The Effects of Caffeine and Tea Polyphenols on Honey Bees

The tea plant, Camellia cenensis, is famous for the caffeine and tea polyphenols that it produces in its leaves. These compounds are also found in its nectar which honey bees readily collect. A study from 2021 published in the Journal of Insect Physiology said floral teapolyphenols can improve honey bee memory retention and olfactory sensitivity. It's almost like the cultivating of an analog of an addiction, but one with survival benefits for the bee as well.