Decaffeination Myths Are All Washed Up

While there are certain tea preparation methods that require a rinse of the leaves, decaffeinating isn't such a method.

That doesn't stop it from being a common, and oft repeated, myth:

Rise your leaves for 30-45 seconds and that decaffeinates them 80-90%.

You'll still find tea sellers repeating this to customers, and friend telling friends. Like so many other myths, it's pervasive and people want to believe it.

Thanks to those in the tea industry who are committed to knowing the truth, (in particular Nigel Melican of Teacraft, and in general the committed members of the Teamail list) we have this piece of scientific enlightenment:

After some intensive Internet trawling (nay, dredging) and poring over a mish-mash of half truths and myth (and some of my own caffeine data regurgitated without attribution or comprehension) I have now found the level of data that I was advocating earlier this week - a peer reviewed scientific paper recording precise time related extraction of caffeine from tea using a modern detection technique (HPLC). This paper "Tea preparation and its influence on methylxanthine concentration" by Monique Hicks, Peggy Hsieh and Leonard Bell was published in 1996 in Food Research International. Vol 29, Nos 3-4, pp. 325-330. (FRI is copyright of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology).

In summary Hicks et al measured the caffeine and theobromine (total methylxanthine) content of six different teas (three bagged and three loose leaf, including black, oolong and green types). They measured caffeine extraction in boiling water at 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes. They replicated all their extractions three times to eliminate error. Extrapolation of their data gives the following caffeine extraction percentages below 5 minutes (averaged over all tea types and formats; note while loose tea extracted marginally more slowly than teabag tea it made only a couple of % points difference):

30 seconds 9%
1 minute 18%
2 minutes 34%
3 minutes 48%
4 minutes 60%
5 minutes 69%
10 minutes 92%
15 minutes 100%

This is very much at odds with the mythical "30 or 45 second hot wash to remove 80% of the caffeine" advice - as a 30 second initial wash of the tea will actually leave in place 91% of the original caffeine!

(Thanks to Nigel.)

Green tea has it's own caffeine myth: green tea has less caffeine then black.

Each tea has it's own caffeine level, with different amounts ending up in your cup, based on the leaves, the processing and the preparation in your pot. Some greens have more caffeine then certain blacks. It also serves the drinker to remember that decaf isn't caffeine free, it's simply a lower level of caffeine - some still remains.

While many of us enjoy, need or crave a caffeine kick to others it's a health hazard. These are dangerous myths for those who are cutting back on caffeine for health reasons.

Good ways to truly lower caffeine levels in your cup:

• Select teas that have tea and herbal ingredients (Sloth Tea, Carol's Tea and Day Dream are all excellent low caffeine choices)
• Go with something completely herbal (like Refreshing Afternoon or Hibiscus Mint) or based on rooibus

The good news for caffeine addicts: you'll still get your caffeine kick on the second and third infusions.

Felicitea believes you should know what's in your cup - a well informed tea drinker is a happy tea drinker.

(For more info, and a fascination conversation in the comments, check out this full article over at ChaDao by Nigel Melican. Thanks Brandice!)

Bagless Tea

After consideration it's been decided here at Felicitea that we're not going to use plastic or paper.

We already carry all our groceries home in canvas or fabric bags, use public transportation as much as possible, recycle, eat locally when possible and are deeply concerned for the environment in general. We encourage our friends to conserve water, even when the drought lifts. We have heated debates about petroleum use, whether ethanol is really a green choice, whether electric or bio-diesel is the better choice and contemplate if carbon off-setting is (necessary) cheating.

We cannot, in good conscious, send you tea in a bag. The amount of petroleum and water waste to create plastic, or even paper, bags is simply not acceptable. Neither is their likely fate: taking up space in a landfill.

All of our teas are packaged in tins which can be recycled or reused. Tins can be used to store teas, herbs and spices. They can be recycled, made into wind chimes, use to store any small bits and pieces (nails, paper clips, all those spare one-nub Lego's). Some local customers even return their tins to Felicitea, to be used for their next order.

Tins are also, in our mind, a better choice for tea storage. Tea is protected from air, light and moisture, keeping your tea fresher, longer.

