Tea and caffeine
Everyone is familiar with the different types of tea: green, black, white, herbal, rooibos, and fruit. All types are produced and processed in different ways. If the tea is made from a tea plant, it often contains caffeine. The amount of caffeine depends on the plant, the processing method, the harvest time, and the age of the leaves. The way the tea is brewed also affects the caffeine content. The amount of caffeine released depends on the water temperature, the amount of tea used, and how long the tea is left to steep.
Teas containing caffeine
Green, black, and white tea are made from the leaves of a tea plant. This means that these types of tea always contain a small amount of caffeine. The plant produces caffeine itself to ward off insects and other pests. It is therefore naturally present. The actual amount of caffeine varies per type.
Decaffeinated tea
Teas that do not contain caffeine do not come from the tea plant. These include herbal teas and fruit teas. These types of tea are made from various herbs and fruits, but without the tea plant. If the ingredients used do not contain caffeine, then your tea will not contain it either.
Rooibos and caffeine
Pure rooibos tea does not contain caffeine, but if you buy a blended rooibos tea, you should check the ingredients carefully. If the rooibos also contains green or white tea, caffeine may be released.
Decaffeinated green or black tea
There are also decaffeinated green and black teas. As the name suggests, these teas do not contain caffeine. However, the methods used to decaffeinate tea can never guarantee that it contains 0% caffeine. Decaffeination is carried out either naturally or chemically. Both methods often leave 1-2 mg of caffeine per cup.
Enjoy caffeine-free tea
The safest choice for caffeine-free tea are herbal teas and fruit teas. If you also choose loose tea instead of tea that comes in bags, you can be sure that no caffeine has been used in the processing. And you can enjoy fresher tea with richer flavours.