Does herbal tea have caffeine?
In this article, we will answer the question “Does herbal tea have caffeine?”, what are artificially caffeinated herbal teas, what are herbal teas, and what herbal teas should you drink for energy.
Does herbal tea have caffeine?
Some types of herbal teas contain caffeine while the majority of them do not have caffeine at all.
Caffeine-free herbal teas include chamomile, mint (peppermint, spearmint), lemon balm, rose, lavender, valerian, ginger, rooibos, rosehip, cinnamon, lemongrass, licorice, aniseed, turmeric, hibiscus, jasmine nettle, dandelion, guava, thyme, and rosemary.
If you are purchasing a tea blend, make sure it does not contain caffeine-containing ingredients such as white tea or oolong tea.
Herbal teas that contain caffeine include yerba mate, coffee, guarana, and citrus flowers. Yerba mate, naive to South America, comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant. Every 8 oz of this tea has up to 80 mg of caffeine, depending on the brewing process.
Coffee is obtained from the coffee fruit. It is an infusion and may contain up to 96 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving.
Guarana tea, native to South America, is obtained from the seeds of the guarana plant. The seeds contain about 47 mg of caffeine. Citrus flowers such as the orange blossoms may contain 6 to 50 ppm caffeine
What are artificially caffeinated herbal teas?
Some herbal teas contain added caffeine and it is mentioned in a very small text so you need to look hard. For example, forest fruit tea is not a herbal tea itself. Instead, it is black tea flavored with forest fruits.
The flavor changes but the base remains the same. Such types of teas do not fit the definition of herbal teas. Whenever you buy herbal tea, read the label to ensure it does not contain black tea, green tea, white tea, Pu’erh, or Oolong as the base tea.
Such types of tea have a higher proportion of herbal tea than true tea. But your caffeine intake can add up if you drink such tea regularly or more than twice per day.
Some types of herbal teas claim to be “caffeinated” or you see “added caffeine” written in bold text on the package. This type of tea contains herbal tea as the base but caffeine is added during processing.
On the other hand, some herbal teas are labeled “decaf”. If the tea, whether true tea or herbal tea, naturally contains caffeine and is labeled ‘decaf’, it makes sense.
However, when a tea, let’s say rooibos tea, that does not naturally contain caffeine, is labeled “caffeine-free”, you know it’s just a marketing strategy to attract customers. Because the tea does not contain caffeine in the first place.
What are herbal teas?
Unlike the traditional green or black tea that comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, herbal teas are derived from herbaceous plants.
The category of herbal teas termed tisanes is not exclusive to herbs. It also includes the flowers, seeds, spices, roots, and even fruits of the herbaceous plant. Herbal teas are not true teas which is why they are referred to as infusions.
Every type of herbal tea can be traced back to its ancient origins. For example, Mountain tea originated 2000 years ago in the Balkans, Spicebush tea originated in North America where it was used to treat illnesses, and holy basil or tulsi tea has long been a part of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
What herbal teas should you drink for energy?
Peppermint tea
The bioactive compound of peppermint tea, menthol, gives you a refreshing and invigorating experience. It instantly wakes you up. The essential oils present in peppermint tea can effectively improve your agility.
For a high dose of energy, try the infusion of peppermint, pomegranate, green tea, and lime in the form of Pomegranate Mojito.
Rooibos tea
The taste of Rooibos tea is reminiscent of black tea. Not just the taste, but the rooibos tea gives you instant energy just like black tea. The bonus point is that rooibos tea does not contain any caffeine.
Rooibos tea has a rich malty flavor and it fulfills your daily recommended dose of minerals like manganese and zinc.
Licorice tea
This tea is derived from the roots of the licorice plant. It is packed with a flavonoid, called glabridin, which has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It also makes you energetic.
However, be cautious about how much licorice tea you take because its excess can lead to hypertension and low levels of potassium (hypokalemia).
Other FAQs about Tea that you may be interested in.
Does jasmine tea have caffeine in it?
Conclusion
In this article, we will answer the question “Does herbal tea have caffeine?”, what are artificially caffeinated herbal teas, what are herbal teas, and what herbal teas should you drink for energy.
