Buzz
For many people, nothing beats unwinding with a warm cup of tea after a busy day. It's the second-most consumed beverage globally, following only water. While it's obvious that some teas are labeled as ‘caffeinated,’ the distinction between decaffeinated and caffeine-free tea is a source of confusion. These terms are not interchangeable, and understanding their differences is key.
You might think that 'decaffeinated' means the tea has absolutely no caffeine, but that's a misconception. In fact, decaf tea leaves undergo a decaffeination process to remove as much caffeine as possible. This is typically achieved with one of four solvents: methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide, or water. However, no matter which method is used, a tiny amount of caffeine remains in the tea after processing.
Art of Tea had a conversation with tea expert Nigel Melican, who explained the so-called '30-second decaf' theory. This suggests that tea leaves can be almost completely decaffeinated by a quick 30-second hot water rinse. Melican debunked the theory, stating, 'You can’t significantly decaffeinate tea with just a 30-second hot water wash.'
Only true tea can undergo decaffeination, as it’s the only variety that contains caffeine in the first place. Green tea, black tea, and white tea all originate from the same plant—Camellia sinensis. Their color and flavor evolve through the oxidation process, but they all begin as the same plant species.
On the other hand, caffeine-free refers to tea that never had caffeine to begin with, and as such, isn’t considered ‘true’ tea. Herbal teas like mint, rooibos, chamomile, hibiscus, and ginger are technically tisanes (pronounced ti-zahns), though they’re widely known as herbal teas. Since these plants and flowers don’t contain caffeine naturally, there’s no need for any decaffeination process.
While decaffeinated tea contains minimal caffeine, it can still impact people who are highly sensitive to the substance. If you're aiming to eliminate caffeine entirely from your diet, it might be a good idea to stick with herbal teas instead.
