Parents looking to avoid caffeine
If you’re looking for a drink for snack time that isn’t coffee, check the caffeine statement for the exact recipe. A fruity flavour or pyramid tea bag doesn’t tell you what it contains.
Who is this choice for?
Families making a drink with cold water
If you want to fill a water bottle or jug without using hot water, choose a tea bag with instructions stating the volume of water and brewing time. Auchan’s product page for Lipton Peach & Raspberry specifies one tea bag in 500 ml of cold water for 5 minutes.
Families comparing fruity flavours
The flavour can help you choose a recipe your child may enjoy, but it doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or sugars. Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for each variant.
What should you look for?
Cold-brew infusion labelled caffeine-free
Worth considering: if you want to make a drink with cold water for snack time without choosing coffee.
Bear in mind: the fruit and herbal recipes listed by Auchan and Carrefour don’t taste like coffee. Check the caffeine statement for the flavour you buy.
Actual iced coffee
Worth considering: only if you’re specifically looking for the taste of coffee and can establish how much caffeine the drink contains.
Bear in mind: coffee is a source of caffeine. ANSES notes that caffeine can disrupt sleep and that its effects vary from person to person.
When comparing tea bags for snack time, start with the ingredients, then check how to prepare the drink and its flavour. Each percentage below represents the proportion of consumers who rank that factor as their top priority.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | The caffeine statement for the exact recipe; for coffee, the amount per serving. | I want a snack-time drink that isn’t coffee and is clearly labelled caffeine-free. Around 36% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Sugars and ingredients | The nutritional information and ingredients list for the flavour you choose. | I’m interested in a fruity taste, but I want to know what the recipe actually contains. Around 29% of consumers put ingredients and nutritional composition first. |
| Cold preparation | Whether it can be brewed in cold water, the volume of water per tea bag and the brewing time. | To fill a water bottle without using hot water, I need instructions that are easy to follow. Around 21% of consumers prioritise preparation. |
| Flavour | The flavour of the variant, without assuming what it contains from its name alone. | If several recipes meet my other requirements, I look for a taste my child may enjoy. Around 14% of consumers prioritise flavour. |
Things to avoid getting confused about
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Confusing iced coffee with cold-brew infusion
The Lipton and Éléphant pyramid tea bags listed by Auchan and Carrefour contain fruit and herbal infusions, not coffee. So they won’t be right if you’re looking for the taste of coffee.
First decide which drink you want to serve, then check its name and ingredients.
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Assuming a pyramid shape means better quality
The shape describes the tea bag; on its own, it doesn’t prove that the infusion is better or that children will prefer it.
Instead, compare the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for the recipes you’re interested in.
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Assuming “Detox” means proven benefits
This word appears in the product name of an Éléphant infusion listed by Carrefour. It is not proof of any effect for a child.
As with any other recipe, base your choice on its ingredients and preparation instructions, not this claim.
Brands to compare
Lipton
Auchan lists Lipton cold-brew infusions in Pyramid® tea bags, including Peach & Raspberry and Hibiscus & Pomegranate flavours.
- Auchan’s product page for the Peach & Raspberry recipe lists 15 tea bags and gives preparation instructions of 5 minutes in 500 ml of cold water.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each flavour; the pyramid shape is no proof of superior quality.
Éléphant
Carrefour lists an Éléphant cold-brew infusion in Pyramid® tea bags, made with fruit and hibiscus.
- Carrefour’s product page gives the ingredients for the recipe listed and states that it is caffeine-free and sugar-free.
- The marketing term “Detox” does not prove any benefits for children; check the ingredients of the variant you choose.
Westminster
ALDI France lists a Westminster cold-brew infusion in a box of 20 tea bags.
- This product gives you another brand of infusion designed to be made with cold water.
- ALDI France marks this product as unavailable on its product page. Check availability, pack size and ingredients before considering it.
Cold-brew infusions available on Joybuy
These five products are cold-brew infusions, not iced coffees. To choose a recipe for snack time, compare the flavour and check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions on the packaging of the variant you choose.
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Lipton Cold Brew Peach & Raspberry, 15 tea bags
A cold-brew infusion to consider if you’re looking for a Peach & Raspberry flavour rather than the taste of coffee.
Auchan’s product page for this recipe specifies one tea bag in 500 ml of cold water for 5 minutes. Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the box you buy.
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Lipton Cold Brew Hibiscus & Pomegranate, 15 tea bags
A cold-brew infusion to compare if you’re interested in a Hibiscus & Pomegranate flavour for snack time.
Auchan lists this Lipton recipe in a box of 15 tea bags and states that it is caffeine-free and sugar-free. Check these claims and the preparation instructions for the variant you buy.
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Éléphant Detox cold-brew infusion, 15 tea bags
A cold-brew infusion to consider if you’re comparing Éléphant recipes for snack time; “Detox” is a marketing term, not a proven benefit.
The product name indicates a box of 15 tea bags. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and brewing instructions on the packaging.
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Lipton Cold Infuse Mint & Lime, 15 tea bags
A cold-brew infusion to compare if you prefer mint and lime to the fruity recipes mentioned above.
The name of this variant indicates that it contains 15 tea bags. Check its own label for the ingredients, nutritional information and instructions for how much cold water to use.
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Elephant Relax Cold Brew infusion, 15 tea bags
Another cold-brew infusion to consider for snack time; the word “Relax” in its name is no proof of an effect on children.
The product name indicates that it contains 15 tea bags. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions on the box you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Does iced coffee in a pyramid tea bag meet the same need as an infusion for snack time?
No: iced coffee is still coffee, while the Lipton and Éléphant products listed by Auchan and Carrefour are fruit and herbal infusions. If you’re considering coffee for a child, take into account the caffeine in each serving and any other sources consumed during the day; ANSES says that caffeine can disrupt sleep.
How do you prepare a cold-brew infusion in a pyramid tea bag?
Follow the instructions on the box for the volume of cold water and brewing time for the recipe you choose. For Lipton Peach & Raspberry, Auchan specifies one tea bag in 500 ml of cold water for 5 minutes; don’t assume the same amount and timing apply to another variant.
Does a fruity infusion always contain sugars or caffeine?
No: you can’t tell from the fruity flavour alone. Auchan and Carrefour state that some Lipton and Éléphant recipes are sugar-free and caffeine-free; check the claims on the specific product you buy.
Should you check the ingredients for every flavour?
Yes, because the ingredients in one recipe don’t tell you what all the other variants in the range contain. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact packaging, especially if your child needs to avoid an ingredient.