Whether you are intolerant to caffeine, pregnant or just believe that decaf tea is better for you, finding the best decaf tea is certainly not easy. That’s because many brands are not open about the decaffeination method used and you may unknowingly buy something which is not so good for you after all. That’s the reason why we decided to put together this post, to share with you some of the best decaf tea brands you can find online.
Why not all decaf teas are created equal
There are two ways the tea is decaffeinated: either naturally or chemically. Chemical decaffeination uses chemical solvents which may still remain in tea after the process, although in very small amounts and in safe limits. However, safe or not safe, why consume something extra with your tea that is not needed? Besides, the chemical residue left in the tea affects its taste so your tea won’t taste very pleasant and nothing like normal tea.
Natural decaffeination using CO2 or water processing is a much better way of decaffeinating the tea. CO2 decaffeination is commonly used by organic tea brands and is approved by The Soil Association. The taste of the tea won’t be negatively affected and when drinking this type of tea you can rest assured it’s totally safe and doesn’t contain any scary chemicals.
Just to mention that after the decaffeination process, the tea will still contain a little bit of caffeine. On average, decaffeinated black tea will contain anything from 2mg to 6mg of caffeine while decaf green tea will have around 2mg to 4mg.
The best decaf teas you can buy
The decaf teas listed here have been decaffeinated using only natural methods (usually CO2).
If you can, try and buy organic decaf tea, to avoid pesticides and choose loose leaf tea for better quality. Buying organic is especially important if you are pregnant so that you can avoid any unnecessary toxins.
There is not so much choice out there when it comes to good quality decaf tea, but here are some of the best decaf teas we managed to find:
Birchall Great Rift Decaf – Best Decaf Black Tea Overall
Birchall Tea is a long-established company who got involved in the tea trade in 1872. Today, this family business is going strong with the company becoming one of the largest exporters of black teas from East Africa in the world.
The brand has won several awards for their black teas, green teas and infusions and continues to win awards every year.
Their Great Rift Decaf tea has won Great Taste award this year and in 2017 so it had to be on our list of best-decaffeinated teas.
You can buy Great Rift Decaf tea either in the form of everyday tea bags, prism tea bags or in a loose-leaf form. In any case, you will be getting yourself a premium tea grown in high altitudes which is a superior tea to that one grown in low altitudes. This tea grows in cooler climates where there are less pests and plant diseases and for this reason, no pesticides are used.
People are generally really happy with the flavour and quality of this decaf tea, just check out the reviews on Amazon.
Taylors of Harrogate Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea – Best Decaf Tea Bags
Taylors of Harrogate are another tea brand with a long tradition as they’ve been established in 1886.
All the teas they buy come from independently certified farms and co-operatives (Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, or Fairtrade) based in the Rift Valley in Kenya. They never settle for low quality and will taste test rigorously to make sure the final product is of the best quality possible.
They are a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership who work to ensure good living and working conditions for tea farmers.
Taylors of Harrogate Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea is a refreshing black tea with tea bags individually wrapped to maintain the freshness.
To decaffeinate this tea, Taylors of Harrogate use the carbon dioxide method which only uses natural elements.
Taylors of Harrogate Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea is certainly one of the best tasting decaf teas based on customer reviews. See its reviews on Amazon here >
Brew Tea Co Decaffeinated Loose Leaf Tea – Best decaffeinated loose leaf tea
Loose leaf tea has always been known to be better quality than tea bags so if you don’t mind using a tea strainer, to brew a higher quality tea, then CO2 Decaffeinated Loose Leaf Tea from Brew Tea Company could be perfect for you.
This tea comes from Ceylon and contains only rolled tea leaves and no dust whatsoever. This results in a smoother, richer brew.
The tea is decaffeinated using a CO2 method and is 100% natural – it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or anything else that may impair its flavour.
The packaging contains no plastic, even the inner bag, and the tea is certified by Rainforest Alliance. This means that the company ensures they only work with farmers who follow sustainable farming practices and those that have safe working practices, efficiently controlling water pollution and waste.
Check out the price on Amazon >
Choice Organic Decaffeinated Earl Grey – Best Decaf Earl Grey Tea
This decaf tea from Choice Organic Teas originates from India and is great for those who don’t like plain black teas and prefer something with flavour. The main ingredients of this blend are organic black tea and organic Italian bergamot oil.
If you are looking for the best decaf Earl Grey tea, this one should be high on your list. This is a 100% natural decaf tea that is certified organic by the USDA with the tea itself also Fair Trade Certified.
To get the flavour to your desired preferences, try and brew this tea for different lengths of time to find the sweet spot. Some people prefer to brew it for less time than the recommended 4-5 minutes while others like to brew it for a little bit longer. The flavour is rich and aromatic and you can enjoy this tea at any time of the day, even in the evening when you want to relax in front of the TV.
You will find 16 tea bags in a box which are unbleached and fully biodegradable.
To find out more about Choice Decaf Earl Grey click here >
The Tea Makers of London Decaffeinated Ceylon Black Tea
The Tea Makers of London specialise in premium loose leaf teas which are sourced from some of the best tea estates in the world.
Their Decaffeinated Ceylon Black Tea is carefully decaffeinated by expert Sri Lankan tea farmers, using a gentle, natural CO2 decaffeination process. During the process, the majority of caffeine is removed but the high-quality flavour remains.
The flavour of this grade of black tea (Broken Orange Pekoe – BOP) is mild with a hint of sweetness. The tea requires 3-5 minutes steeping time and will result in the amber colour with a malty aroma.
Some people have reported this tea to only have a mild flavour while others found it too strong and didn’t particularly like it. It’s definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. But it’s worth giving it a try and see whether you like it.
Check out the price on Amazon here >
Bigelow Decaffeinated Organic Green Tea – Best Decaf Green Tea
If you are looking to buy decaf green tea, Bigelow Decaffeinated Organic Green Tea is no doubt one of the best decaf green teas you will find. It carries the USDA Organic and QAI seals which makes it much better quality than non-organic teas. This means that this tea is grown without pesticides and harmful chemicals that may adversely affect your health. The company uses CO2 decaffeination method and after the process, the tea still offers a delicious flavour comparable to regular green tea.
The Bigelow Tea Company has been producing the finest teas possible for more than 70 years and has a status of the number one specialty tea company in the United States. They only use hand-picked green teas of superior quality that have been sourced from high elevation gardens. They keep the tea fresh by wrapping individual bags into protective packets.
Check the reviews on Amazon here >
Clipper Organic Decaf Everyday Tea
One of the most affordable decaf teas, from Clipper, has many fans and it’s all for the right reasons.
Clipper Decaf black tea is certified organic by The Soil Association and the tea bags used are non-bleached and plastic-free.
Some people say it’s hard to tell the difference between this and regular tea. Get this tea from Amazon here >
Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Green
Clipper also offer organic decaf green tea for those who prefer green rather than black tea. Just like Clipper decaf black tea, their decaf green tea is decaffeinated using the carbon dioxide method. People love its taste which comes with no bitterness.
Related content: Is decaf tea bad for you?