Re: Can you use decaf tea for making Kombucha?

[Guest guest]

>

> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident.... is decaf

tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally decaffeinated " are

pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings tea that was on sale.

>

> Thank you

>

Well I googled and some sites say you can make it with decaf.

" Caffeine. The kombucha culture does not break down the caffeine in the tea. If

you want a low-caffeine kombucha, then make it with decaffeinated tea, green tea

or other low-caffeine teas like oolong or kukicha (twig tea). They all work well

- I make my KT with Gunpowder green tea. Similarly, KT does not break down the

oxalic acid in the tea. This is yet another reason to use green tea, which has

only 10-20% as much oxalic acid as black tea. "

http://www.growyouthful.com/recipes/kombucha.php

I am going to try to make it with half regular and half decaf.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tamara..Kombucha thrives on caffein, but prob if only use once in absolute

necessity..may get away with it ;-) Best use regular tea.

Lov

Jahjet

>

> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident.... is decaf

tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally decaffeinated " are

pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings tea that was on sale.

>

> Thank you

>

[Guest guest]

Yes Kombucha does break down the caffeine and the sugar. I don't know where you

got your information but they're wrong, the scoby needs both caffeine and white

sugar to do its job properly.

tamaratornado <tamaratornado@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>>

>> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident.... is decaf

tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally decaffeinated " are

pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings tea that was on sale.

>>

>> Thank you

>>

>

>

>Well I googled and some sites say you can make it with decaf.

>

> " Caffeine. The kombucha culture does not break down the caffeine in the tea. If

you want a low-caffeine kombucha, then make it with decaffeinated tea, green tea

or other low-caffeine teas like oolong or kukicha (twig tea). They all work well

- I make my KT with Gunpowder green tea. Similarly, KT does not break down the

oxalic acid in the tea. This is yet another reason to use green tea, which has

only 10-20% as much oxalic acid as black tea. "

>

>http://www.growyouthful.com/recipes/kombucha.php

>

>I am going to try to make it with half regular and half decaf.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

As you continue to learn about Kombucha you will find that there is much

disagreement on the subject of the role of caffeine in Kombucha even among very

well known authors on the subject of Kombucha. A few researchers have studied

the subject but even they get contradictory results.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but there are many others who hold

other Points of view, that is the way it is with Kombucha.

Peace, Love and Harmony,

Bev

> >>

> >> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident.... is

decaf tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally decaffeinated " are

pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings tea that was on sale.

> >>

> >> Thank you

> >>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Good Morning! since camellia sinesis, regular tea is naturally caffeinated

Mother Nature had her first say so. The early Kombuchas were probably made with

regular tea. But knowing what we know now, there is no reason not to

decaffeinate, but the process may take some of the goodies with it.(in

decaffeination when pour off the first concotion after 45 sec, it takes the

caffein out) along with some other goodies.I have always been able to sleep well

on Kombucha, but never could drink coffe or tea, and sleep. For me to

decaffeinate tea would be inconveniant, since i never had allergy to caffein

that remains in KT. However i get very hyper on tea or coffee :-)

Lov

Jahjet

> > >>

> > >> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident.... is

decaf tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally decaffeinated " are

pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings tea that was on sale.

> > >>

> > >> Thank you

> > >>

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes. Because decaf is not caffeine free.

If KT requires caffeine, guess what, decaf still has caffeine, just

less (I pasted a table below, hopefully it will show up). Decaf should

in truth be called " reduced caffeine " .

What I have learned in my reading and research is this. Caffeine's role

in the ferment is that it stimulates the bacteria (just like it

stimulates us). Bacteria are living, breathing organisms, like us, just

smaller and very specialized. Without as much caffeine, the bacteria

will still do their job, just slower, making the tea take longer to

sour, because the sour-ing is primarily caused by acetic acid (think

vineger) which is produced by said bacteria. I think the problem might

be the balance of yeast and bacteria because of the slower progress of

the bacteria. The yeast would still be fermenting at the normal speed so

how that might affect the brew month after month would be interesting.

From " Stash " teas site (hope this chart shows up, otherwise " google "

caffeine in tea.

Black Tea <teas/black+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 40 25 - 110 5.00

Oolong Tea <teas/oolong+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 30 12 - 55 3.75

Green Tea <teas/green+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 20 8 - 30 2.50 White

Tea <teas/white+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 15 6 - 25 2.00 Decaf Tea

<products/Pumpkin+Spice+Decaf+Black+Tea.aspx> (one tea bag) 2 1 - 4

0.50 Caffeine Content Comparisons Approximate caffeine content of

various beverages: Milligrams of Caffeine: Item Per

serving Range Per

ounce*

Coffee (5 oz. cup) 80 40 - 170 16.00 Cola (12 oz. can) 45 30 - 60

3.75 Black Tea <teas/black+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 40 25 - 110 5.00

Oolong Tea <teas/oolong+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 30 12 - 55 3.75

Green Tea <teas/green+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 20 8 - 30 2.50 White

Tea <teas/white+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 15 6 - 25 2.00 Decaf Tea

<products/Pumpkin+Spice+Decaf+Black+Tea.aspx> (one tea bag) 2 1 - 4

0.50 Herbal Tea <teas/herbal+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 0 0 0.00 *

Assumes 8 ounces of water per tea bag

Caffeine content varies. This chart provides a general guideline.

Cheers!

Black Tea <teas/black+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 40 25 - 110 5.00

Oolong Tea <teas/oolong+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 30 12 - 55 3.75

Green Tea <teas/green+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 20 8 - 30 2.50 White

Tea <teas/white+teas.aspx> (one tea bag) 15 6 - 25 2.00 Decaf Tea

<products/Pumpkin+Spice+Decaf+Black+Tea.aspx> (one tea bag) 2 1 - 4

0.50

>

> I bought " naturally decaffeinated " English Breakfast by accident....

is decaf tea OK to use for Kombucha making? (the word " naturally

decaffeinated " are pretty small on the box- I missed that!) A Twinnings

tea that was on sale.

>

> Thank you

>