strong. When I fast I only drink herbals. When I go back to drinking tea again it has to be a lot milder than when I last drank it. The longer you steep a tea the stronger and more acidic it may become.
Tea Storage – Storing tea is important in keeping the tea fresh. While it may not raise the acidity it may lower it, causing the tea to be rancid or go stale. Store tea in air-tight containers and in dark cool places. Not in the refrigerator.
Additives – what you add to your cup of tea also influences the level of acidity. Lemons especially will raise the PH level of your tea. You also should consider spices, fruits, sweeteners, and milk products.
A brisk summer Assam tea with sweet and sour flavors, woody notes, and a hint of astringency.
How to make tea less acidic
Finding that your favorite tea is starting to upset your stomach? Is the tea you are drinking causing acidic issues? There are a few things that you can do.
Dilute – You can dilute your tea with water or milk. Both will lessen the effects of any acidity.
Decrease brewing time – If you stop brewing your tea a bit sooner than normal your tea won’t’ be as strong. Decreasing the amount of time and decreasing the strength of your tea can cut the acidity.
Coffee – If you must you can always drink coffee. Coffee is said to have a higher PH level than tea (5.35). Depending on how you drink your tea and coffee will be the determining factor of acidity.
Duck Shit Aroma (or Ya Shi Xiang) is part of the revered Golden Phoenix family of teas that come from Phoenix Mountain in the Guangdong Province of China.
Is drinking tea harmful to your teeth or stomach?
Heartburn – Heartburn is generally what people say or “feel” when they have acid reflux. Caffeine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. This allows the acid of the stomach to roll back into the esophagus causing heartburn.
Tooth Pain – It’s said that some people experience tooth pain when drinking tea. It may be the PH levels of the tea. To find out, drink a cup of water after the tea. I have sensitive teeth. During the changes of the seasons (weird, I know) but when that happens. Cold or hot drinks will bother my back teeth for a short period of time. Then it passes.
Stomach Upset – The acid in the teas can cause such symptoms as bloating, gas, burping, hiccups, nausea, and coughing.
Tooth Decay – Foods that have higher PH levels consumed regularly can cause erosion of tooth enamel. They can also cause stains on the teeth. Most stains can be easily removed by your dentist.
What tea is best for acidity?
One of the most effective ways to fight heartburn or excess acidity is by drinking herbal tea. There are a few herbs that are good at reducing the acid in our stomachs or coating the linings to help ease the pain of heartburn.
These herbs are drunk as teas. The herbs can be combined with each other to perform the task of easing any adverse acidity attacks.
Chamomile
This soothing aromatic blend is crafted with minty, calm, and slightly sweet botanicals. This blend has been known to restore balance in the digestive system with each and every sip
Licorice (my go-to)
Called “sweet stalk” in Sanskrit and “sweet herb” in Chinese, licorice is loved around the world. Not only is it perfectly sweet, but licorice root benefits include soothing the digestive tract and supporting the respiratory system.
Slippery Elm
Premium, hand-crafted artisan teas made with all-natural ingredients to make every cup an enjoyable herbal experience!
Marshmallow (not the fluffy kind)
Buddha Teas Marshmallow flavor is root-like, earthy, and deeply soothing. 
And if you are still looking for a little tea with your herbs
This fresh, spicy, cool tea has taken root and flourished. When you sip this tea, enriched with mint leaves and orange in color, you will take a walk through time.
Conclusion
Heartburn is never fun. In most cases, it’s not the tea that is causing the issue. If we are adding ingredients to our teas the level of acidity may rise. Teas are not very high in acidity, but too much of a good thing can cause a flare-up.
So what do you do? You can also use the steps above to dilute the effects of the tea. There are also the great benefits of herbs that help fight off the acid in our stomachs.
