Overview of caffeine-free tea and how caffeine works in tea
13 best caffeine-free teas to try in 2025
Caffeine compared: differences in caffeine levels across various teas and coffee
Types of herbal and rooibos teas without caffeine
Table of contents
Introduction
The world of caffeine free tea is larger than ever. You’ll find herbal tea blends, rooibos classics, honeybush, mint-based profiles, fruit-forward infusions, loose leaf herbal tea, and convenient tea bags without caffeine — along with decaffeinated teas for drinkers who still enjoy traditional tea leaves. Among these options, caffeine free herbal tea varieties stand out for their comforting character and the fact that you can enjoy them any time of day without worrying about caffeine.
This guide simplifies the search. We reviewed customer favorites, top-selling caffeine free teas, and blends known for consistent flavor, clean ingredients, and wide availability across the U.S. The result is a curated best caffeine free teas list that highlights soothing nighttime picks, refreshing daytime sips, and versatile options that work hot or iced. If you’re looking for a caffeine free tea to enjoy as part of your evening wind-down routine, this list is a great place to start.
What is Caffeine in Tea?
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in the tea plant called Camellia sinensis. Real tea varieties like black tea, green tea, white teas, and oolong tea contain caffeine because they come from the same tea leaves.
The caffeine content varies based on elements like growing conditions, leaf maturity, and the production process. When people want best caffeine free teas, they usually look for herbal blends or rooibos teas because they come from plants that never contain caffeine.
Many herbal teas made from flowers, spices, roots, and leaves offer strong flavor without any caffeine. Chamomile tea, peppermint tea, ginger tea, hibiscus tea, and rooibos tea remain some of the most popular teas without caffeine. These teas help people avoid caffeine while still enjoying comforting, aromatic drinks.
Factors Influencing Caffeine Levels in Tea
Tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant contain natural caffeine, but the amount varies based on several factors. Younger tea leaves tend to contain more caffeine than mature ones. Growing conditions such as sunlight and soil also shape the caffeine level in real tea varieties. Teas grown in shade often contain more caffeine because the plant produces extra compounds to protect itself, which increases the caffeine content.
The production process also affects caffeine levels. Black tea usually has more caffeine because it goes through full oxidation, while green tea tends to have less caffeine due to lighter processing. Steeping time plays a role too. A longer infusion releases more caffeine into the cup.
People who want to avoid caffeine often choose herbal tea or rooibos tea, since most herbal teas come from plants that naturally contain no caffeine. However, some herbal teas, such as yerba mate, are exceptions and do contain caffeine, making them a natural option for those seeking an energy boost.
Top 13 Best Caffeine Free Teas 2025
1) Gardenika — Turmeric Ginger Tulsi Chai
Brand Overview: Gardenika is all about simplicity and purity - they use USDA Organic and Kosher certified teas that reflect their commitment to a more balanced way of living. If you're after a truly wholesome, minimally processed herbal and wellness tea, then Gardenika's the place to look.
Flavor & Experience: Turmeric Ginger Tulsi Chai Loose Tea is a real treat - you get a nice warm, earthy base with a kick of ginger and just a hint of tulsi's soft herbalness. Cinnamon and cardamom come on in and give it a gentle sweetness. It's smooth, it's balanced, and it's an absolute pleasure to drink from start to finish.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Put a teaspoon of Turmeric Ginger Tulsi Loose Tea into hot water and let it do its thing. As it steeps, the colors come on in and the spice starts to lift. You're left with a cup that's just as warm and comforting as a hug on a cold day
2) Harney and Sons — Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice
Brand Overview: Harney and Sons is a family-owned company that has been around since 1983, and they've made a real name for themselves with their dedication to quality and sustainability. They blend traditional craftsmanship with modern eco-friendly practices - and it shows. Their teas are always top-notch and made with love.
Flavor & Experience: Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice is a real winner. You get a strong hit of cinnamon over a smooth rooibos base, with orange peel adding a bit of brightness and cloves bringing in some real depth. It tastes naturally sweet and bold and fragrant, and that's just the way we like it.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Scoop a teaspoon of Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice into hot water and let it steep. As it brews, the colors come on in and the cinnamon starts to rise. And then, just as suddenly, you're left with a lovely, well-rounded cup that lingers with a sweetness that's just the right side of pleasant.
