Harney & Sons Decaffeinated Hot Cinnamon - Ceylon Black Tea

The Verdict

The decaf version of a cult classic — does it actually deliver?

Harney & Sons’ Hot Cinnamon Spice is one of those teas with a near-religious following. The decaffeinated version faces a tougher challenge: keeping that bold, cinnamon-forward punch when the caffeine removal process often strips flavor along with it. After brewing through a full box, here’s the honest picture.

What’s in the box

You get 30 individually wrapped tea bags in a sturdy keepsake tin. The bags are large, woven sachets (not the tiny paper envelopes you find in grocery store boxes), which gives the tea leaves room to expand and release flavor. The box itself is solid enough to repurpose for storage — something several long-term buyers mention doing.

The flavor reality check

This is not a subtle tea. The moment hot water hits the bag, that signature cinnamon aroma fills the kitchen. The base is Ceylon black tea, and it’s surprisingly robust for a decaf — most decaffeinated blacks taste like faintly colored water, but this one holds a proper malty backbone.

The sweetness comes entirely from the cinnamon oils and added cinnamon bark, not sugar. It lands somewhere between a chai and a dessert tea. As one reviewer put it: “I was skeptical about decaf losing the magic, but this tastes 95% identical to the regular version. I drink it at night and don’t miss the caffeine at all.”

Where it earns its 4.8 stars

Buyers consistently praise three things: the aroma, the absence of that metallic decaf aftertaste, and the fact that it doesn’t need sweetener. The three-cinnamon blend (Ceylon, Cassia, and Saigon) creates a layered heat that’s warming without being spicy-hot. It’s genuinely good iced too — brew it strong, pour over ice, and the cinnamon flavor doesn’t get lost the way it does with weaker teas.

The honest downsides

First, the sweetness. If you’re expecting a traditional black tea with a hint of cinnamon, this will surprise you. It drinks like a flavored tea, not an everyday breakfast tea. Second, the price per cup is noticeably higher than standard bagged teas — roughly double what you’d pay for comparable quality from Twinings or Bigelow. Finally, a few reviewers note the decaf version has slightly less of the “hot cinnamon” bite than the caffeinated original — it’s smoother, which is either a pro or con depending on your preference.

Who should buy this

• Nighttime tea drinkers who want that dessert-like treat without caffeine keeping them up
• Harney & Sons loyalists who refuse to switch brands but need a decaf option
• Anyone who dislikes artificial sweeteners — this gets its sweetness naturally from the cinnamon itself

Skip it if you want a plain, unflavored black tea or if you’re on a tight tea budget.

FAQ

Q: Does it really taste like the caffeinated version? A: Close — about 90-95%. The cinnamon aroma is nearly identical, but the decaf has a slightly smoother, less sharp finish. The base tea body is the biggest difference; it’s a touch thinner but still substantial.

Q: Can you steep it multiple times? A: The first steep carries most of the flavor. A second steep gives a lighter but still pleasant cup — worth doing if you’re stretching the box.

Q: Is it actually caffeine-free or just reduced? A: It’s decaffeinated, not caffeine-free. Harney & Sons uses a natural CO2 process that removes about 97% of the caffeine. If you’re extremely sensitive, it’s still a trace amount.

The Verdict

Buy it if you want a genuinely flavorful decaf tea that doesn’t taste like a compromise. It’s the best decaf cinnamon tea I’ve tested in this category.

Skip it if you’re looking for a budget everyday black tea — this is a treat, not a workhorse.

Rating: 4.6/5 — loses points only on price-per-cup and the slightly muted bite compared to the original. For what it is — a rich, naturally sweet, aromatic decaf — it’s exceptional.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.