What is the Best Tea to Drink in the Morning?
Reading Time: 8 minutes Tea has been a beloved morning staple in Asia and Europe for centuries, cherished for its health benefits and gentle caffeine boost.
While coffee continues to be a global favorite, many people are now turning to tea as a healthy and refreshing alternative.
Although I’ve always enjoyed my coffee, my wife is a tea drinker, and over time I’ve come to appreciate the best tea to drink in the morning just as much as my usual cup of espresso.
Each type of tea offers distinct health benefits, and many people find that tea’s gradual, smoother stimulation is easier to tolerate than coffee or energy drinks.
For those sensitive to caffeine, the best tea to drink in the morning provides a mild, steady boost without overwhelming your system.
Even if you prefer to avoid caffeine altogether, there are still plenty of teas with numerous health benefits that can enhance your morning.
After just a few days of starting your day with tea, it’s easy to see how it becomes a cherished part of your routine.
Whether you’re a seasoned tea enthusiast or new to this beverage, you’ll find a wide variety of options to suit your taste and lifestyle.
Read on to discover the eight best teas to drink in the morning!
Benefits of Drinking Tea in the Morning
Drinking tea in the morning comes with numerous health benefits beyond its refreshing flavor and mild caffeine content.
Teas, particularly green, white, and herbal varieties, are rich in antioxidants such as catechins and polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
These compounds can improve overall cellular health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Tea also supports cognitive function.
The combination of caffeine and L-theanine found in many teas improves focus, alertness, and mood without the anxious side effects sometimes associated with coffee.
Additionally, certain teas, such as green and oolong, may support metabolism and fat oxidation, making them ideal for those looking to boost their metabolism in the morning.
Lastly, starting your day with tea can foster a sense of mindfulness and calm.
The act of brewing and savoring a hot cup of tea can become a cherished ritual that sets a positive tone for the day, promoting a mindful approach to daily tasks and reducing stress levels.
Benefits of Tea Over Coffee in the Morning
Many people are turning to tea as their go-to morning beverage due to its smoother caffeine release and overall gentler effects compared to coffee.
While coffee provides a sharp energy boost, tea’s caffeine works more gradually, offering sustained energy without the abrupt spike and crash.
This slow-release effect is largely due to the presence of L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea that promotes relaxation and mental clarity and helps to reduce anxiety that may accompany caffeine consumption.
Additionally, tea has a lower acidity than coffee, making it a better option for individuals with sensitive stomachs or those prone to acid reflux.
For people who experience jitters or digestive discomfort from coffee, tea offers a gentler alternative while still providing a natural morning pick-me-up.
This balance makes tea a versatile and appealing choice for those seeking a smoother start to their day.
Best Morning Tea Options
Choosing the right tea to complement your morning routine can help you achieve specific health goals.
- If you’re looking to kickstart your metabolism, green tea is a top choice due to its catechins and ability to aid fat burning.
- For a calm, focused energy boost, matcha provides a high concentration of L-theanine, offering mental clarity without overstimulation.
- Those looking to support digestive health may opt for ginger or peppermint teas, which are known for soothing the stomach and aiding digestion.
- If skin health is a priority, white tea, with its high antioxidant content, can help improve complexion and protect against skin aging.
- Finally, if stress relief is your goal, consider chamomile or lavender teas, which are renowned for their calming and anxiety-reducing effects.
By selecting teas that align with your personal health goals, you can create a morning routine that nourishes both your body and mind.
1.) Green Tea
Green tea is one of the most popular teas globally, known for its delicate flavor and impressive health benefits.
Made from unoxidized leaves, green tea is less processed than black and oolong teas, retaining more antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.
A typical cup of green tea contains between 30mg and 50mg of caffeine, making it a gentle stimulant.
Green tea is renowned for its ability to boost metabolism, improve brain function, and provide various cardiovascular benefits.
Starting your morning with a cup of green tea can help enhance mental clarity and overall health!
2.) Matcha Tea
Matcha green tea is a fine powder made from specially grown and processed Japanese green tea leaves.
The unique growing process involves shading the plants for about three weeks before harvest, increasing the production of theanine and caffeine.
Also, the stems and veins are removed during processing, resulting in a higher concentration of beneficial compounds.
Matcha contains 30mg to 40mg of caffeine per cup, but its theanine content provides a calming, sustained energy boost.
The combination of theanine and caffeine produces an energizing effect without the jitters, making matcha an excellent choice for a morning beverage.
