Tea has varying levels of caffeine. However, similar to coffee, decaffeinated tea is also available. Decaf tea is a nice alternative for those who love tea but may be sensitive to caffeine. It is also a great option when you’re craving the taste of a black tea but don’t want to consume that much caffeine later in the day. But how does the caffeine from tea get removed? Let’s find out!
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How Tea is Decaffeinated
Decaffeinating tea can be done in a few different ways. Each method will have its own advantages and disadvantages.
Water Processing (Swiss Water) Method
The Swiss Water Process is a method of decaffeinating tea that uses only water to remove caffeine from the tea leaves.
The tea leaves are soaked in hot water, which extracts the caffeine along with other compounds. It is then passed through a carbon filter to remove the caffeine from the water.
The tea leaves are then soaked in the caffeine-free water, which allows them to reabsorb the flavours that were lost during the initial extraction.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Method
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is a naturally occurring gas. This method is considered to be the safest method for removing caffeine from tea. It is also the best at retaining the original flavour of a tea which is a huge plus.
With this method, the tea leaves are placed in a container with carbon dioxide at an extremely high pressure. This environment helps carbon dioxide to act as a solvent and remove the caffeine molecules from the leaves without compromising the flavour, quality or other beneficial compounds.
Solvent-Based Methods
Solvent-based methods are another option for decaffeinating tea. These methods use solvents such as ethyl acetate or methylene chloride to remove caffeine. The downside is that they may leave behind a chemical aftertaste.
To extract the caffeine, the tea leaves are soaked in the solvent (ie. ethyl acetate). The resulting mixture is then passed through a filter, which removes the caffeine from the solvent. The tea leaves are then soaked in the caffeine-free solvent to reabsorb the flavours and oils.
Types of Decaffeinated Tea
Decaf tea is available in loose leaf or tea bag form. Various types of teas can be decaffeinated, however it’s most common to find the following tea types on the shelves.
Black Tea
Black tea is most often consumed in the morning because of its caffeine contents and bold flavours. It’s common to find decaffeinated black teas like Ceylon, Assam and other breakfast blends.
Green Tea
Green tea is known for its light and refreshing flavour. It is generally already low in caffeine when compared to black tea but it’s also a common tea to decaffeinate and find on shelves. Decaf green tea is available for pure green teas and blends.
Decaffeinated Tea vs. Caffeine-Free Tea
Herbal teas are caffeine-free. However, herbal teas are not decaffeinated tea and that’s important to note here.
Herbal teas are made from a variety of plants, including chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos. These plants are already naturally caffeine-free, so there is no need to decaffeinate them.
Herbal infusions are known for their calming and soothing properties. They are a popular choice for bedtime tea.
Best Decaf Teas
Many tea brands offer decaffeinated teas, including decaf versions of already popular tea blends of theirs.
When purchasing decaffeinated tea, in-store or online, I recommend researching or asking the company for information on the method of tea decaffeination that was used on the particular tea.
Here are a few brands and decaf teas I recommend:
Harney & Sons
Harney & Sons uses the Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) method for their loose leaf decaf teas and sachets. The Ethyl Acetate method is used for the teas found in their tea bags.
- Vanilla Comoro is a decaf black tea that is blended with creamy, sweet vanilla notes. The black tea base is light-bodied since it has gone through the decaffeination process. It is available loose, sachet or in tea bag form. View this tea at Harney.com
- Decaf Ceylon (also known as their Decaf Orange Pekoe) is a high quality black tea with the caffeine removed, yet the depth of flavour remains intact. Available as loose leaf, sachet or tea bags. View this tea at Harney.com
Plum Deluxe
Plum Deluxe uses the Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) method for all of its decaf teas.
- No Obligations is a decaffeinated black tea and rooibos blend that is nutty with almonds and hazelnut. It also has a touch of warm spice. View this tea at PlumDeluxe.com
One of my personal favourite decaf teas from Plum Deluxe is Decaf Toasted Marshmallow. However, it is a limited edition that is usually available in the Fall & Winter, so check for it on their website then!
Check out Plum Deluxe’s entire decaf tea collection here.
The Republic of Tea
The Republic of Tea uses the natural Carbon Dioxide high-pressure extraction process for their line of decaf teas.
- Decaf British Breakfast Tea is a blend of decaffeinated black teas from Assam, Ceylon, and Africa. This robust tea goes well with a splash of milk. It is available as loose leaf tea or tea bags. View this tea at RepublicofTea.com
- Decaf Ginger Peach is an excellent decaffeinated green tea option. It is fruity with a hint of zesty ginger. Delicious both hot or iced. View this tea at RepublicofTea.com
Check out The Republic of Tea’s entire decaf tea collection here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health benefits of drinking decaffeinated tea?
Decaffeinated tea can offer many of the same health benefits as the original tea depending on the method used. The main difference is that it does not have the stimulating effects of caffeine.
Does decaffeinated tea contain any caffeine at all?
Decaffeinated tea is not completely caffeine-free as it does still contain a trace amount of caffeine after the decaffeination process. That being said, it is still much less caffeine than before.
The exact amount of caffeine varies depending on the method used to decaffeinate the tea. Typically, decaffeinated tea may still contain 1-2 milligrams of caffeine per 1 cup.
What does decaffeinated tea taste like?
The flavour of decaffeinated tea will vary depending on the type of tea (ie. black tea or green tea) and the decaffeination method. When compared to the caffeinated version, the taste and aroma may differ slightly. For example, decaf black teas may have a lighter mouthfeel.
Can you decaffeinate tea at home?
It is said that you can decaffeinate tea at home by doing a hot water rinse but that is a myth.
I didn’t know there was more than one way to decaffeinate a tea! Thanks for the recommendations, too!