Do you find it challenging to decipher which teas are caffeinated and which are caffeine-free? With so many types out there, from green and white tea to herbal and oolong, it can be tempting to group them as one, or worse yet, abandon them altogether. But by doing that, you'd be missing out on the benefits of non-caffeinated herbal teas. Luckily, there are only two tea types to remember—those made from the caffeine-bearing tea tree and those made from herbs.
How can I distinguish between caffeinated and non-caffeinated teas?
Would it surprise you to know that all caffeinated teas come from the same source? The word 'tea' originally referred to a brewed drink made from the leaves of a single plant: Camellia sinensis. This plant produces caffeine in its leaves and is the source of the five color-named teas (white, yellow, green, black, and dark green) and oolong tea.
Six types from a single plant–it's a busy tree!
So, are there teas not made from Camellia sinensis? Absolutely. Any tea not brewed from the caffeinated leaves of the tea plant is considered an herbal tea, also known as tisane. These teas are often made with recognizable herbs derived from roots, flower petals, or other beneficial plant materials. Many of these will sound familiar and may have even been in a meal you've recently eaten.
Mint tea, for example, is made with the leaves of the caffeine-free mint plant and contains no leaves from the tea plant, Camellia. It does, however, contain many beneficial properties, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and the ability to help with an upset stomach or cold symptoms.
Did you know that Chamomile tea is made from daisies? A few specific varieties are cultivated, dried, then brewed in hot water to give a relaxing cold-weather beverage that's known for its calming effects.
Ginger tea is an excellent example of a stimulant-free root-based herbal tea. Like other herbal teas, it carries the stomach-settling benefits of the root through the brewing process, creating a delicious tea that you can enjoy both for its taste and medicinal properties.
Even teas made with cocoa can be caffeine-free. At Monarch Tea House, we use only caffeine-free cocoa in our teas and mark all teas with the caffeine content on each tea's listing.
Additional Herbal Teas:
- Hibiscus
- Fruits (like our Cherry Berry Taffy tea, which is made with cherries and raspberries.)
- Licorice
- Rooibos
- Lemongrass
- Nuts and seeds
The most effective way is to find a tea provider that you trust. We take special care to ensure that our teas are labeled with caffeine content and keep the distinction between caffeine-free herbal teas and traditional caffeinated teas. Aside from the label "herbal tea" to identify a stimulant-free tea, you can also look for a color or "oolong" in the name. If a tea blend has either of those, it's most likely caffeinated.
At Monarch Tea House, we take pride in offering quality teas for all customers. To give caffeine-free herbal teas a try, don't hesitate to shop our current tea offerings online or reach out directly with any questions!