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Are there any teas out there that are herbal (naturally caffeine free) but similar in taste to black tea?

helena

By helena,
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helena

helena

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I'm off all caffeine for at least three months... wah.

 

I'm almost past the hard part of giving up coffee. I'm drinking Teechino and I like it, it's satisfying in a similar way to coffee.

The no chocolate part is heart breaking. :D When I feel desperate, there's carob. :ack2:

I don't think I'll be drinking any green tea until I make the 3 months. I don't care for it, but I'm going to learn to love it.

 

What I really love is a cup of black tea. Does anyone know of an herbal tea that's similar in taste?

KungFuPanda

KungFuPanda

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No. The answer is just 'no.' Try the rooibis, though, it's better than no tea. Maybe even a rooibis chai?

 

Green tea has plenty of caffeine, so I'm not sure why you'd drink it if you're off caffeine and don't like it.

SorrelZG

SorrelZG

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How long does the "hard part" last for? I'm in a perpetual state of intending to quit coffee and fall in love with green tea for the benefit of all those antioxidants,

Matryoshka

Matryoshka

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I love rooibos tea. While it does not taste just like black tea, it has a depth and "oomph" that many herbal teas lack, and I like it better than green tea (which has some caffeine). I happen to like it mixed with spices, but I like spiced tea in general.

helena

helena

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How long does the "hard part" last for? I'm in a perpetual state of intending to quit coffee and fall in love with green tea for the benefit of all those antioxidants,

 

 

I'm on day 8. The headaches are going away. The Teechino has been a big help.

 

My real motivation though, is that I found a lump, went in for a mammogram/ultrasound, and found out I'm full of cysts! I go back in 3 months to get rechecked and hopefully a "100% this is not cancer" (they don't think it is). I've been reading like crazy on the subject and it seems a lot of women have improvement from giving up the caffeine. I've always known that I'm sensitive to it, but I'm so desperately tired (I have Lupus) I just wanted to feel normal.

 

It's time for me to stop thinking and reading about the little things that make a big difference, and start doing them. End of story. KWIM?

helena

helena

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I love rooibos tea. While it does not taste just like black tea, it has a depth and "oomph" that many herbal teas lack, and I like it better than green tea (which has some caffeine). I happen to like it mixed with spices, but I like spiced tea in general.

 

 

Yes! I need that oomph. :)

What spices do you add? I like to make chai with fresh spices, maybe I should do that with the regular rooibos?

Matryoshka

Matryoshka

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Yes! I need that oomph. :) What spices do you add? I like to make chai with fresh spices, maybe I should do that with the regular rooibos?

 

If you like spices try Good Earth original caffeine free. It contains no black tea.

 

I don't add my own spices; I just buy spiced rooibos tea. My hands-down favorite is, in fact, Good Earth original. Whole Foods and TJ's have stopped selling it, for some mysterious reason, so I'm actually about to order some online!

 

If you get this, make sure you order the rooibos version (says "caffeine free"), as they also make a black tea version.

Ingredients:

 

Rooibos Tea, Chicory Root, Natural Flavor, Rosehips, Cinnamon, Chamomila Recuita (Matricaria), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus), Peppermint, Papaya, Panax Ginseng, Anise Seed, Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinate) Root, Ginger Root, Orange Peel, Orange Oil

 

 

 

 

Lots of other places sell roobios teas with various spices added - you can probably find a version with any combination of things you like. I know I have seen rooibos chai out there too.

helena

helena

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So, I went out and bought two types of spiced herbal teas. I just brewed Yogi Chai Rooibos and Yogi Classic India Spice. Both are 100% caffeine free and both are delicious!! I'm so happy and grateful to have my familiar, comforting tea again. I added a bit of sugar and cream... ahhhh.

 

I definitely prefer the rooibos.

Thank you for the recommendation!

 

Next time I'm going to buy Good Earth and a ginseng tea which supposedly gives energy (yeah right!!)

lailasmum

lailasmum

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I am a huge black tea drinker and the only herbal tea I really love is peppermint and nettle blend. It still has tannins in it so has a bit of body to it and is satisfying.

EmmaNZ

EmmaNZ

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I recently gave up caffeine as well. I like fennel and nettle tea at the moment.

 

Rosie - can you explain very slowly and clearly how you make miso soup to a bit of a dunce like me please?

Rosie_0801

Rosie_0801

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Heat water, add miso paste.

 

The water should be warm, but not so hot it's uncomfortable to stick your finger in. The miso paste should definitely be paste, not nasty irradiated powder or sachets with added MSG. If you can buy it from the refrigerator section, all the better, but if you can't, you can't. Start with the lightest colour. As you get more used to the flavour, you might enjoy the darker pastes.

 

http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/0757000282 is a good book to play with. I've got more of an idea on how the different pastes work by making the same recipes using different ones. I have learned that when they say to use a light paste, they mean it. :p

 

You can make it healthier by putting some seaweed into the water while it is heating. I do when I have some. Not nori sheets though, I can't think that'd be good. :p

helena

helena

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I know! I just discovered Twinings makes an Earl Gray naturally decafiennated tea. I can barely tell the difference from the regular.

