Mint Tea: Three Caffeine-Free Ways to Brew It

Mint tea is an herbal infusion built on peppermint or other mint leaves, and because it is not made from the tea plant, a pure mint tea is naturally caffeine-free. Its cool, clean flavor works hot, iced or with steamed milk, which makes it one of the most versatile cups you can keep in the cupboard. Below, we explain what mint tea is, share three caffeine-free ways to brew it, and look closely at three mint blends from our collection, with flavor notes, ingredients, caffeine level and price per cup for each.

What Is Mint Tea?

Mint tea is made by steeping dried mint leaves, most often peppermint, in hot water. Peppermint carries a high level of natural menthol, which gives the cup its cooling sensation and bright, slightly sweet finish. Spearmint is softer and sweeter. Many modern mint teas blend the leaf with fruit, herbs or cacao, so the mint becomes one layer of a fuller flavor rather than the only note.

• Tea type: herbal tea, also called a tisane, made without the tea plant Camellia sinensis.
• Signature flavor: cool, fresh and clean, with a lingering sweetness.
• Caffeine: caffeine-free when the blend contains no black, green or other true tea.
• Common pairings: lemongrass, apple, melon, chocolate and honey.

To see how herbal blends compare with black, green and oolong teas, visit the caffeine section of our Learn page or our guide to caffeine-free rooibos and herbal tea.

Three Caffeine-Free Mint Teas to Try

Olympus: Mint Cucumber Herbal Tea

A garden-fresh take on mint tea. Cooling peppermint leads, followed by sweet floral apple, crisp cucumber and a woodsy citrus note from lemongrass. It is especially good iced, and a touch of honey brings out its natural sweetness.

• Flavor notes: peppermint, Persian cucumber, apple, lemongrass.
• Ingredients: peppermint, Turkish apple, moringa leaf, Thai lemongrass, natural flavor of cucumber, dried cucumber. All natural, vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO and gluten-free.
• Caffeine: caffeine-free.
• 15-cup bag: $14.99, about $1.00 per cup.
• 70-cup bag: $44.99, about $0.64 per cup.
• 4-cup deluxe sample: $4.99, about $1.25 per cup.

Capri: Honeydew Melon Mint Tea

A naturally sweet fruit and mint blend. Rich honeydew melon and a honeyed sweetness sit over a cooling peppermint base, with apple, pineapple and pear rounding out the cup. Iced, it is bright and refreshing; hot, it makes a smooth after-dinner cup.

• Flavor notes: honeydew melon, wildflower honey, peppermint.
• Ingredients: Turkish apple, rosehip shells, peppermint, Thai pineapple, melon pieces, pear pieces, flavoring. Gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO.
• Caffeine: caffeine-free.
• 15-cup bag: $14.99, about $1.00 per cup.
• 70-cup bag: $44.99, about $0.64 per cup.
• 4-cup deluxe sample: $4.99, about $1.25 per cup.

Love Story: Chocolate Mint Herbal Tea

A dessert-style mint tea for the colder months. Cool peppermint and earthy dark chocolate rest on a base of honeybush, a naturally caffeine-free South African herb with a mild caramel, tea-biscuit sweetness. A splash of milk turns it into something close to a thin mint cookie in a cup.

• Flavor notes: mint, dark chocolate, tea biscuit.
• Ingredients: South African honeybush, cacao shell, peppermint, roasted chicory root, cocoa bean, natural flavors of chocolate and peppermint. Sugar-free, all natural, vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free.
• Caffeine: caffeine-free.
• 15-cup bag: $14.99, about $1.00 per cup.
• 70-cup bag: $44.99, about $0.64 per cup, the best value if chocolate mint becomes your nightly cup.
• 4-cup deluxe sample: $4.99, about $1.25 per cup.

How to Brew Mint Tea: Three Ways

1. Hot, 8 oz: Use 1 teaspoon of loose leaf per 8 oz of water. Bring the water to a full boil, about 212°F, and steep 5 minutes. Herbal blends rarely turn bitter, so you can steep a few minutes longer for a stronger cup. Olympus and Capri are both excellent this way.

2. Iced, cold brew: Add 2 teaspoons of loose leaf per 8 oz of cold water, refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours, then strain and serve over ice. Cold brewing keeps the mint crisp and the fruit notes bright, which suits Olympus and Capri especially well.

3. Mint tea latte: Steep 2 teaspoons of Love Story in 4 oz of boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes, strain, and add your choice of sweetener. Top with 4 to 6 oz of steamed, frothed milk or a plant-based alternative for a creamy chocolate mint latte with no caffeine.

For water temperatures and steep times across every style of tea, see our loose leaf brewing chart, and for more chilled ideas, our iced tea recipes with loose leaf tea. Store mint tea in an airtight container away from light, heat and strong odors to keep its aroma fresh.

Current Offer

Through October 28, code LAUNCH10 takes 10% off orders of $40 or more, and a single 70-cup bag clears that minimum on its own. The Tea Trio also takes 10% off any 3 or more teas, so Olympus, Capri and Love Story make a natural mint flight, and US orders of $45 or more ship free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does mint tea have caffeine?

No, not when it is a pure herbal blend. Peppermint and other mints are not tea plants, so mint tea is naturally caffeine-free. A mint blend that includes black or green tea will contain caffeine.

What does mint tea taste like?

Mint tea tastes cool, fresh and clean, with a gentle natural sweetness. Peppermint is bold and cooling, while blends with fruit or chocolate taste softer and rounder.

How much loose leaf mint tea should I use per cup?

Use 1 teaspoon per 8 oz of water for a hot cup, or 2 teaspoons per 8 oz for cold brew or a latte.

How long should I steep mint tea?

Steep 5 minutes in water at about 212°F. Herbal blends can steep longer without turning bitter.

Can you make iced mint tea?

Yes. Cold brew 2 teaspoons per 8 oz of cold water in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours, then strain and pour over ice.

Can you add milk to mint tea?

Yes. Chocolate mint blends like Love Story are especially good with milk, which brings out a creamy, cookie-like flavor.

Explore more styles and brewing basics on our Learn page, or browse dozens of uncommon blends across black, green, oolong, white and caffeine-free teas.