Some of us rely on the power of caffeine to get us started in the morning, whereas to others, it’s an unwelcome element that makes them unable to sleep at night. It’s the reason why decaf tea exists in the first place. That’s said, have you ever wondered how it’s removed?
The truth is, it’s quite a difficult process – unlike decaf coffee that’s rather easy to decaffeinate. When you decaffeinate coffee, it’s taken from the bean before the roasting process – which is rather influential in gives coffee its flavor.
However, when trying to make decaf tea, the caffeine is taken out after the tea leaf processing stage, which unfortunately means that the flavor is sometimes impacted in a variety of ways.
A Variety of Different Decaffeinating Processes
In reality, there are a number of different ways in which tea can be decaffeinated, with the following often used in manufacturing:
- Water processing (which can greatly dilute the taste)
- Ethyl acetate (which can leave behind a chemical-like taste)
- Methylene Chloride (Outlawed in a number of countries)
- CO2 extraction
It’s the last entry on our list of processing methods that is favored by the best manufacturers, as it’s one that allows much of the flavor to be retained. Not only that but most of the health-supporting polyphenols that regular teas contain are also protected.
What Are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are naturally-occurring compounds that have been shown to regulate blood pressure. However, that’s far from all, as they’re also known to help support blood vessel health, while also encouraging good circulation in the body.
Their benefits don’t end there either, as they’re also believed to help manage blood sugar levels and tackle chronic inflammation – something that’s present in many types of illness, such as heart disease.
Creating Decaf Tea With CO2
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a compound that can exist in a solid-state that’s known as ‘dry ice’. It’s interesting in that goes through a ‘sublime’ process which means when it’s heated, it transforms directly into a gas, skipping the liquid state entirely.
When it’s placed under high pressure and heated, it reaches what’s known as a ‘super-critical’ state, meaning that has properties of both liquid and gas. When it reaches this point, the CO2 molecules attract the caffeine molecules – drawing them out neatly.
It’s an efficient process too, as the CO2 can then be reused, as can the caffeine which is often added to medicines and soft drinks alike.
An Interesting Process That Creates a Much-Loved Product
So, when you’re next looking to buy some decaf tea, naturally you want to find a product that has been created using the CO2 extraction technique.
Thanks to this process, people around the world are able to enjoy the delicious flavors of tea after decaffeination, while also protecting the parts of the tea leaf that boost our health – polyphenols.
An interesting fact, we think you’ll agree to create what is a much-loved daily-used beverage. Where would we be without those scientists?