3) Plum Deluxe — The Self Care Blend (Elderberry Apricot)
Brand Overview: Plum Deluxe is a Portland-based company that has a real following among tea-lovers, and it's easy to see why. They do small-batch, local tea blends that are just a real treat to drink - and their monthly subscription service is the perfect way to experience all they have to offer.
Flavor & Experience: The Self Care Blend is a mix of tart elderberry and smooth apricot, all held together with some mellow honeybush. And just to keep things interesting, there are some soft floral notes from calendula in the background. It's a real treat for the taste buds.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a teaspoon of The Self Care Blend into hot water and let it do its thing. As it steeps, the colors come on in and the berry notes start to lift. And when you take a sip? You're treated to a silky, inviting cup that finishes soft and sweet.
4) August Uncommon Tea — Psychocandy (Roasted Pumpkin Caramel Rooibos)
Brand Overview: August Uncommon Tea is based in California. This company is all about pushing the boundaries and trying new things. They're not afraid to get a bit weird with their flavor profiles, but the end result is always a tea that's a cut above the rest.
Flavor & Experience: Psychocandy is straight-up indulgent. You get roasted pumpkin and buttery caramel and mellow rooibos all coming together in one delicious cup. And just to add some extra depth, there's some vanilla in there too. It's warm and rich and just a little bit smoky - perfect for a comfort drink.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Add a teaspoon of Psychocandy to hot water and let it do its thing. As it steeps, the colors come on in and the caramel layers start to lift. And then, just as suddenly, you're left with a creamy roundness on the palate that lingers long after each sip.
5) Tea With Tae — Bedtime Bliss
Brand Overview: Tea With Tae specializes in floral-infused teas that many people enjoy as part of their wind-down routine in the evenings. Their packaging is eco-friendly and their loose leaf quality is top-notch - and they even do handy mini tea tubes for a hassle-free brewing experience.
Flavor & Experience: Bedtime Bliss is a blend of chamomile, lavender, lemon verbena, spearmint and valerian, all working together to create a cup that's just as soft and floral as it is calming. Each sip feels like a mini escape at the end of a long day.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Place a bag or teaspoon of Bedtime Bliss into hot water. As the blend brews, the floral notes start to lift and the mint comes on in with a refreshing coolness. And when you take a sip? You're treated to a smooth, calming texture that feels like the perfect way to unwind.
6) Nepal Tea Collective — Kathmandu Cosmos
Brand Overview: Nepal Tea Collective is a US based Public Benefit Corporation, founded by immigrants with a mission to shake up the tea industry through transparency, and by giving back to the farmers who grow the stuff. And grow it they do – in Nepal, where the country's high altitude and unique terroir gives their teas a distinctive character.
Flavor & Experience: Kathmandu Cosmos is a medium-bodied beauty. It's warm and citrusy, with a nice balance of ginger and cardamom for added oomph. It's got a smooth, rounded taste that's a treat to drink, and a soft sweetness that follows it right on out. It’s a sip that feels smooth, steady, and beautifully balanced.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Put a teaspoon of Kathmandu Cosmos into some hot water. Watch as the spices start to come alive and the tea turns a gorgeous soft amber color. The aroma's fantastic and the cup itself is smooth, lightly spiced and finishes off with a warm comforting finish.
7) Piper and Leaf — Piper Mint Blues
Brand Overview: Piper & Leaf is a family-run tea company from Lacey’s Spring, Alabama, known for its artisanal Southern-style blends. They create gourmet teas infused with local fruits, herbs, and spices, resulting in nostalgic, transportive flavors that feel both homegrown and elevated.
Flavor & Experience: Piper Mint Bluesis a cool, refreshing tea that's got a lovely fruit sweetness to it. It's lively and smooth, with a herbal depth that disappears into a bright, mellow finish.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Drop a teaspoon of Piper Mint Blues into some hot water and watch as the magic happens. The mint's the first thing to rise, followed by sweet berry undertones. As it brews, the liquor shifts into a vivid ocean-blue shade, and the cup itself becomes a clean, refreshing delight.
8) iLola — After Eight No. 65
Brand Overview: iLola masterfully combines traditional tea heritage with a modern wellness approach. with their innovative Tea Discs that make loose-leaf brewing easier than ever. They're all about giving people a refined and enjoyable tea experience.