If you want to try matcha tea in the morning, I suggest the brand MatchaDNA:
Last update on 2025-01-16 / This article includes affiliate links/Images via Amazon Product Advertising API. I may earn commissions on purchases made through these links.
3.) Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba mate is a South American tea made from the ground leaves and stems of the yerba mate plant.
It is rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Interestingly, yerba mate contains significantly more antioxidants than green tea, making it a powerhouse of health benefits.
The larger caffeine content in yerba mate (70mg to 90mg per cup) provides a strong yet gentle stimulation.
Yerba mate also improves metabolism, helping the body use carbohydrates more efficiently, which means you get more energy from the food you eat.
If you do intermittent fasting and want to drink a cup of tea first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, yerba mate is a great option because of its metabolism-boosting and weight-loss inducing effects.
These factors make yerba mate one of the best teas to drink in the morning for a balanced energy boost.
Last update on 2025-01-16 / This article includes affiliate links/Images via Amazon Product Advertising API. I may earn commissions on purchases made through these links.
4.) Oolong Tea
Oolong is a traditional semi-fermented Chinese tea made by drying and oxidizing tea leaves under the sun before they are picked and twisted.
Oolong tea contains more caffeine than green tea but less than black tea, making it a moderate option for caffeine intake.
Typically, oolong tea contains between 50mg and 75mg of caffeine per cup.
Rich in antioxidants, oolong tea offers a relaxing experience due to its aromatherapy properties and rich flavor.
It’s a blend of green and black tea, providing the combined health benefits of both.
Oolong tea is mostly known for its weight loss properties, with several scientific studies highlighting its effectiveness in supporting weight loss.
Last update on 2025-01-16 / This article includes affiliate links/Images via Amazon Product Advertising API. I may earn commissions on purchases made through these links.
5.) Black Tea
Black tea is a fully oxidized tea that offers a robust flavor and higher caffeine content than green or white tea.
A cup of black tea contains about 40mg to 70mg of caffeine, making it a stronger option for those who need a substantial energy boost in the morning.
Rich in antioxidants, black tea is known for its potential to improve heart health, reduce cholesterol levels, and support digestive health.
Its bold flavor pairs well with honey or a slice of lemon, making it a versatile and satisfying morning beverage.
6.) White Tea
White tea is the least processed of all teas, made from young leaves and buds that are simply steamed and dried.
This minimal processing helps retain a high level of antioxidants, making white tea exceptionally beneficial for health.
With only 15mg to 30mg of caffeine per cup, white tea provides a very mild stimulant effect, perfect for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
White tea is known for its delicate, subtle flavor and numerous health benefits, including improved skin health, enhanced immunity, and reduced risk of heart disease.
7.) Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea, though less known in Western cultures, is an impressive fermented tea from the Yunnan province of China.
The unique fermentation process of Pu-erh tea involves microbial fermentation and oxidation of dried and rolled tea leaves, which improves with age, much like fine wine.
This tea contains between 60mg and 70mg of caffeine per cup and is packed with health benefits, making it an excellent choice for starting your day.
The fermentation process enhances its health properties, and Pu-erh tea is even used as a medicinal tea in many countries.
8.) Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with the oil of bergamot, a type of citrus fruit.
This unique combination gives Earl Grey its distinctive flavor and aroma, making it a favorite among tea enthusiasts.
Containing between 40mg and 70mg of caffeine per cup, Earl Grey offers a robust energy boost.
The addition of bergamot oil adds potential health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced anxiety and enhanced oral health.
Enjoying a cup of Earl Grey in the morning can provide both a refreshing taste and a substantial energy lift.
How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Morning Tea
Brewing tea may seem simple, but the process significantly impacts the flavor and health benefits of your morning cup. To start, using fresh, filtered water is essential.
The temperature of the water should vary depending on the type of tea.
For green and white teas, water should be around 160°F to 185°F (70°C to 85°C) to avoid bitterness, while black, oolong, and herbal teas require hotter water—about 200°F to 212°F (93°C to 100°C)—to fully release their flavors.
Steeping time is also critical.
Green and white teas typically need only 2-3 minutes of steeping, while black and oolong teas benefit from 4-5 minutes. Over-steeping can result in bitterness, especially for more delicate teas.
For an enhanced tea experience, consider adding lemon, honey, or milk depending on the type of tea and personal preference.
Citrus fruits like lemon not only enhance the flavor but can also boost antioxidant absorption, while honey provides a natural sweetness.
Milk, commonly added to black teas like Earl Grey, adds creaminess and softens the flavor.
