Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and whether it is drank for its flavor or for its health benefits, one thing is certain, there are many who would prefer it without the caffeine it contains. Of course, decaffeinating tea is a process that leaves many a bit skeptical, firstly because along with the caffeine in the tea, some of the aroma is lost as well, and secondly because the decaffeinating process will also get rid of some of the essential antioxidant factors tea is so famous for.
Regardless of being black, green, oolong or white tea, every type of tea resulting from the plant called Camellia sinensis will, to some degree or another, contain caffeine. This raises a problem because despite all the great benefits tea could bring (antioxidants, minerals, anti-aging, diuretic), caffeine, in certain cases, would null all those benefits, and in others, would certainly make them far less appealing. Decaffeinating tea is a difficult and often mutilating (for the tea's flavor and beneficial substances), but there are ways to get the both of best worlds, by choosing teas which have been decaffeinated through methods that allow most of the other substances, save for caffeine to remain inside the tea leafs or by simply decaffeinating your own tea.
There currently are two methods for tea decaffeination. One of them employs ethyl acetate as a solvent, but unfortunately, along with the caffeine, the tea leaves lose around 70% of the beneficial substances it contains as well. The second method employs carbon dioxide and water and is said to remove the caffeine from the tea leaves while leaving 95% of the other substances intact. Both methods will make the tea lose some of its flavor, but the less aggressive one will probably leave more of it intact as well. A good way to make sure that you are buying the healthier version of the decaf tea is to check the packaging and buy the one that has been treated with CO2. Don't buy the product unless it states which methods was employed in the decaffeination process, after all, if they are not mentioning it, they have something to hide.
A home-made way to get rid of some of the caffeine in your tea without worrying what the industrial decaffeination process has done to the healthy substances in your tea is to simply pour some hot water on the tea you have prepared for infusion, to let the leaves seep for 20-45 seconds and then to throw the water out. The infusion you will prepare from those same leaves will have up to 80% less caffeine, which, considering that tea has far less caffeine than coffee, is almost negligible, and far safer in terms of the other necessary substances.
Whether you choose to buy regular or decaf tea it's up to you, but make sure you do so after weighing all the pros and cons. Also make sure that what you buy is of the best quality, especially if you are buying decaf, since decaf tea generally tends to be made out of the poorer quality leaves.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
Shop for Loose Tea, Teapots, and Accessories in our Loose Tea Shop
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and whether it is drank for its flavor or for its health benefits, one thing is certain, there are many who would prefer it without the caffeine it contains. Of course, decaffeinating tea is a process that leaves many a bit skeptical, firstly because along with the caffeine in the tea, some of the aroma is lost as well, and secondly because the decaffeinating process will also get rid of some of the essential antioxidant factors tea is so famous for.
Tell a friend