Top Teas For An Energy Boost

Energy-boosting teas are beneficial for many reasons. Of course, the boost of energy is the first most prominent reason to drink these teas, but they also avoid the jitters you may feel from coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for your health and the smaller amount of caffeine within tea makes it a perfect substitute for the second or third coffee of the day. Or your reasoning for trialing energy-boosting teas may be because you simply don’t like the taste of coffee. 

Here, we will dive into the top teas you can consume for an energy boost.

English Breakfast Tea

There’s nothing quite as comforting as a hot English breakfast tea. Despite the name, English breakfast tea leaves consist of black tea leaves originating from Kenya, Assam, and Ceylon. The name of the tea is in fact due to its popularity in England and Ireland. 

This type of tea has caffeine in it which increases energy levels, however, the amounts aren’t large enough to trigger jittery or anxious feelings. There are between 40 and 80 mg’s of caffeine in a cup of black tea, half that of the amount of caffeine in an average cup of coffee. The recommended maximum amount of caffeine you should consume on any given day is 400 milligrams. Therefore, if you do tend to drink hot drinks throughout the day instead of water, 5 cups of English breakfast tea is the recommended maximum amount. 

Earl Grey Tea

Earl grey tea is similar to English breakfast tea as it consists of black tea, primarily Ceylon tea leaves. The difference is that earl gray has the additional flavor of the oil of bergamot – giving it a unique flavor. Many people opt for this tea due to this taste, however, if you aren’t a fan, you may prefer the taste of English breakfast instead.

The caffeine levels are also similar to that of English breakfast tea, starting at 40 mg in one cup, with some earl gray teas exceeding up to 120 mg.

While earl gray increases energy and is suitable throughout the day, just like any other tea, ensure you maintain balance and avoid consuming too much. Overconsumption of caffeine can result in dehydration, stress, anxiety, and more.

Licorice Root Tea 

The science behind licorice root tea acting as an energy boost is due to its adaptogens, not caffeine. Adaptogens are compounds that assist in modulating the creation of hormones, as well as easing the nervous system when it is experiencing both internal and external stress. The tea triggers adrenal glands to maximize blood flow and naturally increase energy levels. 

As opposed to caffeine, many people are opting for natural herbs such as licorice tea which displays a plethora of additional benefits. These include antibacterial components and its natural ability to preserve natural cortisone in your body.

Bear in mind, some people experience increased blood pressure and therefore, it’s important not to over-consume licorice root tea, or you should regularly have your blood pressure checked to monitor any effects.

Peppermint Tea

If you don’t respond well to even small levels of caffeine, peppermint tea is the best option for you. While peppermint tea consists of no caffeine at all, it has been proven to increase mental alertness, as well as improve mood and memory. This may be contributed to peppermint tea’s sharp menthol flavor and aroma it gives off once brewed.

The sensation can be comparable to the effects of vicks. The menthol scent of Vicks cools the nasal passages, acting as a placebo and triggering you to think your nasal congestion has been cleared. In the same way, peppermint tea’s menthol aroka can make you more alert, giving you a boost of energy.

Green Tea

Green tea is commonly known for its health factors and stereotypically is drunk by those who live a healthy lifestyle. These factors include assisting in weight loss and lowering of blood pressure. As well as this, green tea is often drunk to increase alertness while decreasing stress levels. The alertness that green tea enables isn’t from high levels of caffeine but from the existence of the amino acid L-theanine. This amino acid is effective in slowing down the processing of caffeine and is often placed into supplements for this reason.

Therefore, L-theanine helps the small levels of caffeine within green tea have a greater effect on boosting energy, and ensuring it lasts longer. This avoids the volatility that coffee gives – a sudden boost then an afternoon crash. In the same way, green tea won’t cause jitters and likewise, withdrawals from coffee addictions.

Matcha Tea

Matcha tea has taken the world by storm, arising as the new popular tea to try. Many people have been substituting their normal morning coffee for a matcha tea due to the fact it gives a more drawn-out form of energy and doesn’t cause jitters nor a boost then a sudden energy crash.

Matcha tea is made from shade-grown green tea leaves. These leaves are then stone-ground into powder form and unlike normal tea in a teabag, matcha is consumed by whisking the powder into water or food such as smoothies or baking.

As you are consuming the powder directly, you are receiving a high dose of the health components. In fact, you will be consuming nearly as much caffeine as you would in a cup of coffee. The key ingredient that helps enable a longer-lasting effect is the L-theanine which triggers the body to process the caffeine over a longer period of time.

Conclusion 

Life can get extremely busy and stressful if you don’t actively try to maintain a balanced lifestyle. With the busyness, energy levels can become low and the feeling of sluggishness is common amongst both those working hard to advance their careers and those raising children. 

Tea is the perfect pick-me-up when you need a lasting boost of energy! Exploring these teas may just help you find a suitable drink for you. In fact, all of these teas are the ideal substitute for coffee.

Author Bio:

Olivia Fairhurst is a Business Owner of Loving Local NZ, a platform she co-founded at the beginning of Covid to help local businesses survive amidst lockdowns. Olivia promotes food, products, and services through her Loving Local Instagram and is also a Content Manager for a range of clients, such as Ultra Shield.