How does Tetley® decaffeinate its tea?
Tetley’s Naturally Decaffeinated Teas are decaffeinated using natural ethyl acetate. The solvent used, natural ethyl acetate, is a combination of natural sources—part from vinegar acid and the other from ethyl alcohol that comes from the fermentation of sugar cane (Reinhold Zenger—Plant Extract). The tea leaf goes through a process in which it is moistened with water and/or steam. The moistened tea then comes into contact with ethyl acetate, which selectively absorbs caffeine and removes it from the tea. Any excess ethyl acetate is eliminated from the tea as it dries. The use of ethyl acetate as a decaffeinating agent has the full approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Tea Association of the USA, which represents all tea companies, has agreed to a voluntary level of caffeine in decaffeinated tea that is 0.4% by dry weight. In general terms, because decaffeinated tea has a caffeine content of 0.4% and regular tea has a caffeine content of 4.0%, we can state that decaffe
