Announcements:
In case you missed it, my Open Sky Shop has had its Grand Opening. And, the Sagaform products are on sale!
Also, Savvy Eats now has a Facebook page. Become a fan today!
And, the Crofter’s winners are listed at the end of this post!
Brain Food 101: Caffeine in Tea
Mae asked me a great question about caffeinated v. decaf tea the other day.
‘Food Science Girl!! If caffeine from tea leaves dissolves in hot water, is it decaffeinated the second time you use the same leaves?’
Kind of! With each cup brewed with the same leaves, the caffeine content will be lower. So it may take a few cups to get a ‘decaf’ tea. Keep in mind, of course, that no decaf tea or coffee is truly caffeine-free. There is always still a little bit there!
Caffeine is one of the first things to dissolve during steeping. Studies show that it takes 4-5 minutes to remove about 2/3 of the caffeine in tea, approximately 10 minutes to remove more than 90% of the caffeine, and 15 minutes to get rid of virtually all the caffeine.
In my opinion, you will lose a lot of the flavor of the tea if you steep it in hot for 15 minutes before actually making your cup of tea, but I haven’t actually tried it.
Recipes from Around Blog-Land
I tried recipes from two of my favorite blogs this week, and loved them both, so I’m sharing the love with you! Check these out, and make them SOON.
1. Angela’s In a Jiffy Spelt Burgers. So filling, addictive, and filled with great ingredients!
2. Lindsey’s Super Health Nut Chocolate Shake. Tastes like a chocolatey, creamy dessert, but super healthy!
Winners
And finally, the winners of the Crofter’s giveaway are….
1. Kimberly Jahnke
2. Wendy
3. Tiffany
Congrats, everyone! Please send me your mailing info, and we’ll get you your coupon!
Thank you so much for the answer! The measurements really help too. I know that any more than 1/2 a cup of tea at night will keep me awake, so if it’s on a second brew I should be good.
Surprisingly, when you brew loose leaf tea a second and third time the flavor is still really good (and I’m a tea snob.) I love to make a hot cup first thing in the morning, then do a second brew to use in my oats (if it’s flavored). The third brew I let steep for a long time and then refrigerate for cold tea with lunch. It works out really well!
Thanks for the input on the flavor of twice (and thrice) brewed tea…good to know!
so glad you liked the shake! but dang, i’m bummed i didn’t win!!
yay for some good blog recipes
&& the info on the caffeine in tea is really interesting
I know, right? I wouldn’t have even though of it if Mae hadn’t asked me!
I have been wondering the same thing about tea lately. I’ve tried it and for me it loses too much flavor!
yay for crofter’s! thanks!! i’m shooting you an email now. i’ve been wanting to try angela’s spelt burgers too, maybe i’ll get around to buying spelt sometime soon. good info about the tea leaves, too. i rarely make a second batch from the same leaves because it loses a lot of flavor (and caffeine, now that i’ve read this).
I never thought about the caffeine decreasing with each brew before….how interesting!!!
I love the new bloggy look!
Nice…I see you switched to Thesis. I can’t wait to update mine. Was it easy to change? Fun?!?
Great info. I love tea, especially green tea.