Flavor & Experience: After Eight No. 65 is a combination of cooling spearmint and silky dark chocolate that's as good as it sounds. It's a smooth, balanced cup with a natural sweetness that's a joy to drink. And the finish? Elegant and soothing, with just a hint of chocolate lingers on.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Put one tea disc into some hot water, and watch as it brews up into a creamy, smooth cup. The aroma shifts quickly to mint and cocoa, and by the time it's done, the cup is a cool, refreshing delight that's perfect for any time of day.
9) Teappo — Sweet Moment
Brand Overview: Teappo is a California-based artisan tea company, run by a husband and wife team who've got a family heritage in sourcing premium Taiwanese oolong. They do it right – sourcing sustainably, curating high-quality teas from Taiwan and Japan, and packing them up in California.
Flavor & Experience: Sweet Moment blends Taiwanese red quinoa with burdock root, and is a lovely, nutty, and earthy cup that's perfect for when you need to unwind. It's a warm, grounding tea with a gentle natural sweetness that just gets better with every sip.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Scoop a teaspoon of Sweet Moment into some hot water, and let the roots release their lovely aroma. As it brews, the liquor turns a warm, earthy color, and the cup itself becomes smooth and mellow with a soft herbal finish.
10) MagikTea — Palo Azul
Brand Overview: MagikTea focuses on unique botanical teas and immersive sensory experiences, and Palo Azul is one of their most striking creations. They source it from a protected 12,000-acre reserve in Mexico, and are passionate about plant ingredients and unique sensory tea experiences.
Flavor & Experience: Palo Azul is a clean, earthy tea with a subtle natural sweetness. It's light, fresh and refreshing, with soft woody notes that stay mild throughout the sip. And the signature clarity? It's perfect for drinking hot or iced.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Place a teaspoon of Palo Azul into some simmering water, and watch as it unlocks its unique color. The flavor is gentle, smooth and clean, with a finish that feels crisp, light and refreshing.
11) Aprika Life — Herbal Sleep Tea
Brand Overview: Aprika Life is a family-driven brand, founded on the idea that good tea should be a comfort and a moment of meaning. Their focus on authenticity and warmth ensures a genuine and satisfying tea experience for every cup.
Flavor & Experience: When you take a sip of Herbal Sleep Tea, you’ll get a soft, floral cup that’s perfect for a calm evening moment. This blend of chamomile, lavender, peppermint, rose hips, linden, and hibiscus creates a gentle, floral cup that feels made for slow, quiet evenings.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a bag of Herbal Sleep Tea in hot water to bring out the subtle floral notes. As it brews, the flavors of lavender and chamomile come forward first, followed by a hint of citrus sweetness that eventually gets a lift from the peppermint. The cup becomes really delicate and airy, and ends with a soft, gentle finish.
12) Danfe — 85° Spearmint Lemongrass Herbal Tea
Brand Overview: Danfe Tea is a company that's really passionate about rare Himalayan teas grown at high altitudes in Nepal. They're on a mission to bring the unique flavors of their region to the world with their unique and really high-quality teas.
Flavor & Experience: 85° Spearmint Lemongrass Herbal Tea offers a cool, sweet taste from the spearmint, mixed with the zing of citrus-forward lemongrass. The cup feels really crisp and aromatic, with a refreshing herbal character that's just really bright and clean. And as it finishes, each sip leaves you with a smooth and cooling sensation.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Add a teaspoon of 85° Spearmint Lemongrass Herbal Tea to hot water to begin the infusion. As you watch the liquor turn to a lovely yellow-green, the flavors of mint and citrus start to rise to the top. The flavor gets clearer and more refreshing with each sip.
13) Beach House — Mountain Valley Mint
Brand Overview: Beach House Tea is a little family-owned business based in Long Beach, Washington - they get their inspiration from the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. They specialize in making small-batch, artisan loose-leaf teas with really carefully selected organic and wild-harvested ingredients.
Flavor & Experience: Mountain Valley Mint combines peppermint, spearmint, lemon verbena, basil and Honeycrisp apples to create a really fresh and naturally sweet cup. The flavor feels lively and bright, with a subtle fruit note that's really hard to resist. And as you sip, the cooling herbal clarity gets a lovely smooth and uplifting finish.
