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Decaffeination takes something from every leaf, so the blend you start with decides what is left in the cup. Tetley starts this one from its Finest blend, and the result is a decaf with body where many are thin.
Why the starting blend matters
Removing caffeine costs a black tea some of its aroma, the light top notes that lift out of a freshly poured cup. Malt is sturdier and comes through the process largely intact. Decaffeinate a thin, basic blend and there is little malt left to carry the mug; begin with a fuller blend, as Tetley has here, and there is more in reserve once the process has taken its share.
In the cup that shows as body. The malt is round and biscuity rather than sharp, the finish is clean, and the whole thing feels fuller than a typical decaf. What is missing is bite. Smooth is in the name for a reason: the brisk edge of a strong breakfast mug has been rounded off by the blenders, and steeping it for longer will not put that edge back.
Smooth Decaf Finest or Everyday Decaffeinated?
We stock two Tetley decafs and they suit different drinkers. Everyday Decaffeinated, sold in a box of eighty, is the plain household workhorse. Smooth Decaf Finest comes in a box of seventy-five and is the one to pick if you care more about a rounded, gentle cup than a punchy one. For a full-caffeine mug during the day, Tetley Everyday is the choice from the same family.
The bags here are full size, about 3.16g each across the 237g box, so this is not a light one-cup fill, and that generous dose is part of why the body holds up. Be clear about what decaf means, though. Most of the caffeine has been taken out, not every trace of it, so anyone who needs none at all should choose a herbal infusion instead.
Three minutes, one stir, then milk
Use water straight off the boil and give the bag three minutes, or four if you like your tea dark. Stir once halfway through; with a decaf, that single stir does more for strength than an extra minute of sitting. Then take the bag out. Left to stew, a decaf picks up a dry, gripping finish that undoes the smoothness you chose this box for in the first place.
This is a black tea built for milk, with tannin in it for the milk to soften, which is exactly what the herbal side of the shelf lacks. A standard splash suits it well. Because the edge is already rounded, it suits an easy-going biscuit: a milk chocolate digestive, a plain dunker, or ginger and dark chocolate if you miss the bite the tea leaves out.
The packs we stock
- Tetley 75 x Black Smooth Decaf Finest, 237g (barcode 5000208002252)
What to eat with it
- McVitie's Milk Chocolate Digestives Biscuits, 266g: A milk chocolate digestive beside a malty, gentle decaf is the classic evening pairing, and the biscuit gives a mild cup some sweetness to work with.
- McVitie's Rich Tea Biscuits, 300g: Rich Tea is the traditional dunker for a soft mug and will not overpower a tea whose edge has already been rounded off.
- Border Dark Chocolate Ginger Organic Biscuits, 150g: Ginger and dark chocolate supply the warmth and bite that this smooth blend deliberately leaves out.
Elsewhere in the Tetley range
The full range is on the Tetley brand page.
FAQ
Can I drink Smooth Decaf Finest if I must avoid caffeine entirely? It is not the right box for that. Decaffeination takes out most of the caffeine but leaves a small amount behind, so choose a herbal infusion if you need none.
How is it different from Tetley Everyday Decaffeinated? It is the decaf version of Tetley's upper Finest blend, built to taste smooth and rounded. Everyday Decaffeinated is the standard household decaf in larger boxes.
Why does it taste less brisk than ordinary Tetley? The brisk edge has been softened by choice, and decaffeination also takes some of the bright top notes. A longer brew will not bring that edge back.
How big are the bags? Full size: seventy-five bags in 237g, roughly 3.16g a bag, which is part of why the cup has body.
How is the caffeine removed? Several processes are in commercial use. The one used here, and the residual caffeine figure, are for the current pack to state, so check it there.
Curator's note: This is the pot we would put on after dinner for a house that drinks tea all evening. Three minutes, one stir, a proper splash of milk, and do not expect it to bite. Lee, teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.
In short: Tetley Smooth Decaf Finest: a decaf that starts from the better blend
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Tetley |
| Packs we stock | 237g |
| Category | Everyday Tea Bags |
| Caffeine | decaffeinated |
| Character | Smooth and malty, not brisk |
| Brew | Three minutes, four if you like it dark |
| Best time | Evening |
More from the tea wiki
- Tetley: Caffeine Levels by Product
- How to Make Tea Properly: The Eight Step Method
- Caffeine in Tea
- Tea Pairing Principles: Reason, Don't Memorise
- Decaf Tea
- Builders' Tea: The Working Class Story
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