Does Herbal Tea Have Caffeine? Key Facts and Health Benefits

Written by Amanda.J, PharmD | Reviewed by Jamie, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Herbal tea is brewed from ingredients that don’t contain the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a plant with natural caffeine. Most herbal teas are caffeine-free because they don’t include Camellia sinensis leaves in the ingredients. However, yerba mate and guayusa are herbal teas that do have caffeine. (1)

Understanding whether tea contains caffeine can be confusing. If you’re sensitive to the effects of caffeine or want to enjoy a relaxing cup of tea before bedtime, it’s important to understand which teas have caffeine and which don’t.

What Is Herbal Tea?

Although herbal tea can look like traditional tea and is made in the same way, herbal tea, in fact, is not technically tea. Regular teas contain a mixture of leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. To be considered a herbal tea, the brew won’t contain leaves from this plant. (1,2)

Herbal tea is also known as a tisane — a combination of several ingredients, such as dried leaves, grass, fruit, and flowers. Because tisanes have a similar brewing process to other types of tea, they’re often lumped into the same category. (1,2) Even though true herbal tea is technically called a tisane, we’ll continue to call it herbal tea for the rest of this article.

Most herbal teas contain a blend of ingredients meant to produce a specific effect, such as relaxation or rejuvenation. (2) Examples of ingredients that may be included in a herbal tea include:

Flowers — such as chamomile, chrysanthemum, hibiscus, clover, rose hips, and lavender
Nonflowering plants — such as woodruff, peppermint, rooibos, yerba mate, and lemongrass
Roots — such as celery root, ginseng, and ginger
Bark — such as cinnamon, sassafras, and slippery elm
Fruit — such as hawthorn berries, oranges, and apples
Herbs — such as marjoram, rosemary, parsley

Is Herbal Tea Caffeine-Free?

Most herbal teas don’t have any caffeine (caffeine-free). (1,2)

Caffeine in traditional tea comes naturally from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. When brewed in hot water, caffeine and other substances are released from the tea leaves and into the water. (1)

Herbal teas don’t use Camellia sinensis leaves, and most are naturally caffeine-free. However, some herbal teas do have caffeine. The most popular example is yerba mate — a tea made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree. (1,3) Tea made from the guayusa plant also contains caffeine. These brews are most common in South America but have been gaining attention worldwide. (3) Even though yerba mate and guayusa are considered herbal teas, it’s important to know they do have caffeine.

Another type of tea that may have caffeine is a tea blend. A tea blend is a tea that combines Camellia sinensis leaves with ingredients typically found in herbal teas (such as peppermint or fruits). In a tea blend, caffeine will come from the leaves of Camellia sinensis.

How Can You Tell If Herbal Tea Has Caffeine?

The easiest way to tell if a herbal tea has caffeine is to look at the label. In the United States (US), all packaged foods are required to have an ingredient label. (4) If Camellia sinensis, yerba mate, or guayusa are included in the ingredients, the tea will contain caffeine. Some brands may also list the caffeine content on the label.

Different types of teas can be made from the Camellia sinensis plant based on the way the leaves are processed. (5) The following types of teas are made from these leaves and contain caffeine:

Black tea
Green tea
White tea
Oolong tea
Yellow tea

Many traditional teas are also available in a decaffeinated variety.

What’s the Difference Between Herbal Tea and Decaf Tea?

Most herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free. If a tea is decaffeinated (decaf), it means that the tea leaves have been processed to remove the caffeine. Decaf tea is not entirely caffeine-free and may still contain a small amount of caffeine. (1)

It’s important to be aware of the terms caffeine-free and decaf. If a tea is caffeine-free, its ingredients don’t contain caffeine. If a tea is decaf, it may still have a trace amount of caffeine. (1)

How Can Caffeine-Free Herbal Teas Support Wellness?

The health benefits of caffeine-free herbal teas come from the unique blend of herbs used in the brew. In contrast, the health benefits of traditional teas, such as black tea and green tea, are mostly attributed to the compounds in the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, including caffeine and polyphenols. (1,6)

Almased Wellness Tea contains a soothing blend of ingredients that can help support a feeling of wellness without any caffeine.

Elderblossom

Elderblossom are small, white flowers produced by the elder tree. It has been used in traditional medicine to support immune response and encourage healthy blood sugar. (7)

Hawthorn Berries

Hawthorn berries are the fruit of the hawthorn tree — a thorny shrub or small tree in the same family as the rose. Although commonly referred to as berries, hawthorn berries aren’t actually berries at all. Instead, they’re a stone fruit, similar to a plum. (8,9)

Chemicals found in hawthorn berries may have several health benefits, including: (10,11,12)

Supporting heart health
Inflammatory balancing
Antioxidant effects
Promoting healthy blood sugar levels
Discouraging abnormal cell growth
Supporting healthy digestion

Marjoram

Marjoram is an aromatic herb similar to oregano that’s often used in Mediterranean cooking. It’s also been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to support a healthy inflammatory response, digestion, and curb pain. (13)

Woodruff

Woodruff is a plant found in Europe and North Africa that has been used to promote tissue rejuvenation and minimize feelings of anxiousness. (14)

Celery Root

Celery root (also known as celeriac) is a root vegetable related to celery with several beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K and vitamin C. (15)

Are There Any Risks to Drinking Herbal Tea?

Herbal tea is safe for most people to drink in moderation. When you drink herbal tea, you don’t have to worry about the potential side effects of caffeinated tea, such as irritability and trouble sleeping. (16)

However, some people may need to consult their healthcare provider before trying a new herbal tea, including: (1,2,17)

People with chronic (long-term) health conditions, such as liver disease or kidney disease
People with allergies to plants like ragweed or daisies or other ingredients in the herbal tea
People taking medications that may have drug interactions

Relax With Almased Wellness Tea

A cup of Almased Wellness Tea can help promote a feeling of relaxation while supporting your digestion and inflammatory response. Because Almased Wellness Tea doesn’t have any caffeine, you can enjoy a cup any time of day, hot or cold.

Sources:

Blog