{"id":3301,"date":"2014-08-05T21:00:12","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T01:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allergy-details.com\/?p=3301"},"modified":"2014-08-05T21:01:57","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T01:01:57","slug":"tea-gluten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.allergy-details.com\/gluten-free-diet\/avoid-gluten\/tea-gluten\/","title":{"rendered":"Tea and Gluten"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is tea gluten free?\u00a0 Generally yes, but not always.\u00a0 This article will set you straight on the gluten free diet and tea.<\/p>\n

First of all, we have to distinguish between “black” tea (including green tea, white tea, red tea and variations) and herbal tea.<\/p>\n

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Black Tea and Gluten<\/h2>\n

Black tea is made from the leaf of the tea plant (Latin name: Camellia sinensis).\u00a0 All tea, be it black tea, green tea, Oolong tea and Pu-erh tea, to name the most well known, are made from the same plant.\u00a0 The only difference is how they are prepared, that is the curing and drying process.<\/p>\n

Tea is gluten-free, since it is made from the leaf, and in any case, the plant is not a grain, specifically wheat, barely, oats or rye.\u00a0 Tea, if just made form tea leaves, is gluten-free.\u00a0 Tea is often made with milk and sugar added.\u00a0 It is still gluten-free, as long as no malt-based sweetener is added, since this is derived from barely.\u00a0 Other than flavored teas (see below), the chances are that cane sugar or maybe honey have been used to sweeten the tea, but as always on such a restrictive diet, assuming you have a gluten allergy or celiac disease, always ask unless you are making it yourself.<\/p>\n

Iced Tea and Gluten Free<\/h3>\n

The most obvious way to make iced tea is to make regular tea and cool it down, however that’s not the way most people make it, especially at restaurants.\u00a0 Instead, they buy powdered iced tea.\u00a0 Hmmm, we’d better take a more careful look.<\/p>\n

It is quite possible that powdered iced tea has had malted barely added as a sweetener and flavor.\u00a0 People have told me that this is especially bad at restaurants.\u00a0 You can always ask to see the package the tea was made from and check the ingredients.\u00a0 If unavailable, avoid iced tea.\u00a0 As always, check ingredients.<\/p>\n

Flavored Teas and Gluten<\/h3>\n

Some types of black tea have other ingredients added to flavor it.\u00a0 Earle Grey is one example; it is flavored with oil extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit.\u00a0 This is perfectly safe for a gluten-free diet.\u00a0 However, other flavored teas may contain wheat or barely ingredients<\/strong>.\u00a0 Yes, you have to check the ingredients, even on tea.<\/p>\n

Herbal Teas and Avoiding Gluten<\/h2>\n

Herbal teas could be made from any mixture of leaves, flowers, other exotic ingredients and flavors.\u00a0 The simplest are made from a single type of leave, for example most mint tea.\u00a0 Others are made from quite a mixture of different things, and may even have roasted grain such as barely or rice added.\u00a0 Rice is OK, but not barely if you’re on a gluten-free diet!\u00a0 As always, check ingredients.<\/p>\n

What is your experience with tea and the gluten free diet?\u00a0 Please leave a comment.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0External Links Relating to Tea and Gluten<\/h2>\n