How to Make Decaffeinated Tea: Methods, Caffeine Levels, and Home Options

Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Helena Akter

If you want to know how to make decaffeinated tea, it helps to first understand how caffeine is removed from regular tea leaves.

Commercial decaffeinated tea is usually made from regular black, green, oolong, or other true tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. Manufacturers then use specialized processes involving carbon dioxide, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, or water based extraction to remove most of the caffeine.

These are industrial processes, so you cannot fully decaffeinate regular tea at home simply by rinsing or briefly steeping the leaves.

In this guide, we will explain how tea is decaffeinated, how the main methods differ, how much caffeine remains, and what you can realistically do at home if you want a lower caffeine drink.

Key Takeaways

• Decaffeinated tea is regular tea that has had most of its caffeine removed.
• Decaf does not mean completely caffeine free. A small amount can remain.
• Commercial tea is commonly decaffeinated using carbon dioxide, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, or specialized water based processes.
• These methods require industrial equipment and cannot be reproduced accurately in a home kitchen.
• Briefly rinsing tea leaves may reduce some caffeine, but it does not reliably produce decaffeinated tea.
• If you need to avoid caffeine as much as possible, naturally caffeine free herbal infusions may be a better choice than decaf tea.

What is Decaffeinated Tea?

If you are wondering how to make decaffeinated tea at home, the important thing to know is that complete decaffeination requires commercial processing.

Decaffeinated tea, often called decaf tea, is tea made from naturally caffeinated Camellia sinensis leaves that have undergone a process to remove most of their caffeine.

Black, green, white, and oolong teas all come from the same plant and naturally contain caffeine. Decaffeination happens after the tea has been processed, using methods designed to separate caffeine from the leaf while preserving as much flavor as possible.

Decaffeinated tea is not the same as caffeine free herbal tea. Herbal infusions such as chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, and hibiscus are naturally caffeine free unless they are blended with caffeinated ingredients.

If you want a clearer comparison, read our guide to the difference between herbal tea and black tea.

How Does Decaffeinated Tea Differ from Regular Tea?

Decaffeinated tea and regular tea come from the same plant. However, they’re different mainly in their caffeine levels and how they’re processed. Here’s a simple explanation of their key differences.

Caffeine Content

The main difference is caffeine.

Regular tea can contain widely varying amounts of caffeine depending on the tea variety, serving size, amount of leaf used, water temperature, and steeping time.

A study of commercial brewed teas found that regular white, green, and black teas contained about 14 to 61 mg of caffeine per serving, while the decaffeinated teas tested contained less than 12 mg per serving. PubMed

Commercial decaf products often contain only a few milligrams of caffeine per cup, but the exact amount varies by product. For example, Tetley reports about 4 to 6 mg per cup in its decaffeinated tea. tetleyusa.com

So, decaf tea contains much less caffeine than regular tea, but it is not necessarily caffeine free.

Flavor and Aroma

Decaffeination can change the flavor of tea because caffeine removal may also affect some of the compounds that contribute to aroma, body, and taste.

The result depends partly on the method used. Carbon dioxide processing is often used when manufacturers want to preserve more of the tea’s original character, while solvent based processes may remove additional soluble compounds.

Because tea quality and processing vary between brands, one decaf tea may taste very similar to regular tea while another may taste lighter or less complex.

Caffeine Considerations

Decaf tea can be useful for people who enjoy tea but want to reduce their caffeine intake.

Caffeine sensitivity varies widely. According to the FDA, too much caffeine can cause symptoms such as jitters, anxiety, headache, upset stomach, and sleep problems in some people. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Most research on the potential health effects of tea has studied regular tea rather than decaffeinated tea. Harvard’s Nutrition Source also notes that decaffeination may reduce some tea polyphenols depending on the method used. The Nutrition Source

For that reason, it is better to think of decaf tea mainly as a lower caffeine alternative rather than as a tea with unique health benefits.

How Is Tea Decaffeinated? 4 Common Methods

The following methods are commercial processing techniques. They require specialized equipment, controlled conditions, or food processing systems and are not practical methods for fully decaffeinating tea at home.

1. The Carbon Dioxide Method

The carbon dioxide method uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract caffeine from tea leaves.

During processing, the tea leaves are first moistened. Carbon dioxide is then placed under high pressure so that it can move through the tea leaves and dissolve caffeine.

The carbon dioxide containing the extracted caffeine is then separated from the tea.

One advantage of this method is that it is relatively selective for caffeine and may retain more of the tea’s other soluble compounds than some solvent based methods. The Tea Association of the USA notes that carbon dioxide processing generally removes fewer desirable tea solubles than ethyl acetate processing. TEA USA

This method is performed commercially and cannot be reproduced with normal kitchen equipment.

2. Methylene Chloride Method

Methylene chloride is a solvent that can dissolve caffeine and has been used in commercial decaffeination.

During processing, moistened tea leaves or an extract from the leaves comes into contact with the solvent. The caffeine dissolves into the solvent, which is then separated from the tea.

The tea is subsequently dried and processed so that the solvent is removed.

It is important to distinguish the hazards of concentrated methylene chloride used in industrial settings from the regulated use of processing aids in food production. After processing, the solvent is removed, and any residual amount in the finished tea is expected to be minimal.

If you prefer to avoid solvent processed tea, check the product label or contact the manufacturer to ask which decaffeination method they use.

3. Ethyl Acetate Method

Ethyl acetate is another solvent used to remove caffeine from tea.

The tea leaves are moistened and exposed to ethyl acetate, which dissolves caffeine. After extraction, the solvent is removed and the tea leaves are dried.

