Nadine Tritsch

Mrs. Nadine Tritsch

Postgraduate Study of Toxicology and Environmental Toxicology, Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 January 2022 in Foods
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Nadine TritschNadine Tritsch
Nadine Tritsch
MSMarc Christian Steger
Marc Christian Steger
Valerie SegatzValerie Segatz
Valerie Segatz
Patrik BlumenthalPatrik Blumenthal
Patrik Blumenthal
Marina RiglingMarina Rigling
Marina Rigling
Dirk W. LachenmeierDirk W. Lachenmeier
Dirk W. Lachenmeier
Coffee leaf tea is prepared as an infusion of dried leaves of Coffea spp. in hot water. It is a traditional beverage in some coffee-producing countries and has been authorized in 2020 within the European Union (EU) according to its novel food regulation. This article reviews current knowledge on the safety of coffee leaf tea. From the various ingredients contained in coffee leaves, only two were highlighted as possibly hazardous to human health, namely, caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), with maximum limits implemented in EU legislation, which is why this article focuses on these two substances. While the caffeine content is comparable to that of roasted coffee beans and subject to strong fluctuations in relation to the age of the leaves, climate, coffee species, and variety, a maximum of 1–3 cups per day may be recommended. The EGCG content is typically absent or below the intake of 800 mg/day classified as hepatotoxic by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), so this compound is suggested as toxicologically uncritical. Depending on selection and processing (age of the leaves, drying, fermentation, roasting, etc.), coffee leaf tea may exhibit a wide variety of flavors, and its full potential is currently almost unexplored. As a coffee by-product, it is certainly interesting to increase the income of coffee farmers. Our review has shown that coffee leaf tea is not assumed to exhibit risks for the consumer, apart from the well-known risk of caffeine inherent to all coffee-related beverages. This conclusion is corroborated by the history of its safe use in several countries around the world.