Green Tea Without Caffeine – Does That Exist?

Green tea without caffeine – does that exist?

To nip all hopes in the bud: No, there is no such thing as green tea without caffeine.

• As a counterpart to decaffeinated coffee, decaffeinated green tea is also available in stores. But as with coffee, “decaffeinated” doesn’t mean the drink is completely caffeine-free. The caffeine is greatly reduced, but small amounts are contained.
• However, there is an important difference between the caffeine in coffee and that in tea. The caffeine in coffee is unbound and quickly gets into the blood. In green tea, on the other hand, caffeine is bound to tannins. As a result, it gets into the blood much more slowly.
• The caffeine content depends very much on the type of green tea. The reason for this is the use of different parts of the plant for tea production and processing. For example, young leaves and buds contain the most caffeine, while caffeine is lost during fermentation, for example.

Mild types of tea with little caffeine

The caffeine content is not the only criterion for a well-tolerated green tea. The content of the amino acid L-theanine is also decisive. It makes caffeine more tolerable for the body. The L-theanine/caffeine ratio in the tea is therefore important.

• If you are looking for a well-tolerated tea with little caffeine, green rooibos is the best choice.
• Sannenbancha is also one of the types of tea with very little caffeine, although Sannenbancha with stems contains even less of the stimulant than
• Sannenbancha with leaves. Sannenbancha is fermented for three years, losing most of the caffeine.
• With Karigane from Sencha, you also don’t consume a lot of caffeine. Karigane has the best L-theanine/caffeine ratio and is therefore particularly digestible.
• You can enjoy genmaicha, hojicha, bancha and karigane of gyokuro without hesitation. While these varieties contain a significant amount of caffeine, they are considered the healthiest mild teas.

Minimize caffeine in tea – that’s how it works

How much caffeine a tea contains also depends on how it is prepared.

• If you prepare green tea with 60 degree hot water and let it steep for two minutes, it is mainly the amino acids that get into the water. The unhealthy tannins usually only follow at higher temperatures and longer steeping times.
• Increase the tolerance of the tea by drinking the same amount of still water.
• Avoid tea bags. These tend to generally contain more caffeine than loose tea. Plus, you can use high-quality sheets up to three times before discarding them.
• Drink your tea hot. Green tea contains catechins and theanines. Both decrease caffeine activity. Brewing mixes these compounds with the caffeine, making the caffeine less effective. If the tea cools down too much, the catechins break down and more caffeine is released.