All true teas have caffeine, though in varying amounts: black teas tend to have the most caffeine while green and white teas have a small to moderate amount of caffeine (and oolongs can go either way).

But for those who love the taste of tea but are watching their caffeine intake, Decaf Teas are the answer! If you're watching your caffeine intake or just looking for an alternative hot beverage to drink before bed, this helpful guide will help you pick out your next favorite decaf tea.

What is Decaf Anyways?

Decaf is short for decaffeinated, the process of removing caffeine from coffee or tea.

Tea is made from the tea bush plant, camellia sinensis, which naturally contains caffeine. However, through additional processing, most of the caffeine can be removed from those leaves and turned into decaf tea.

Tea is decaffeinated using one of three solvents (or chemical used to dissolve other substances, in this case caffeine):

Methylene chloride: For many years, this solvent was used to decaffeinate tea because it's inexpensive. However, research over the years discovered its health hazards, and it is no longer used in the US. Some countries even ban purchasing decaf teas that use methylene chloride, though it's still used in some countries around the world.

Ethyl Acetate: Much safer than methylene chloride, ethyl acetate is a naturally occurring chemical that can even be found in tea. While it doesn't have the health hazards of methylene chloride, it's not an ideal way to decaf tea. Many complain that tea decaffeinated with ethyl acetate can taste chemically.

Carbon Dioxide: That's right! The very carbon dioxide we exhale daily, though in a super-heated state. While using carbon dioxide to decaf tea is a more labor-intensive process, it retains most of the tea's flavor and antioxidants, and is therefore the go-to option for high quality decaf tea.

Adagio Tea's Decaf teas are decaffeinated using the Carbon Dioxide method to ensure the best taste possible while keeping the tea's caffeine level low.

In the Carbon Dioxide method, carbon dioxide is flooded into a compartment with tea leaves. Using high pressure and heat, the caffeine in the tea is bonded with the carbon dioxide. The caffeine is carried away by reducing pressure, leaving only trace amounts of caffeine behind. Because the flavor molecules are too big to be picked up by the carbon dioxide, they are left in the tea. Once this process is completed, the tea is dried like any other tea.

Are Decaf Teas and Caffeine-Free Teas the Same?

Absolutely not! Even down to the very core of both, Decaf Teas and Caffeine-Free Teas are two entirely different things that happen to be brewed the same way (ie: infusing leaves in hot water). Decaf Teas are made from true teas (or the leaves of the tea bush, camellia sinensis), which naturally has caffeine that is removed during the decaffeination process. There are no true teas that are caffeine-free. Even though decaf tea leaves have been decaffeinated, they will still contain trace amounts of caffeine: around two percent of the tea's caffeine will remain after the decaffeination process.

In contrast, Caffeine-Free Teas aren't true teas, but rather herbal teas derived from other plants (for example, chamomile, peppermint, lemongrass, etc.) Unlike the tea bush, these plants do not contain caffeine to remove.

Why Decaf Tea?

You might be asking yourself, 'Why should I try decaffeinated tea if it still has caffeine (albeit a small amount)? Why not just go for a Caffeine-Free Tea?'

One reason is that you'll still get the tea flavor you know and love with a decaf tea rather than with an herbal tea (though some herbal teas can mimic a true tea's flavor). If you love the taste of tea, but for some reason you need to cut back on caffeine, decaf teas are a great way to satisfy your tea craving while watching your caffeine intake. Or maybe you want a cup of tea before bedtime but don't want to ingest a lot of caffeine that'll keep you up all hours of the night: decaf tea is a great option for that as well.

But maybe you don't want to give up regular tea entirely, but you still want to reduce your caffeine intake. In which case, one option is to create a blend of regular and decaf tea. Maybe when you make a cup of tea, brew it with a 1/2 teaspoon of regular tea and 1/2 teaspoon of the decaf version of that tea? This can help you wean you off a caffeine dependence without going cold turkey.

Ready to Try Decaf Teas?

Adagio Teas offers a variety of classic and flavored decaf black teas. For those who love the taste of black tea but are sensitive to caffeine, be sure to try the following teas!

Decaf Ceylon

If you never heard of Ceylon before, there's a pretty good chance you've already tried it: it's often used in breakfast blends. It's very popularly mixed with Assam tea to create Irish Breakfast Tea. Ceylon is a mild yet hearty tea, but the original blend is full of caffeine. However, with Adagio's Decaf Ceylon, even the most caffeine-conscious can enjoy this popular black tea.

Decaf Chai

Never mind those fancy coffee blended drinks: chai is where it's at! Chai and chai lattes are popular drinks served at cafes. Though there isn't a set recipe for chai, most of the time they are made with black tea. With Adagio's Decaf Chai, you can enjoy this wonderfully spicy delight well into the evening.

Decaf Earl Grey

Earl Grey, the tea of Starship captains! Though many sci-fi fans have adopted the tea of choice of Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, this tea has been a staple for teatime for many years combining Ceylon with the citrus fruit bergamot. Because of the carbon dioxide decaffeination method, you can enjoy the full flavor of the combination of Ceylon and bergamot before bed without worrying about going to Warp Speed.

Decaf Chocolate Truffle

We've all heard of pairing chocolate with a glass of milk, but you know what also goes well with something sweet? A cup of black tea. The natural bitterness of tea complements the sweetness of something like chocolate to create a balanced, pleasant dessert experience. Looking for an after-dinner treat without risking being up all hours of the night? Try Decaf Chocolate Truffle and satisfy that sweet tooth without the caffeine.

Check them all out here!