Drinking three to eight cups of black tea a day is considered optimal. Three cups is the minimum needed to enjoy the health benefits, while eight cups is the recommended upper limit to avoid the effects of excess caffeine.

Making the most of black tea's benefits

The polyphenols in black tea are responsible for many of its positive properties. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial for the cardiovascular system, and their effects can be felt from as few as three cups of tea a day.

That said, black tea is also naturally high in caffeine. In large quantities, this can have a stimulating effect. While it contains less caffeine than coffee, it does contain more than green tea.

How much black tea to avoid sleep disruption?

For those sensitive to caffeine, a maximum of eight cups a day is recommended. It is also advisable to avoid drinking black tea in the evening. If you wish to reduce caffeine content, a pre-infusion of 2 to 3 minutes can help remove much of it. The second infusion can then be steeped for longer to draw out the benefits of the tannins.

Women are advised to drink black tea between meals rather than with them, to avoid interfering with iron absorption.