caffeine free tea

when you want to enjoy your tea routine but not deal with jumpy feeling from caffeine, decaf or caffeine free teas save the day as practical alternatives. these options let you relish the taste of tea without the side-effects.

decaffeinated teas or decaf teas are regular teas that go through a special process to remove or tone down the caffeine content. the goal is to keep the taste and discard as much caffeine as possible. this caffeine makeover is done with organic solvents, carbon dioxide or the swiss water process.

removing caffeine from tea is a game-changer for tea enthusiasts. it allows you to enjoy the rich taste of tea without dealing with potential caffeine side effects such as insomnia or a faster heart rate.

while decaffeinated teas aren't entirely without caffeine, herbal teas (or tisanes) are the real caffeine-free options. these teas are sourced directly from plants without any caffeine content, like chamomile, peppermint or rooibos. so, no extra processing is needed – they're naturally caffeine-free.

• flowers: herbal teas, like chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, are made using flowers and offer a calming and soothing floral experience.
• leaves and stalks: these help you make a refreshing drink, like peppermint tea and lemongrass tea.
• roots: they have unique flavours – ginger root tea has a warm and spicy flavour while liquorice root tea has a sweet and soothing taste.
• spices: herbal teas made from spices bring a lively variety. cinnamon tea has warmth, turmeric tea is slightly spicy and cardamom tea provides a fragrant and slightly sweet flavours.
• fruits: these teas have a sweet and fruity flavours and are usually combined with spices or other ingredients to make a balanced drink. apple-cinnamon tea is one such option.

Interestingly, tea leaves has caffeine. This means for a tea to be decaffeinated, the caffeine needs to be removed. There are four different decaffeination methods used:

1. Carbon dioxide - the most natural decaffeination method used. High pressure and high temps are used on tea leaves until the carbon dioxide gets to a certain state. The carbon dioxide turns into a solvent and extracts the caffeine. 
2. Water processing - the tea leaves are soaked in hot water then it is placed through a carbon filter which removes the caffeine molecules. The water is then added back to the leaves. 
3. Methylene chloride - the tea leaves are soaked in a chemical solvent called methylene chloride. The chemical is taken out which also takes out the caffeine.
4. Ethyl acetate - the soaking of tea leaves is done this time in ethyl acetate. This is  a chemical that naturally contained in tea leaves. The chemical and caffeine is removed.

Unlocking the true potential of loose tea lies in its ability to expand fully during the brewing process, granting a robust and fulfilling flavour profile. However, achieving the same level of brewing excellence with regular herbal tea bags might prove challenging. However, our tea temples generously accommodate the tea leaves, allowing them to infuse properly.

how should caffeine free tea bags be brewed?

1. Firstly, grab your favourite cup from the cupboard.  
2. Pop one of our caffeine free tea bag in it 
3. Put quality unfiltered cold fresh water in the kettle then boil. 
4. Cover the tea bag with boiling water 
5. Leave to brew for around 3-4 minutes. 
6. Take out the caffeine free tea bag for a warming drink.

Some of our caffeine free herbal teas (liquorice & mint, lemon & ginger, super fruit) can even be turned into an iced tea. You can do this by putting tea bags in a large jug and adding filtered water.  Let the tea bags sit for 10 minutes then remove the tea bags. Add lemon slices or honey to sweeten. Our caffeine free tea can be enjoyed any time of the day.

why should you buy decaf tea bags from teapigs?

A. herbal options, like chamomile, peppermint, rhubarb and ginger tea are excellent 0% caffeine options. these blends are sourced from plants that are naturally without any caffeine and only they give you a truly zero caffeine experience.

A. while any regular tea variety can undergo decaffeination, black and green tea are the most common flavours available. however, the options increase significantly if you want to skip the caffeine altogether. then you can go for herbal teas – a fantastic choice without any caffeine.

A. just like regular tea, you can brew decaf tea bags multiple times. it gets lighter in flavour each time you brew, and you may notice it becoming faint or clear. that’s when you stop brewing further.

A. decaffeinated tea undergoes a process to reduce caffeine, but that doesn’t make it 100% caffeine free. traces may remain! in contrast, tea varieties that are caffeine free (like herbal teas) don’t have caffeine by default. both cater to those wanting to control caffeine intake, with decaf having some residual caffeine and caffeine-free being entirely void of it.