To make it easier on you, we're adjusting the way teas are listed: weight as well as an estimated number of cups will be listed with each tea.

Teas will still be shipped with cardboard boxes (those are recyclable) and we're working to find an environmentally friendly packing material.

We want every cuppa to be a happy one for you - and the world we live in.

Natural Flavorings

Many companies use "natural flavorings" in their teas. According to the government tea companies (and food companies) are not required to release the ingredients on "natural flavorings" or "spices" when they are proprietary or under a certain percentage in the food/beverage to be consumed. The idea is to protect the company.

However, that can be a danger to the consumer. Natural flavorings and spices can be allergens. Sometimes people are allergic to things that most people aren't allergic to, so it's (in our view at least) important that people know what they are consuming.

Here at Felicitea, we've got a list of allergies that can make sharing a pot tea an interesting, if complicated, proposition at times: coconut, mango, pineapple, lavender, rose and a number of people who are gluten sensitive.

We're sensitive to the fact that people have allergies. And having tasted more then one cup of tea with trepidation because of uncertain ingredients, Felicitea will always list all of our ingredients.

If you pick up a tin of Felicitea tea's you'll know exactly what's in it. Because every cup should be a happy, and safe, cup.

Q&A - How do you blend?

Recently, this question was asked by a customer who was ordering some samples. It was such a good question, it had to be shared:

Do you make these tea yourself? Did you do some course to understand how to blend tea or is it just pure instinct?

The answer is that yes, all the teas are blended in-house. Different teas and herbal ingredients are combined to create each tea. Each is done in a small batch - usually about a pound at a time.

I started blending teas about seven years ago for others, and have been creating herbals blends for fifteen or so years now.

I grew up with parents who appreciated good food and drink. So I learned early in life about how to blend flavors, how scents didn't always match tastes, and what kind of flavor pallets went together.

My mother made many herbal teas for us as children when we were sick or having trouble sleeping. As I got older I became certain that there had to be a way to make some of my mother's foul tasting, but good for you, herbal teas into something palatable. And that's where my journey into tea blending began.

I have nothing against tea courses, and probably will take one in time, but for now, my pure instinct for flavor coupled with my upbringing and lots of experimentation are making lots of people, and their tea pots, happy.

Tips for a happy cup of tea

Tea is the perfect way to find a moment of peace, relaxation and happiness in your day.

You want a great cup of tea. You're paying for loose leaf, you're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup either first thing in the morning or with a friend. You don't want spend the time prepping, steeping and waiting to end up with a flat or bitter cup. There's no happiness in that.

So to avoid unhappy cups, here's some tips on how to make yourself a cup of happiness:

1. Start with fresh loose tea. Tea is best preserved in a sealed container or package. Keep somewhere away from heat and moisture. A nice dry spot in your cabinet will be perfect.
   
2. Use good, clean water. Your common kitchen filter will work wonderfully to get out the icky things that can be put in your tap water. Bottled water works fantastically. What we don't recommend is distilled water. We think it just tastes flat.
   
3. Bring the water to a boil, then allow it to cool to a lower temperature as required for your tea. Many teas, such as greens, oolongs and whites, have suggested steeping temperatures below 212F. Many people find the water, and thus the tea, tastes better if brought all the way to a boil then allowed to cool to the correct temp.
   
4. Pour the water over the tea. This allows moves the tea leaves around and get wet, making sure they're all engaged in the steeping process. This make a bigger difference in taste then you might think.
5. Be careful not to over steep. Tea becomes bitter if left to steep too long. Even the best teas will end up unhappy if you leave them alone to long. Use a timer to remind you to check on your tea.

May every cup be a taste of happiness!

What is "designer" tea?

We're all familiar with designer clothing, bags, and sunglasses. These items are designed for a picky consumer who wants something special. Amazing items created by someone with an eye for style, who knows that every step takes care and creativity to provide the customer with a product they will love . The materials used, the way they're balanced and the care with which they are put together is what takes shoes, clothes and even tea from basic to fabulous.

According to wikipedia:

Designer is a broad term for a person who designs any of a variety of things. That usually implies the task of creating or of being creative in a particular area of expertise... Designers are usually responsible for making a model that takes into consideration each step in a product's development, including not only how a product will be used but also how it will be made.

