Probably, for some of you when you first heard of decaffeinated green tea – or any decaffeinated tea or coffee, for that matter – you might have wondered why we needed them in the first place. For after all, people do use caffeine to perk themselves up the first thing in the morning. Indeed, the consumption of caffeine has now become so widespread and tea has often been said to be the most heavily consumed drink, second only to water.

The caffeine content in tea is substantially much lower than that of coffee. According to the US Department of Nutritional Services an 8-ounce cup of green tea contains 8 – 36 milligrams (mg) of caffeine which is still much lower than black tea (23 – 100) mg and oolong tea (12 – 55) mg. It has also to be mentioned that red tea and herbal teas do not contain caffeine but then they are not teas properly so called because they do not derive from the Camellia Sinensis plant.

Positive effects of caffeine

The caffeine in tea is more gradually absorbed by our body and it seems to linger on for a longer period of time as compared to the caffeine in coffee. But all the same, after drinking tea many have experienced an increase in alertness, energy, concentration and motivation in their work as well as a boost to their moods and feelings of well-being. To some extent, it has been claimed that it helped in weight loss. Moreover, it has been reported that caffeine improves athletic performance and endurance. And, it is no coincidence that it is still one of the substances disallowed by the Olympic Committee.

Decaffeinated green tea benefits

So why the need then for decaf green tea? And besides, most tea lovers would tell you that they prefer their teas caffeinated for its full flavor and taste. The benefits of using decaf green tea pertain more to those who have an issue with caffeine. In pregnancies and other medical related cases, doctors have even advised to avoid caffeine altogether. What I write here is for information purposes only and you should consult your own doctor regarding the use of caffeine.

Caffeine addiction

Besides being a mental stimulant, caffeine is also addictive. And there is that risk of excessive consumption. There are many adverse effects of excessive caffeine intake which include insomnia, indigestion, anxiety, and irritability. But if your case is not medically related in any way and you simply want to control or limit your intake of caffeine, then decaf green tea has the benefit of doing just that. A cup of decaffeinated green tea should contain less than 6 mg of caffeine. But it can get quite difficult if you are also getting your caffeine from other sources – eg. caffeine is also found in chocolates and sodas.

Sensitivity to caffeine

The majority of healthy adults can manage a moderate amount of 250 mg of caffeine a day without any negative side effects. But the level of sensitivity to caffeine vary widely amongst individuals. For some even a small dose of caffeine say 50 mg might be enough to get them all jittery. Decaf green tea might then be an option if they want the health benefits of green tea or just to enjoy the beverage. Again, if you are sensitive to caffeine, it would be most prudent to consult your own doctor on the suitability of using decaf green tea in your case.

Polyphenol antioxidants

Decaf green tea contain less of the catechins polyphenols as a result of the decaffeination process. There are 2 methods of decaffeination approved for use in the United States namely using the chemical solvent ethylene acetate or carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is the superior method for it allows as much as 95% of the polyphenol antioxidants to be retained. Although decaffeinated, it’s still a healthful beverage!

Green tea caffeine content

Besides using decaf green tea, there are also other ways of having less caffeine in your tea. The first involves decaffeinating the tea yourself right in your own kitchen and the second is knowing and selecting the types of green teas that have a lower content of caffeine.

Self-decaffeination

This is simply done by steeping the tea for 30 – 45 seconds in hot water and then pouring it away. Next, fill your cup again with hot water and let the tea steep as you normally would in brewing green tea. This removes about 80% of the caffeine but retains most of the flavor and aroma. Tea connoisseurs, however, would find it such a waste in throwing away that most flavored and aromatic first infusion.

It may also be noted that the longer you steep your tea, the more caffeine will be released.

Types of green tea products to buy

Knowing which type of green tea products to buy in order to have less caffeine is crucial. Quite a lot depends on which part of the tea plant the tea is derived from. Green tea from the first flush, comprising the two leaves and a bud has a high content of caffeine. Amongst the Japanese green tea, sencha, especially if it is of the first flush is high in caffeine, whilst gyokuro though of the first flush has its caffeine reduced as a result of being grown in the shed before the harvest. Hojicha and kukicha being derived from the lower parts of the tea plant have the lowest caffeine.

Chinese green tea which are harvested only once a year generally has a high level of caffeine.

Green tea bags containing the dusts and fannings are also high in caffeine.

Caffeine and theanine

Unknown to most people, tea contains an amino acid called theanine (aka. L-theanine) which neutralizes the effects of caffeine – a sort of a natural balancer if you will. This is most remarkable for theanine is found only in tea but not in coffee or other herbs containing caffeine. Probably, this may explain why the effect of caffeine is more subtly felt in regular green tea as compared to the caffeine jolt and subsequent crash in coffee. The Japanese matcha has a high level of theanine to counter-balance its high content of caffeine. I’ve often been awed just by this thought of how Mother Nature wraps up her gift of tea to mankind.

Caffeine will always be with us when we are drinking tea. At any rate, moderation is still the key. So, do we still need decaf green tea? The answer is an emphatic Yes. It is be a personal thing and the sensitivity to caffeine varies from one individual to another.

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Filed under: About Green Tea

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