Decaf black tea for Kombucha?

[Chloe'sMama]

I am still nursing and plan on getting pregnant again soon and don't do any caffeine. Anyone recommend a decaf blend?

[blueridgewoman]

I don't see that it would be a problem! I'd just make sure it was organic. Hard to find though-- I'm thinking Celestial Seasonings has a black decaf blend that's also organic.

[Chloe'sMama]

so it is safe for nursing and pregnant mothers? Would it still have the beneficial properties if the tea is decaf?

[blueridgewoman]

Basically, the party line is that if you consumed it prior to nursing and pregnancy, it's totally fine. If you haven't, some practitioners don't recommend starting until you're not pregnant or lactating due to the detoxifying effects of the stuff. I don't drink it for that reason, but everyone is different and I think there are different views.

I think it would absolutely still have all the beneficial properties-- the probiotics, etc, are fed by sugar and the scoby, not caffeine. I do wonder if the fermentation process takes care of some or all of the caffeine, though- no idea on this.

[CookiePie]

I have read that you can use red rooibus tea for making kombucha, which has no caffeine whatsoever. I have also read that if you use regular black or green tea (or a combination of both) that most of the caffeine will be consumed in the same way that the sugar is consumed by the culture leaving only a small amount for you to drink. HTH

[Chloe'sMama]

thanks for the responses.


i dont drink it now, but i wonder if i slowly if it would still be bad to start while nursing, before i get pregnant.

[dogmom327]

For the caffeine issue...here's a trick:

When you make tea for kombucha, allow your black tea (decaffeinated) to steep in a cup of hot water for 45 - 60 seconds before placing it in the sugar water to make tea. In that first minute, virtually all the caffeine is released allowing you to make a naturally decaffeinated tea. That way you don't have to buy special tea.