Does Red Diamond Tea Have Caffeine in It?

Red Diamond, Inc., originally known as Donovan Provision Company, was established in 1906 by William Fitz Donovan. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the company provides a variety of tea and coffee blends as well as service programs for the food and beverage industry. According to Neil Bogart, Manufacturing Quality Systems Manager of Red Diamond, Inc., Red Diamond Tea is derived from a blend of leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant, which contains a fair amount of caffeine. Consult with your health care adviser regarding caffeine intake recommendations.

Camellia Sinensis

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that caffeine is a compound found in a variety of plants, such as the Camellia sinensis leaves utilized for the production of Red Diamond Tea 1. Traditional teas, such as:

• green
  
• white
  
• black
  
• oolong tea
  
• all derive from the Camellia sinensis plant

Caffeine, which may also be found in cocoa beans and kola nuts, functions as a diuretic and stimulant for the central nervous system.

Caffeine Content

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Although traditional teas are caffeinated, varying preparation and fermentation methods influence the caffeine content. University of Maryland Medical Center explains that green tea leaves are unfermented, oolong tea leaves are partially fermented, while black tea leaves are completely fermented 1. As such, black tea leaves are reported to have twice or triple the amount of caffeine of green tea leaves. While the ratio of tea leaves utilized in the Red Diamond Tea brand is unknown, Bogart states that an 8 oz. serving of brewed Red Diamond Tea contains approximately 35 mg of caffeine.

Preparation

Red Diamond, Inc. provides consumers with the choice of prepared sweet or unsweetened tea as well as tea bags. You can dilute prepared tea with fruit juice or water to lessen the effects of the caffeine. Tea bags containing leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant release most of its caffeine within the first minute of steeping. To reduce the amount of caffeine, simply steep one tea bag in boiling water for one minute prior to disposing the water. Repeat the process a second time to create a partially caffeinated tea. Red Diamond, Inc. also produces a line of decaffeinated teas for individuals wishing to restrict their intakes of caffeine.

Considerations

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Although tea blends may be labeled as "decaffeinated," MayoClinic.com notes that even decaffeinated teas contain marginal amounts of caffeine. For instance, an 8 oz. serving of decaffeinated black tea contains between 2 to 10 mg of caffeine. The University of Maryland Medical Center considers 250 mg of caffeine a moderate amount 1. Excessive consumption of caffeine may lead to nausea, depression or sleep disorders. Speak with your health care provider regarding diet recommendations for restricting caffeine intake.