Fans of a full-flavoured, spiced cup
You’re looking for a chai-style flavour and are happy with the naturally occurring caffeine in black tea, such as the tea used in Kusmi Tea’s Kashmir Tchaï.
Who are these options for?
People avoiding caffeine in the evening
You want a hot, spiced drink without a black tea base. A rooibos explicitly labelled caffeine-free, such as the Éthiquable product featured by Auchan, fits the bill.
People who check the ingredients
You compare the herbs and any usage warnings before trusting a “wellness” label, especially when a recipe contains liquorice.
What should you look for before choosing?
First decide whether you want a tea-based drink, then compare the ingredients and brewing instructions. A spiced recipe isn’t necessarily as strong as another just because it contains spices.
| What matters | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Spiced flavour | The black tea or herbal base, the spices and the brewing instructions. | I’m mainly looking for a chai-style cup, but I don’t assume the word “strong” guarantees the flavour I want; around 29% of consumers prioritise this spiced taste. |
| Caffeine-free | The caffeine-free claim and the ingredients list, particularly whether it contains tea or mate. | For a spiced drink in the evening, I’d rather avoid a caffeinated tea base; this is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | The full list of herbs, any liquorice and the warnings on the packaging. | If I drink the same blend often, I want to know what’s in it rather than rely on a “wellness” claim; around 21% of consumers put this check first. |
| Size and availability | The weight, number of tea bags and availability through your chosen way of shopping. | I want a format that suits my regular use without relying on a hard-to-find product; this is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls to avoid
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Assuming “wellness” or “detox” claims prove a product works
A product name doesn’t prove that it has a health effect. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that only authorised health claims may be used for food products.
Choose based on the ingredients and label instructions. Don’t infer a therapeutic benefit from the name of the recipe.
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Confusing spiced black tea with a caffeine-free herbal tea
According to the European Food Safety Authority, tea leaves naturally contain caffeine. A black tea blend therefore doesn’t meet the same criteria as rooibos labelled caffeine-free.
Check the base of the recipe in the ingredients list before choosing a drink for the evening.
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Overlooking liquorice
Anses says that consuming large amounts of food or drink containing liquorice repeatedly can lead to hypokalaemia and high blood pressure.
If you’re planning to drink the same blend regularly, read its ingredients list and any warnings.
Brands and retailers to consider
Kusmi Tea
A brand to explore if you’re looking for a chai-style blend of black tea and spices.
- Kusmi Tea recommends brewing Kashmir Tchaï for 3 to 5 minutes at 90 °C.
- This product contains black tea, so it won’t suit anyone looking for a caffeine-free drink.
Carrefour
Product pages for some herbal teas give you a detailed breakdown of the ingredients in each blend.
- A Carrefour product page for a Jardin Bio Étic herbal tea lists rosemary, lemongrass, marjoram, dandelion, artichoke and liquorice, among other ingredients.
- A “wellness” name doesn’t tell you how strong a blend tastes or whether it offers a medical benefit.
Bio Village (E.Leclerc)
A brand to consider if you’re comparing herbal teas rather than looking for a spicy black tea flavour.
- E.Leclerc lists, among other products, a Bio Village relaxation herbal tea in a box of 20 tea bags.
- Check the ingredients of each product if you’re after a full-bodied cup: the pack size doesn’t tell you how it will taste.
An option on Joybuy
For a winter drink with warming spice notes, this selection features a herbal tea worth considering if you’d prefer to avoid a black tea base. Check the ingredients and brewing instructions to see if it matches the strength you’re looking for.
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PUKKA Enchanted Winter, 20 tea bags
An option to consider for a spiced winter drink if you’d rather avoid black tea.
Pack size: 20 tea bags. Check the ingredients and brewing instructions to see whether the blend suits the flavour you’re looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Does a “wellness” label prove that a herbal tea has an effect?
No. The name of a herbal tea doesn’t prove that it has a health effect. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that only authorised health claims may be used for food products. When comparing blends, start with their ingredients.
How do you choose a caffeine-free spiced drink for the evening?
Look for a blend explicitly labelled caffeine-free and check its ingredients list. Auchan, for example, features a caffeine-free Éthiquable spiced rooibos. Tea leaves naturally contain caffeine, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
What should you check if a herbal tea contains liquorice?
Read any warnings and think about how often you plan to drink the blend. Anses notes that consuming large amounts of products containing liquorice repeatedly can lead to hypokalaemia and high blood pressure.
How can you make a more full-flavoured cup without relying on “extra strong”?
First, choose a blend whose base and spices match the flavour you want, then follow its brewing instructions. For Kashmir Tchaï, Kusmi Tea recommends brewing for 3 to 5 minutes at 90 °C. These instructions apply to this product only and aren’t a measure of strength that can be applied to other herbal teas.