 

http://www.amazon.co...caffeinated tea

 

 

My kids drink their decaf English Breakfast once in awhile. I've been reading to be truly caffeine free, you ought to give up decaf tea/coffee and chocolate.

 

Hopefully my extreme caffeine free living will lighten up in a few months. I'm just a little freaked out about cysts, I want to do everything in my power to see it resolved at the next ultrasound.

helena

helena

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Heat water, add miso paste.

 

The water should be warm, but not so hot it's uncomfortable to stick your finger in. The miso paste should definitely be paste, not nasty irradiated powder or sachets with added MSG. If you can buy it from the refrigerator section, all the better, but if you can't, you can't. Start with the lightest colour. As you get more used to the flavour, you might enjoy the darker pastes.

 

http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/0757000282 is a good book to play with. I've got more of an idea on how the different pastes work by making the same recipes using different ones. I have learned that when they say to use a light paste, they mean it. :p

 

You can make it healthier by putting some seaweed into the water while it is heating. I do when I have some. Not nori sheets though, I can't think that'd be good. :p

 

How about the sodium? I think I've always been a little unsure about that. It tastes so salty!

My kids are hooked on a cheap, just add water miso (no MSG), maybe I ought to look for the paste as a next step.

 

I do love broths... I like to sip on a tortilla soup broth for breakfast. YUM!

helena

helena

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I recently gave up caffeine as well. I like fennel and nettle tea at the moment.

 

Rosie - can you explain very slowly and clearly how you make miso soup to a bit of a dunce like me please?

 

Hmm... it looks like that one might not be good for me because I might be too high in estrogen.

Sheesh! I don't know what I'm talking about! :)

I really want to educate myself on teas. Any good book recommendations out there??

mommymilkies

mommymilkies

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Hmm... it looks like that one might not be good for me because I might be too high in estrogen.

Sheesh! I don't know what I'm talking about! :)

I really want to educate myself on teas. Any good book recommendations out there??

 

 

Yes, avoid soy if this is an estrogen issue. When I had cysts in my bOOks, I had to go off of all caffeine products, dairy, sugar, etc. it's hard, but they went away. I usually drink herbal tea now. I mix my own with nettles, alfalfa, red raspberry leaf, etc.

Rosie_0801

Rosie_0801

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I would still recommend reading that miso book I linked earlier. It has a section on miso as medicine, so it would provide you with some names of scientists who have studied it so you can track down their studies. It's been used in the treatment of breast cancer, for one.

Matryoshka

Matryoshka

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Hey, have you been to Teavana? Their teas are pricey, but ooooooh!!!! They really are teavana. ;) On the rare occasions that we go to the mall, we always stop by and score us some free samples. They have lots of rooibos-based varieties (as well as other herbal, white, green and black based teas)

helena

helena

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Yes, avoid soy if this is an estrogen issue. When I had cysts in my bOOks, I had to go off of all caffeine products, dairy, sugar, etc. it's hard, but they went away. I usually drink herbal tea now. I mix my own with nettles, alfalfa, red raspberry leaf, etc.

 

Sugar too?!?!

Do you now have any of these foods in moderation?

Mom-ninja.

Mom-ninja.

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Don't force yourself to drink green tea. I was drinking decaf green tea but now I've stopped. After reading about the high levels of flouride in green tea I won't drink it anymore. There are better ways to get antioxidents.

 

I love chai tea so I'll have to look for a chai made with something other than black tea.

 

Anyone have their own recipe?

helena

helena

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I'm not too sure on the decaf coffee/tea and caffeine in chocolate, I don't know if they have an effect on my cysts...

I'm removing it all from my diet until the next test. From what I'm reading, cysts are fairly common in women my age (40), but I'm still a little freaked out by the whole thing. I'm nervous about going back for the 2nd ultrasound...

 

Even though I'm vegetarian and cooking in an all vegan house, I've known for a while that I was slacking off in diet and exercise. Way too much sugar, coffee and tea when I didn't want it for taste but for energy, a size 4 with a gooey tummy. :glare: I needed to pull back on all of these things anyways.

 

I'm still getting little headaches, a little crabby, and tired. Grrr.

I did drink my fresh kale and carrot juice this morning though... I'm hopeful that a new kind of "feeling good" is around the corner. :)

helena

helena

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  • Author
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Don't force yourself to drink green tea. I was drinking decaf green tea but now I've stopped. After reading about the high levels of flouride in green tea I won't drink it anymore. There are better ways to get antioxidents.

 

I love chai tea so I'll have to look for a chai made with something other than black tea.

 

Anyone have their own recipe?

 

I just bought a box of Yogi Chai Rooibos, and it's very tasty.

http://www.yogiproducts.com/products/details/chai-rooibos

I just drank it with honey and coconut creamer. :)

 

I wonder if it'd be better with plain rooibos and fresh ground spices from home? I might have to give that a try!

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