Even the most avowed coffee lover knows that every once in a while, few things are as nourishing and delicious as a steaming cup of tea. The unique flavors, warming sensation, and comforting rituals are such a treat on a chilly day. And if you can get a little burst of energy from your drink, even better.
A stress relief tea is ideal before a night’s rest but sometimes you just want that little jolt without downing a cup of coffee. Luckily, there are quite a few tasty and effective options. But since not all teas are made alike, keeps scrolling for some insight on the best teas for energy.
While green tea reigns supreme when it comes to energy, there are other varieties that offer numerous health benefits in addition to caffeine. Keep reading below for a more comprehensive look at the best teas for energy, and to help us understand the many health benefits of green tea in particular. It’s pretty clear that it’s an incredibly healthy alternative to coffee and worth adding to your beverage rotation.
Rise up tea lovers, because this is your moment. Each one of these teas is more flavorful than the next. Read on for everything you need to know before you hit the tea shop.
Best teas for energy include, but limited to:
- Green tea
- White tea
- Black tea
- Chai
- Matcha tea
- Yerba mate
All of these teas contain caffeine to give us energy. When you’re shopping for tea, it’s great to look for organic, loose-leaf teas since they provide the highest amount of natural antioxidants—the less processed, the better. The best way to find these is to go to a tea shop and ask a professional for help.
Yerba Mate is a herbal tea from South America that is used in many energy drinks on the market. Yerba Mate can provide its own unique energy boost due to a compound called theobromine, a known stimulant.
Green tea vs. coffee.
Green tea is not just for the flavor, but for the numerous health benefits as well. Although there are various evidence-based research on the health benefits of coffee, we also know that too much caffeine can be detrimental to our physical and mental health—caffeine-induced anxiety disorder is real. Depending on the way coffee is brewed, an 8oz serving can provide twice as much caffeine as green tea. That being said, if you enjoy coffee, you don’t have to make the full switch to green tea, but you may want to consider cutting down on coffee consumption and increasing your tea intake—or look into some coffee alternatives. Like anything else, balance is important.
While the energy from both beverages comes from caffeine, there’s definitely less in green tea. Additionally, green tea also has a naturally occurring amino acid called L-theanine that acts as a natural calming agent and when combined with caffeine gives you a boost without the crash. This amino acid has been shown to improve mental focus, sleep, relaxation, cognitive performance, weight loss, and immunity. Even the calming act of sipping tea can improve mood and decrease stress.
Health benefits of green tea.
Green tea is filled with amazing compounds that have been shown to thwart disease and even improve health. Unlike black or oolong tea, green tea leaves have not gone through any oxidative process, leaving “the good stuff” packed within. These include antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols. These specific compounds in green tea have been researched significantly over the last several years and have been shown to be beneficial in many ways including:
- Decreasing cholesterol levels
- Improving cognition and memory
- Decreasing the risk of heart disease
- Supports weight management
- Lowering the risk of cancer
- Decreasing the risk of diabetes
Green tea:
Matcha Tea:
Black Tea:
Chai:
Yerba Mate:
White Tea:
As much as we love that sweet aroma of coffee at 5am, sometimes sipping some tea will be leave us caffeine satisfied, and also providing us with numerous health benefits and lowering the risk of several diseases. If you do try any of tea suggestions above, feel free to share with us in the comments below and what’s your favorite caffeine alternative.
Stay safe, healthy, and live life to the fullest.
Xoxo, Messycafe.