We craft our teas with this kind of care and attention. When we create custom blends, we take into consideration what you, the customer wants in their cup. Sweet and light, deep and earthy, smoky or malty are all considered, weighed and balanced to create something that is the perfect fit for your palate. Just as a custom clothing designer would take into consideration your bodies curves and what you desire an item to do for you, we consider your personal palate and what you want your cup of tea to taste like. We work with carefully selected ingredients to create a tea that gives you exactly what you're looking for.

Based on your desires, palate and budget, we can create a tea around a taste, event or mood. We make special custom blends for favors, gifts and businesses.

Want to offer your party or wedding guests something extra special? We can design a tea that will compliment your dinner or desert, work with your theme or time of year and it can be custom labeled for your event in several different sized tins.

Want to send out a special, unique gift to your family or clients? We can custom blend something that you'll be proud to have your name associated with and will leave the recipient thinking of you with a smile on their face with every sip.

Tea can be a wonderful, special experience that you can share or keep all to yourself (like the designer of those fantastic new red shoes you bought). Every sip should leave you smiling like when you slip on that perfect pair of jeans.

Imagine your perfect cup of tea, the happy smile a great cup of tea brings with the first sip: imagine what happiness tastes like.

Happiness can be found in a cup of carefully crafted designer tea.

Shipping Info

How do you ship?

We use USPS priority shipping with insurance and tracking. It's important to us that you receive your tea or gifts as swiftly as possible. (Traveling conditions could be bad for tea - unpredictable temperatures, humidity, rough handling.)


How long does it take to ship?

Most packages are mailed out within 2-4 business days. Occasionally, if you custom order a tea blend or a pillow, it may take up to 7-10 days to ship. Hand-crafted work takes time and care. We recommend that if you are making a custom order, you plan 2-4 weeks ahead, depending on what you're interested in.

Custom blended teas are a process that has to shippings. First a package of samples, then a second order once you have selected a blend you like. This takes about a month to complete. (It can take longer if a second round of samples is needed.)

Does natural soap kill germs?

Not exactly. It is not antiseptic. It is not anti-bacterial. It can remove some bacteria when the glycerin breaks down their cell walls. Other bacteria may be washed away with the slipperiness of the glycerin.

You don't actually want to use an anti-bacterial agent on your skin everyday. This would destroy the ecosystem that lives on your skin and helps protect you from disease.

We suggest, if you are particularly concerned about germs, keep a bottle of anti-bacterial detergent to use as a hand wash before meals and a tube of antiseptic cream to treat cuts.

What is the difference between your teas and what I can buy at the grocery store?

Most teas that you buy at the grocery store are made with tea dust, which is about as appealing as it sounds. Tea dust is used because it adds rich color to the water and quickly. It is the lowest grade of tea.

Loose teas are superior because you get whole or partially crushed leaves, which gives you a fuller flavor and better appreciation of the character of the tea.

Tea that comes in a bag gives you mildly tea flavored water. Loose leaf tea is in a whole other league.

Why should I buy handcrafted soap rather than regular soap?

These handcrafted soaps are superior to commercially produced soaps because:

-they are handcrafted with love and care.
-they will not dry your skin.
-they will not leave stubborn soap scum on your tub or shower.
-they are made with all natural ingredients and healing essential oils.

Side note:

Actually, the "soap" you buy at the store generally (with the exception of other natural soaps) does not really fit the original definition of soap. Soap, back in the day, was glycerin, rendered from animal fat, mixed with oil and water. It was designed to break up dirt, oil and grease on your skin to leave you feeling clean. It was never meant to destroy the delicate ecosystem that lives on your skin. We now use vegetable glycerin instead of animal fat (because that's just not something I want on my skin). Other than that it is pretty similar to the old recipes. It's just glycerin, olive oil, water and essential oils and plants for fragrance.

What you buy commercially generally would be considered detergent rather than soap.

Can you make tea with...?

Probably. I have been hand blending teas for 6 years. Chances are, if it's edible, I can make tea with it.

And if I can't, I'll try to find someone else who can.