Ethyl acetate occurs naturally in some fruits and other foods, which is why this process is sometimes marketed as “naturally decaffeinated.” However, the ethyl acetate used during food processing is still a controlled processing solvent, so the term “natural” can be misleading if interpreted too literally.

Tetley states that its decaffeination process uses ethyl acetate and that the excess solvent is removed as the tea dries. tetleyusa.com

This method can also affect some flavor compounds, which is one reason different decaf teas can taste different from their caffeinated versions.

4. Water Based Decaffeination

Water based processes use water to extract caffeine along with other soluble compounds from tea.

The extracted liquid can then be filtered or otherwise processed to remove caffeine before selected flavor compounds are returned or retained.

Although this method avoids direct use of traditional organic solvents on the final tea leaves, it can also remove some flavor and aroma compounds.

Water processing is less common for tea than carbon dioxide or solvent based commercial methods.

It should not be confused with simply steeping tea in hot water at home and throwing away the first infusion.

Can You Decaffeinate Tea at Home?

Not completely.

You may have heard that steeping tea for 30 to 60 seconds, throwing away the first infusion, and brewing the leaves again will remove nearly all the caffeine.

Research does not support this as a reliable way to make decaffeinated tea.

Caffeine extraction depends on several factors, including water temperature, steeping time, tea type, particle size, and preparation method. Studies show that caffeine continues to be extracted as tea steeps, rather than disappearing almost entirely during the first few seconds. PubMed

Discarding the first infusion may reduce some caffeine, but it also removes flavor and other tea compounds. The remaining tea should therefore be considered lower in caffeine, not decaffeinated.

If you need genuinely low caffeine tea, buying commercially decaffeinated tea is more reliable.

How to Make a Lower Caffeine Cup of Tea at Home

If you do not have decaffeinated tea available, you can reduce your caffeine intake without trying to fully decaffeinate the leaves.

Try these options:

• use less tea leaf or a smaller tea bag
• steep for a shorter time
• avoid repeatedly topping up very strong tea
• choose a commercially decaffeinated tea
• choose a naturally caffeine free herbal infusion
• check the caffeine information provided by the manufacturer

Longer steeping times generally extract more caffeine from tea, although the exact amount varies between products. PubMed

If you are comparing different herbal drinks, you can also read how much caffeine does herbal tea have.

If your goal is zero or nearly zero caffeine, a naturally caffeine free herbal tea may be more suitable.

If you prefer caffeine free herbal drinks, see our guide on how to make herbal tea at home.

Why Do People Choose Decaf Tea?

The main reason to choose decaf tea is simple: it provides the experience and flavor of traditional tea with much less caffeine.

To Reduce Daily Caffeine

People who already consume coffee, energy drinks, chocolate, or regular tea may choose decaf to reduce their total daily caffeine intake.

To Drink Tea Later in the Day

Because decaf tea contains much less caffeine than regular tea, some people prefer it in the afternoon or evening.

However, decaf tea can still contain a small amount of caffeine, so people who are particularly sensitive should check the product information.

Because of Caffeine Sensitivity

Some people experience unwanted symptoms after consuming caffeine, including jitters, anxiety, headaches, stomach upset, or sleep problems. The FDA notes that caffeine sensitivity varies considerably between individuals. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Switching from regular tea to decaf can reduce caffeine exposure while still allowing you to enjoy black, green, or other traditional teas.

Decaf Tea vs Caffeine Free Tea

These terms are not the same.

Decaffeinated tea starts with naturally caffeinated tea leaves and has most of the caffeine removed.

Caffeine free herbal tea does not naturally contain caffeine in the first place.

Examples of commonly caffeine free herbal teas include:

• chamomile
• peppermint
• rooibos
• hibiscus
• ginger
• lemon balm

Always check blended tea labels, because an herbal blend can still contain caffeine if it includes black tea, green tea, yerba mate, guayusa, or another caffeinated ingredient.

Decaffeination Methods Compared

Method	What Removes the Caffeine?	Main Advantage	Main Consideration
Carbon dioxide	Pressurized CO2	Selective caffeine removal	Requires specialized industrial equipment
Ethyl acetate	Food processing solvent	Widely used commercially	Can affect some flavor compounds
Methylene chloride	Processing solvent	Effective caffeine extraction	Some consumers prefer solvent free methods
Water based processing	Water and filtration	Avoids traditional solvent processing	Can remove flavor compounds along with caffeine

The exact method used varies by manufacturer, so check the package or contact the tea company if the processing method matters to you.

Final Words

Tea is decaffeinated using specialized commercial processes rather than a simple home brewing trick.

Carbon dioxide, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, and water based methods can all remove most of the caffeine from tea, although each method can affect flavor and other tea compounds differently.

If you want less caffeine at home, the most reliable option is to buy commercially decaffeinated tea or choose a naturally caffeine free herbal infusion.

Discarding the first steep may reduce some caffeine, but it does not reliably turn regular tea into decaf tea.

FAQs About Decaffeinated Tea

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? FDA
2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Tea. Harvard Nutrition Source
3. Yang DJ, Hwang LS, Lin JT. Effects of different steeping methods and storage on caffeine, catechins and gallic acid in bag tea infusions. PubMed
4. Astill C, Birch MR, Dacombe C, Humphrey PG, Martin PT. Factors affecting the caffeine and polyphenol contents of black and green tea infusions. PubMed
5. Chin JM, Merves ML, Goldberger BA, Sampson-Cone A, Cone EJ. Caffeine content of brewed teas. PubMed
6. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Caffeine. Harvard Nutrition Source
7. Tetley. Tetley Tea FAQs: Decaffeination Process and Caffeine Content. Tetley USA
8. Tea Association of the USA. Decaffeinated Tea Products Technical Bulletin. Tea Association of the USA