Fall evenings are made for a warm mug. The sun sets earlier, the porch lights come on, and on Halloween night there's a long stretch of doorbells, costumes and candy before anyone heads to bed. The trouble is that a strong cup of black tea at 8 p.m. can keep some of us staring at the ceiling.

The good news is you don't have to give up your evening cup. Here's a simple guide to tea without the caffeine, plus five of our favorite cozy picks for fall nights.

Caffeine-Free vs. Decaf: What's the Difference?

These two words get mixed up a lot, but they mean different things.

• Caffeine-free drinks are made from plants other than the tea plant, like rooibos, chamomile, peppermint, spices or dried fruit. They never had caffeine to begin with. These are often called herbal teas or tisanes.

• Decaf tea is real tea (black, green or oolong) that has had most of its caffeine removed. A small amount usually stays behind, so it's very low in caffeine, not zero.

If you want no caffeine at all, or you're brewing for kids, reach for a caffeine-free blend. If you love the taste of real black tea and just want a lot less caffeine, decaf is your friend.

What Is Rooibos?

Rooibos (say "ROY-boss") means "red bush." It grows in the Cederberg mountains of South Africa's Western Cape and isn't related to the tea plant at all. After it's cut, the leaves are bruised and left to ferment, which gives rooibos its sweet aroma, its red color and its smooth, honey-like taste. It's naturally caffeine free, so it makes a great base for evening blends, and it takes milk beautifully.

Five Cozy Caffeine-Free (and Low-Caffeine) Picks for Fall

1. Rooibos Chai: All the Spice, None of the Caffeine

Love chai but not the late-night buzz? Rooibos Chai blends rooibos with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, orange and natural vanilla flavor. Like all chai, it really opens up with warm milk (whole or soy both work well). Serve it with gingersnaps or a slice of pumpkin bread.

How to brew: Turn the bag upside down a few times first so the spices mix evenly. Use 1 heaping teaspoon per 8 oz. of boiling water (212°F) and steep 5–7 minutes. Add warm milk and a little sweetener to taste.

2. Vanilla Rooibos: Dessert in a Mug

Vanilla Rooibos is top-grade rooibos with natural vanilla. It's smooth, mellow and creamy, and it's naturally sweet, so many people drink it without any sugar. Add a splash of milk for an evening treat, and pair it with vanilla cookies or a fruit tart.

How to brew: Use 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz. of freshly boiled water (212°F) and steep 5–7 minutes.

3. Apricot Cinnamon: A Warm Fruit Blend for Pie Season

Apricot Cinnamon is a blend of cinnamon chips, diced apricot pieces and whole marigold petals. It's warm, sweet and a little floral, and it was made to go with dessert. Try it next to apple pie or oatmeal cookies. Leftovers make a nice iced tea the next day.

How to brew: Use 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz. of freshly boiled water (212°F) and steep 5–7 minutes.

4. Sleep Well: For After the Trick-or-Treaters Go Home

When the porch light is off and the candy is put away, wind down with Sleep Well. It's our own blend of chamomile, peppermint, lemongrass and green rooibos. It tastes soft and floral, with a little mint and a gentle lemony lift. A few drops of honey are optional.

How to brew: Use 1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz. of freshly boiled water (212°F) and steep 5–7 minutes.

5. Decaf Cream Earl Grey: For Real-Tea Lovers

If nothing beats the taste of black tea for you, try Decaf Cream Earl Grey. It's the same creamy, citrusy Ceylon black tea with bergamot and vanilla notes as our regular Cream Earl Grey, decaffeinated with a natural CO2 process. That process uses pressurized carbon dioxide to draw the caffeine out while the leaves keep their shape and flavor. Enjoy it with shortbread or lemon pound cake.

How to brew: Use 1 rounded teaspoon (about 2–3 g) per 8 oz. of freshly boiled water (205–212°F) and steep 3–5 minutes.

Quick Tips for Brewing Herbal Tea

• Use boiling water. Unlike green tea, rooibos and herbal blends like water right off the boil.

• Give it time. Most herbal blends need 5–7 minutes to bring out their full flavor. Rooibos doesn't turn bitter easily, so a longer steep is fine.

• Go a little heavier. Fluffy blends with flowers and fruit pieces often need closer to 2 teaspoons per cup.

• Skip the infuser hunt. Our fill-your-own Paper Filters make loose-leaf brewing quick, and cleanup is as easy as tossing the filter. You can find more brewing tools in our tea accessories.

Try Before You Stock Up

Every tea above comes in a sample size (about 5 cups) as well as larger bags, so it's easy to try a few and find your favorite fall nightcap. Browse our full Herbal & Fruit Tea collection and our Chai collection for even more ideas.

Our family has been sharing quality tea at affordable prices since 2006. Whatever you're doing this Halloween, we hope it ends with a warm mug and a good night's sleep.

Happy steeping!