Brewing & Serving Notes: Put a teaspoon of Mountain Valley Mint into hot water and let the herbs start to come alive. As the tea brews, the mint rises to the top first, followed by a subtle sweet note from the apples. The liquor becomes really clear and vibrant, and you're left with a crisp and refreshing cup.
Tea vs Coffee Caffeine Comparison
Beverage |
Source Plant |
Typical Caffeine Content (per 8 oz cup) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Coffee |
Roasted coffee beans |
95 mg - 200 mg |
High caffeine levels, providing a strong burst of extra energy. |
Black Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
40 mg - 70 mg |
Moderate to high caffeine; full oxidation increases caffeine. |
Green Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
20 mg - 45 mg |
Less caffeine than black tea due to lighter processing. |
White Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
15 mg - 30 mg |
Lowest caffeine of true teas |
Decaffeinated Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
2 mg - 5 mg |
Processed to remove most caffeine but still has some |
Herbal Tea |
Various herbs, flowers, roots |
0 mg |
Caffeine free, great for evening or caffeine sensitive. |
Rooibos Tea |
Aspalathus linearis |
0 mg |
Caffeine free South African herbal tea, great alternative to caffeine. |
Types of Caffeine Free Teas
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are made from herbs, flowers, spices and roots and not from any actual tea leaves. Interestingly, many people enjoy herbal teas as part of their daily routines for their comforting flavors and relaxing drinking experience. Chamomile tea, peppermint tea, ginger tea, and hibiscus tea remain some of the most popular options. Many people love herbal blends because they can have a floral flavor or taste like a mix of exotic fruits and spices.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea comes from a special plant in South Africa, known for its smooth cup and naturally sweet, earthy flavor. It pairs beautifully with vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel notes. Many choose rooibos as a caffeine free alternative to black tea, and it’s easy to see why.
Honeybush Tea
Honeybush is a bit like rooibos but it's sweeter and carries a smoother profile overall. When it comes down to it, it makes a lovely, mellow cup that's got natural honey-like notes that are just lovely.
Fruit Teas
Fruit teas blend in all sorts of dried fruits - think berries, apples, citrus peels and tropical fruits. These blends taste bright and refreshing and work well as iced tea.
Spice Blends
You can't go wrong with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, and ginger in a herbal chai blend. Some even add a splash of milk to dandelion root tea to soften the bitterness and enhance the flavor. It’s almost like having chai or coffee — that warm, comforting spice blend feeling is perfect for a cold winter’s night.
FAQ
What is the best tea without caffeine?
Well, the truth is that the best caffeine free tea is the one that suits your taste. Rooibos tea is super smooth and earthy, while chamomile tea is soft and floral. Peppermint tea is invigorating and bright, while ginger tea has a lovely warming quality to it. Some people even like mixing and matching herbs, spices and fruits to create their perfect blend - and the best bit is, there's no caffeine to worry about.
Is there a difference between decaffeinated tea and caffeine-free tea?
Yes, there is. Decaf tea comes from real tea leaves that once contained caffeine. But before it gets to your cup, a process removes most of the caffeine - although a tiny bit remains. On the other hand, teas that are completely caffeine free are made from plants that never contained caffeine in the first place - like chamomile, rooibos, hibiscus or peppermint.
How do tea makers remove caffeine from tea?
Well, there are a few ways to do it, but most tea makers use a water-based wash or a bit of carbon dioxide to do the trick. These methods are pretty effective at removing the caffeine from the tea leaves, while keeping all the flavor intact. However, it's worth noting that even with these methods, a tiny bit of caffeine is still left behind - which is why decaf tea isn't 100% caffeine free.
Final Notes
Caffeine free teas and herbal infusions offer rich, delicious flavor and a calming drinking experience without the stimulating effects of caffeine. This guide has given you a taste of some of the best caffeine free teas around - and they've all got herbs, spices, flowers and fruits in them.
We reckon they’re perfect for unwinding, enjoying a cozy moment, or just settling in with a good book. If you're more of a traditional tea drinker, then options like decaf black tea and Earl Grey decaf are worth a try too.
If you're looking for more options or want some top tips for choosing the perfect tea, then our Taste of Tea collection is a great place to start!
Behind the Cup
Further Reading