Making it through the day is sometimes hard. Getting energy and maintaining it is crucial to not only a fulfilled life but also to crushing your to do list. In this guide, we ranked and reviewed the best teas for energy.
If you want to get some for yourself, we have a collection of the best teas for energy right here in tea bags, loose leaf, or iced tea pouches.
What is the Best Tea for Energy?
1. Yaupon Tea
Yaupon is the only naturally caffeinated plant native to North America. This means that unlike other teas that are traditionally made with Camellia sinensis, yaupon has unique properties in addition to caffeine. One of these is the pairing with theobromine (the same compound found in chocolate that boosts your mood). When combined with caffeine, theobromine improves performance while minimizing susceptibility to distractions. In general, yaupon has about 25 mg of caffeine, which is less than a normal cup of coffee (about 90 mg).
Benefits:
- Gives the gentle boost of energy from caffeine tempered by an interaction with polyphenols that can reduce the negative effects on mood.
- Improved attention and reaction time thanks to the effects of caffeine and theobromine together.
- Lack of jitteriness in part due to the combination with l-theanine that increases GABA release in the brain and has a relaxing and anxiety-relieving effect.
Side Effects:
- With all caffeine, just be careful not to consume too much so you dont suffer from sleeplessness at night.
Try our CatSpring Yaupon tea to help you focus. It’s organic, non-gmo, kosher, sustainably grown, and naturally caffeinated.
2. Green Tea
Green tea has not undergone the oxidation process that creates black tea and oolong teas. It tends to have a lighter flavor profile and appearance due to the lack of oxidation. Usually, green tea steeps for a shorter period of time than black teas as steeping too long draws out tannins that can make the brew bitter. A normal cup typically has about 25mg of caffeine, similar to the levels found in yaupon. With a host of health benefits and flavors, this is a great option to help you focus.
Benefits:
- Improve focus with caffeine and l-theanine.
- High amounts of a catechin which have possibly been shown to boost memory.
- Protect your cells with the polyphenols and catechins from green tea that reduce free radicals that damage your cells.
Side Effects:
- Too much caffeine can inhibit sleeping at night so just watch how much you drink.
3. Black Tea
Basically Green teas’ cousin, Black tea contains similar helpful properties to help you feel energized. With about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, this flavorful tea can help power you through the day. Black tea also has an amino acid that slows the release of caffeine helping you feel full of energy longer.
Benefits:
- Have longer lasting energy thanks to l-theanine, the amino acid known to slow the release of caffeine.
- Antioxidants help remove free radicals keeping you and your cells healthy and happy.
- Bolster the immune system with polyphenols and the addition of theaflavins that support antioxidant properties.
Side Effects:
- Too much caffeine can inhibit sleeping at night so just watch how much you drink.
4. Yerba Mate
Like yaupon, yerba mate doesn’t originate from the traditional tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Rather, yerba mate is native to South America and is a cousin of yaupon. It also naturally produces caffeine. A traditional preparation of yerba mate, known as mate, involves steeping the leaves in hot water in a gourd and drinking it with a metal straw. Need a super-boost in energy? Mate’s caffeine hits different providing sustained energy levels for hours without a big crash.
Benefits:
- Polyphenols and antioxidants help you focus and protect your brain from potential damage.
- Provides 7 out of the 9 essential amino acids your body needs.
- Theobromine supports your mood and concentration.
Side Effects:
- As with other caffeinated teas, consuming too much can cause sleeplessness.
5. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea can be your new minty best friend helping you through a myriad of health issues while also improving your focus. A friend that helps you knock out your to-do list..sign me up! By enhancing memory and increasing alertness, peppermint tea is a great option. This menthol based flavor can help clear out sinuses and make it easier to breathe while also freshening your breath instantly.
Benefits:
- Caffeine free makes this a great aide when you need energy at night.
- Menthol helps you focus and can contribute to greater mental clarity.
- Ease headaches as peppermint is a natural muscle relaxant while the menthol increases blood flow that creates a cooling sensation.
Side Effects:
- Can worsen acid reflux by relaxing the muscles around the stomach sphincter.
6. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea has been used for thousands of years as a cure for a myriad of problems. A caffeine free option, ginger is rich in antioxidants and can help you as you tackle your tasks. As a rule of thumb, one cup of ginger tea contains about 250 milligrams of ginger so aim to drink two to four cups of this tea to help you focus.
Benefits:
- Improve the secretion of adrenal catecholamines which help regulate how energy is consumed in the body.
- Bolster your immunity with antioxidants that protect your body from toxins and free radicals while also relieving symptoms similar to cold and flu which can make you feel foggy.
- Wake yourself up with its strong and distinctive flavor.
Side Effects:
- Makes heartburn worse because it relaxes the muscle that prevents stomach bile from entering the esophagus.
7. Matcha Tea
Matcha has received a lot of buzz in recent years in part because of it being a great latte alternative. Full of antioxidants with an ability to be consumed in a myriad of ways (*cue the ceremonial tea or matcha latte with oat milk and a splash of vanilla syrup), you may have just met your match with Matcha Tea. Each cup of matcha contains the entire tea leaf, meaning each cup tends to have a higher concentration of the benefits of tea.
Benefits:
- Energy from caffeine with levels similar to coffee to keep you going along with focus from the interaction with l-theanine.
- Reduce stress due to high levels of l-theanine which also helps produce a state of calm and focus.
- Boost your working memory as studies show matcha has positive effects on this.
Side Effects:
- Matcha contains almost as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and can therefore cause jitters or caffeine headaches, so be careful of consuming too much.
The Bottom Line
Owing to their amazing healthy-boosting properties, these are some of the best teas for energy. They can help improve focus, increase attention, give long lasting energy, and alleviate fatigue.
If you want to get our best tasting tea for energy, check out our organic, naturally caffeinated CatSpring Yaupon tea here.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. If you have serious health-related issues you should reach out to a medical professional. While we have studied the scientific research available, this is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
