A warm cup of tea and a book are essential ingredients for a relaxing evening. But a caffeine buzz certainly is not. Stocking your pantry with delicious decaf teas will keep you prepared for a chill sesh at any moment.
Typically, decaf tea either contains herbal ingredients or is decaffeinated through a laboratory process. Many tea manufacturers will use hot carbon dioxide gas to extract the caffeine molecules from the tea leaves. They may also process the teas with methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. These processes remove the caffeine from the tea without removing the flavors.
Herbal teas are those that contain naturally caffeine-free ingredients like herbs and flowers. Flavors like chamomile and mint would fall into this category. While herbal teas can certainly be soothing, you can also opt for a decaffeinated version of your favorite black or green tea.
Here are some of the best decaf teas to sip on at home.
1. Twinnings of London Decaffeinated English Breakfast Tea
English breakfast tea is a classic warm beverage. Twinnings of London’s version contains the full-bodied flavor without the caffeine, so you can brew cups throughout the day. This product is free of artificial ingredients. Each box of tea contains 50 tea bags, and you can purchase one or six boxes. The tea bags are individually wrapped to retain freshness. Twinnings recommends steeping this tea for four minutes.
Pros: The decaf English breakfast tea is just as rich as the caffeinated version. You can buy this tea in bulk, which can be more cost-effective.
Cons: The edges of the tea bag may tear easily. You may need to steep the tea for longer than four minutes for a strong flavor.
2. The Republic of Tea Decaf Ginger Peach Black Tea
The Republic of Tea’s decaf ginger peach tea combines the richness of black tea and sweetness of peaches with a warm blend of spices. The air-tight tin contains 50 tea bags. These bags don’t have individually packaging or strings, so they’re a more eco-friendly option. This particular tea will need to steep for three to five minutes. However, the brand has a wide variety of tea flavors to choose from, all of which you can use for hot and iced tea.
Pros: The ginger flavor is subtle and doesn’t overpower the peach. This product makes a refreshing iced tea.
Cons: This tea is on the lighter side, so you might need to use two tea bags to get a bold flavor.
3. Harney & Sons Black Tea
Harvey & Sons tea has elegant packaging, so it makes a great addition to any gift basket. The decaffeinated black tea has a bold flavor, yet is smooth enough to drink without milk and sugar if you’d like. If black tea isn’t your flavor of choice, you can also purchase decaf teas like peppermint, chamomile and lemon herbal. This product is kosher and gluten free. Each box has 50 wrapped tea bags.
Pros: The tea bags are individually wrapped, so you can take them on the go. The packaging will look great on your counter.
Cons: The tea bags might rip open easily. The flavor might not be strong enough for some tea drinkers.
4. Bigelow Decaffeinated Earl Grey Tea
If you’re looking to stock up on decaf tea, this product is a great option. You’ll receive six boxes of earl grey tea with your order, each containing 20 tea bags. Each bag is individually wrapped in foil pouches to retain freshness. You can expect the bold black tea flavor with notes of bergamot and fruit, and the flavor is comparable to the caffeinated version. There are several other decaffeinated flavors available, including lemon lift, french vanilla, and spiced chai.
Pros: The tea bags will keep their flavor in the pouches, so it’s safe to buy multiple boxes at once. This tea flavor smells delicious as well.
Cons: The bergamot flavor might be too strong for some tea drinkers.
5. Stash Tea Herbal Tea Assortment
Stock your pantry with a selection of fruit flavors with this tea set. Stash’s selection of herbal teas includes wild raspberry hibiscus, meyer lemon, mango passionfruit, lemon ginger, acai berry and strawberry pomegranate. You’ll receive six boxes with your order, each containing 18 to 20 bags. The bags come in foil pouches. These teas contain GMO-free ingredients, so you can enjoy natural flavors with every sip.
Pros: Each flavor of tea is bold and fruit-forward. You can use tea bags for hot or iced tea.
Cons: Some of the flavors can stain surfaces if you spill the tea. Each flavor requires a different steeping time.