Which method do you use to decaffeinate your teas?
We use a natural ethyl acetate process to decaffeinate our Black
Teas. In the ethyl acetate (EA) decaffeination process, the
tea leaves are moistened with water and ethyl acetate, an FDA
approved solvent. The leaves are then dried and heated.
The caffeine in the moistened leaves bonds with the ethyl
acetate. During the drying process, the ethyl acetate and
water is evaporated, taking the caffeine with them.
For our Green Teas, we use a carbon dioxide process. In the
carbon dioxide (CO2) process, moistened tea leaves are first
treated with heat and pressure and then treated with carbon
dioxide, a natural gas. The carbon dioxide bonds with the
caffeine and both are evaporated.
All decaffeinated dry tea leaves typically leave a caffeine
residue of 0.1% - 0.4%. We periodically test our brewed
decaffeinated teas (as prepared) for caffeine content and the
results tend to be within that % range. No other residual
substance testing is done.
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