What is the best tea for natural energy, and what is it about the tea leaves that give us a boost? Teas have naturally occurring caffeine, but some are built to deliver sustained energy while also optimizing our body's functions for long-term benefits.
Energy: the holy grail of the overworked millennial, the sleep-deprived new parent, and the outdoorsy go-getter. Why not chase that lift with a nutrient-laden cup of tea instead of an artificially sweetened energy drink or a dehydration-causing cup of coffee?
Tea has been part of a daily morning wake-up ritual and mid-day break since farmers first needed to rise and grind. Tea was thought of as only a functional medicinal drink until the 6th century, used solely to wake up and invigorate. Now our palates have grown to appreciate a tea that gives energy but is also flavorful in the process.
What Are the Best Teas for Energy, and Why
Teas are currently the second most consumed beverage in the world, just behind coffee. Over 80% of all American households have some variety of tea in their cupboards. The science behind why tea gives us energy lies in the moderate amount of caffeine in the leaves and the powerful plant compound L-theanine.
L-theanine is known to improve mental alertness and attention and, when combined with naturally occurring caffeine, creates a powerful functional tea drink. While coffee typically contains more caffeine, tea has been shown to give a more sustained energy boost over time. Here are some of our favorite options for an energy lift.
English Breakfast Black Tea
There is a reason this classic is known as the "breakfast" tea. In 1892, a Scottish tea master set out to create a strong brew that gave an energy kick first thing in the morning. Brewed strongly, it can contain almost as much caffeine as black coffee, and it is also a great digestive — helpful for breaking down and absorbing the nutrients of a big breakfast.
Chai Adda-Barie
Chai teas are synonymous with the aromatic spiced drink of India, often drunk three times a day to improve sustained energy. They're usually blended with a base of caffeinated black tea and various spices. While the spices themselves aren't caffeinated, they can have energizing effects, including improved digestion, reduced blood sugar levels, and boosted alertness.
Green Teas
Green teas have been an energy-boosting staple for hundreds of years. Green tea has roughly half the caffeine of a cup of coffee, but when combined with a superfood like ginger, it becomes an energy powerhouse. The amino acid L-theanine found in green teas also helps boost focus and concentration without the jitters that come with coffee.
Pure Matcha
Matcha is whole-leaf green tea ground into a fine powder, so you consume the entire leaf rather than just a steeped infusion. This gives it one of the highest caffeine and antioxidant counts of any green tea, paired with L-theanine for a steady, focused lift rather than a crash.
Yerba Mate
While not a true tea in the sense that it doesn't come from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, yerba mate comes from the leaves and twigs of a South American holly tree. The leaves are steeped to create a drink colloquially referred to as "tea" in modern times. Indigenous peoples in South America drank it regularly, prizing it for its energy-giving properties, high antioxidants, and ability to aid focus and concentration.
Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash