Are you looking for teas without caffeine? Or maybe you’re looking for a decaf tea with very little caffeine?
No matter the time of the day, I can never resist a good cup of hot tea. Sometimes, that fondness for tea costs me dearly because sometimes I’ll drink a strong cup of Earl Grey right before bed and end up being wide awake until early in the morning.
As a result, I do my best to keep my tea chest full of caffeine-free tea as well.
In this blog post, I’ll share my top picks for teas that contain no caffeine or have small amounts. While most of the following teas are technically not true “teas” from the Camellia sinensis plant, they’re still considered teas by most people.
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Which Teas Have Little to No Caffeine?
There are 3 categories of tea to consider when discussing caffeine content:
True Teas with Caffeine
The first category is your true tea made from the Camellia sinensis plant, which naturally contains caffeine. All of the major teas come from this plant including green, black, pu erh, oolong, and yellow.
These regular teas are known for their stimulating effects. Their tea leaves contain approximately 3% caffeine by weight. Since you’re looking for teas without caffeine, let’s move on.
Herbal Teas
The second category is herbal tea, which is made by infusing various non-tea plant materials into water such as flowers, herbs, fruit, bark, or leaves.
Most herbal teas are caffeine-free with a few exceptions such as yerba mate, guarana, some citrus teas, and even coffee (yes it’s technically an herbal tea).
They aren’t true “teas” since they’re not made from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, everyday people still treat them like regular tea.
By the way, Amazon offers some great Herbal Teas including samplers.
Decaffeinated Tea
The last category is decaffeinated tea which contains very little caffeine.
You’ll see a lot of black, green and white teas marketed as “decaf” but in fact it’s not possible to decaffeinate tea entirely. As a result, decaf teas still have some trace amounts of caffeine leftover.
Most regular tea drinkers won’t be affected by these minute quantities of caffeine, but if you’re unusually sensitive to caffeine, you might want to stick to herbal teas in the evenings.
Some popular brands offering decaf tea with little caffeine include:
- Twinings
- Harney & Sons
- Taylors of Harrogate
- Bigelow
- Tetley
If you drink tea for its health benefits, decaffeination may reduce the amount of health promoting compounds found in tea compared to real tea. In one study, it showed that the total flavanol content varied from 21.2 to 103.2 mg/g for regular teas, while was from 4.6 to 39.0 mg/g for decaffeinated teas.
You can check out the Decaffeinated Tea from Amazon.
My Top Picks for Teas without Caffeine
And for what you’ve been waiting for. Here are my top picks for teas without caffeine (Note: these are all herbal teas):
1. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a popular tea without caffeine and has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years in China, India and other Asian countries. It can be served as both a hot or cold drink.
It’s made with ginger root and can be paired with lemon or lime juice, honey, water and milk. Mixing other spices and fruit is a nice touch. Try apple, cinnamon sticks or cloves to create different flavor combinations.
Ginger has been traditionally used to relieve nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but it’s also known to have many other health benefits including improving circulation and digestion.
2. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is another caffeine-free tea option for those who want to drink tea without the extra energy. It’s a great choice for those who are looking to reduce their caffeine intake.
It’s rich in antioxidants and has been shown to help with digestion and soothe the stomach. It also contains vitamins A, C, D and E which are important for your immune system.
Peppermint tea also contains some minerals such as calcium and magnesium which can help with sleep quality. It has been shown to reduce stress, improve digestion, and boost overall immunity.
3. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a type of herbal tea that also has no caffeine. It has a sweet and flowery taste and is often used to help with sleep.
The plant’s flowers have been used since ancient times as a medicinal herb for many ailments, including stomach upset, anxiety, insomnia, depression, headaches, skin problems, indigestion and menstrual difficulties.
Chamomile also contains flavonoids which are natural antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation in the body.
4. Parsley Tea
The taste of parsley tea is very similar to the taste of green tea, but it has an earthier flavor to it.
Parsley tea is a caffeine-free alternative for those who need to stay away from caffeine. It’s also a great way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C.
Parsley tea has many benefits that make it worth giving a try. It can help with digestion, reduce bloating and gas, as well as help people who are trying to lose weight.
5. Spearmint Tea
Spearmint tea is another popular non-caffeinated tea and offers a refreshing taste.
It’s also popular because of its health benefits. It can help with digestion and reduce symptoms of nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and stomach ulcers.
Spearmint tea can also help with the common cold by reducing fever and relieving congestion. It can be mixed with peppermint for those who enjoy the combination of both.