“Decaf” is a term always revered with passion; it's usually either adorned with a grateful love or with a dismissive scorn. While some people desire the stimulating effects of caffeine, some find they need or prefer to avoid caffeine, for various reasons. Some may avoid it for dietary reasons, or as a life choice. It's important to have choices and variety in life.
So, what is a tea drinker who loves the taste of tea supposed to do? Thankfully, we live in a modern time where science has provided a solution. There are several processes used to decaffeinate tea, but the ideal method is the all-natural pure CO₂ (carbon dioxide) method. We prefer this method as being the most effective in removing caffeine while keeping the premium leaves' integrity and flavor.
What is CO₂ decaffeination? It sounds scientific and it is. The CO₂ decaffeination process utilizes carbon dioxide (the air we exhale) and an amazing amount of pressure and heat. With this combination, a chemical reaction called supercritical fluid occurs. This then allows the liquid CO₂ to bind to the caffeine molecules and extract the caffeine from the leaf, resulting in leaves full of flavor with only a residual level of caffeine left, a level well below what is required by the FDA to be labeled decaffeinated. The caffeine that is extracted from the tea leaves takes on the form of a white powder, which may be reused for other beverages like soda, energy drinks, or by other industries that utilize caffeine and its benefits.
This CO₂ decaffeination process is agreed upon worldwide to be the most efficient removal method and is the safest for consumption.
We are excited to offer our customers high-quality decaffeinated tea options, with no sacrifice in flavor. Here are a few of the selections from our Premium Decaffeinated Tea Collecton.
- Decaffeinated Darjeeling Organic
Darjeeling Tea is the “champagne” of the tea world. Full of flavor, this noble tea is a rich, satisfying cup.
With lovely notes of bergamot and citrus, this tea is a perfect fit for a cozy afternoon tea.
This tea will steep a sturdy, robust cup and can even fancy milk, if desired. A great start to the day.
A beloved favorite, this spicy tea honors the traditional masala chai of India. A decaffeinated black tea base is blended with ginger, cinnamon, clove, and pepper.
- Decaffeinated Lemon Black Tea- This tea is luxurious. It's full of juicy lemon notes and is sure to offer a distinctive burst of flavor at any time of day.
In the spirit of embracing all that decaffeinated teas have to offer, here is a recipe that will be sure to delight the senses: Upton Tea Imports’ Luscious Lemon Meringue Cold Foam Tea Latté! Enjoy this recipe hot or iced.
Luscious Lemon Meringue Cold Foam Tea Latté
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
- 1 generous teaspoon of NX30: Decaffeinated Lemon Black Tea
- 3 tablespoons of cream
- 2 tablespoons low-fat milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- 1 lemon
- Ice (optional)
Equipment:
- Milk frother or mixer
- Glass jar (if you don’t have a frother)
Directions:
- Steep the tea (keep hot or ice down after steeping, it is up to you!)
- Combine cream, milk, and vanilla syrup. Froth with a milk frother (or mixer) until it foams a pillowy cloud of delicious cold foam.
- If you don’t have a milk frother, vigorously shake the cream, milk, and syrup in a jar for about a minute.
- Add the cold foam on top of your tea.
- Adorn with the zest of a lemon and enjoy!
Happy Tea Drinking!