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The 5 Best Decaf Teas That Actually Taste Good (No Chemicals)

Decaf tea has a bad reputation for tasting like "brown dishwater." This is usually because the tea leaves have been boiled or soaked in chemical solvents (like Methylene Chloride) to remove the caffeine, stripping away the flavor antioxidants in the process.

The solution? CO2 Decaffeination. This premium method uses pressurized carbon dioxide to target caffeine molecules while leaving flavor compounds intact. We tested the best CO2 brands to find the ones that taste just like the real thing.

Loose leaf decaf tea next to a pile of coffee beans for comparison.
Best Overall (Loose Leaf)
Arbor Teas Decaf English Breakfast

1. Arbor Teas Decaf English Breakfast

★★★★★ (The Gold Standard)

Arbor Teas uses the CO2 method exclusively for their organic teas. This English Breakfast is bold, malty, and stands up perfectly to milk and sugar. You would be hard-pressed to tell it apart from a caffeinated Assam blend.

Pros:
  • CO2 Decaffeinated (Chemical Free)
  • Compostable packaging
  • Full-bodied flavor
Cons:
  • Only available as loose leaf
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Best Tea Bag
Clipper Organic Everyday Decaf

2. Clipper Organic Everyday Decaf

★★★★☆ (Convenience Pick)

Clipper is one of the few supermarket brands that explicitly uses the CO2 method for their "Everyday" bags. It is organic, unbleached, and has a clean, brisk taste that lacks the chemical aftertaste of cheaper brands like Tetley or PG Tips.

Pros:
  • CO2 Process
  • Unbleached, plastic-free bags
  • Widely available
Cons:
  • Slightly lighter than Yorkshire Gold
Check Price on Amazon
Best Flavored
Harney & Sons Decaf Hot Cinnamon Spice

3. Harney & Sons Decaf Hot Cinnamon Spice

★★★★★ (Flavor Bomb)

If you miss the kick of caffeine, replace it with the kick of spice. This famous blend uses CO2 decaf black tea loaded with three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves. It is naturally sweet and incredibly warming.

Pros:
  • Incredible natural sweetness (no sugar needed)
  • CO2 Process (for loose leaf/sachets)
  • Beautiful tin
Cons:
  • Contains "Natural Flavors" (oils)
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Best Whole Leaf
Brew Tea Co Decaf Ceylon

4. Brew Tea Co. Decaf Ceylon

★★★★☆ (The Purist Choice)

Brew Tea Co. insists on using whole rolled leaves, not dust. Their CO2 decaffeinated Ceylon retains the woody, fruity notes typical of Sri Lankan tea. It is refreshing and light, perfect for drinking without milk.

Pros:
  • Whole rolled leaves
  • CO2 Process
  • Plastic-free packaging
Cons:
  • More expensive per cup
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Best Naturally Caffeine Free
Good Earth Rooibos

5. Good Earth "Decaf Chai" (Rooibos)

★★★★★ (Better Than Decaf)

Sometimes the best decaf tea isn't tea at all. Rooibos (Redbush) is naturally caffeine-free and has a rich, nutty body that takes milk perfectly. Good Earth's Chai is a spiced rooibos that satisfies the "tea craving" without any chemical processing.

Pros:
  • Naturally 0% Caffeine
  • Takes milk well
  • Fun flavors
Cons:
  • It's not actually tea (Camellia Sinensis)
Check Price on Amazon

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