The Best Tea for Morning Energy, Sickness, and Digestion

Drinking a cup of hot tea in the morning gives more health benefits besides refreshment and warmness in the cold morning. The best tea for the morning varies for a person based on why they drink tea in the morning. Is it for energy or to ward off morning sickness and nausea or to replace high caffeinated coffee?

There are different types of tea like caffeinated, caffeine with milk, caffeine-free and herbal teas. Each one has its taste, flavor, benefits, and preparation method. So you can choose the best tea to drink in the morning depending on your diet, taste, and health preferences.

Though it seems coffee is the most loved and consumed morning drink, it is not true. A recent report clears this myth with the fact that Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world next to the water. The reasons behind this interesting stat might be its low caffeine content, high health benefits, variety of choices, of course, the taste

Coffee vs Tea: Which is the best in the morning?

If you are a person who can’t start a day without a cup of coffee, you are not alone. Coffee has been the most stable morning drink of Americans for many years.

After all these years, now people thinking of switching coffee with tea and herbal drinks. 

As coffee is a diuretic, overdoing can lead to dehydration. Also, coffee can stimulate the adrenal glands which cause adrenaline release which in return creates stress on them.

Teas are a great alternative to coffee if you are trying to reduce caffeine intake. Tea is less caffeine than coffee, but tea has more varieties than coffee. Though caffeine is important for morning energy, it does not necessary to be high. You can get power and more health benefits from a cup of hot tea in the morning.

Nowadays despite age, most people love caffeinated drinks and they rely on them to get energy and wake up their day. It creates a problem when it becomes an addiction. Too much caffeine intake is bad for health. It gives a jittery feeling and makes you anxious. After it went off, you feel weak and more fatigued.

Aside from this, people who are sensitive to caffeine may find it difficult to find a drink that gives them energy without upsetting their stomach and creating bowel movement issues.

If there is one solution for all these, it would be Tea. It is less caffeine, not acidic, and won’t leave you anxious or jittery even if you have more than one cup. This is because of L-Theanine in tea leaves which is an amino acid that helps improve mental conditions like anxiety, stress, mental impairment, and more. 

The L-Theanine amino acid in tea is what gives you alertness and healthily helps your body process caffeine. Also, it is the component that makes teas free of jitteriness and lets you stay awake even after it wears off.

We have discussed how tea is better than coffee as your first cup in the morning. Now let’s see what types of teas are available and which is the best for you.

As you search Best tea in Google, you will see a minimum of 20 different types of teas available, each having different health benefits and usage.

In this post, we have compiled some of those popular, widely consumed, and healthy Morning teas for everything from energy to anxiety for a better start to the day. 

To make your choice wiser, we have divided the best tea for the morning into three categories.

1. Caffeinated teas
2. Caffeine-free teas/Herbal teas
3. Milk teas

The Best Teas To Drink In The Morning

Let’s look into the types of morning teas and why we included them in the list.

Best Caffeinated Morning Teas for Energy

The caffeinated teas have high antioxidants and the list includes:

• Green tea 
• Oolong tea 
• White tea 
• Matcha
• Black tea
• Earl Grey 
• Pu-Erh 
• Yerba mate 
• Kombucha

1. Green Tea

It is obvious that Green tea is the most energetic and low caffeinate drink you can drink in the morning. It does not just give energy for the morning time instead it gives energy for the whole day, improves digestion, and refreshes the body and mind.

Green tea is prepared from organic green tea leaves which have less oxidation and is very light compared to other caffeinated teas. Also, green tea has less caffeine. It makes a great choice for people who do not want too much caffeine in their first cup of the day.

The low caffeine and amount of L-theanine in green tea boosts attention and alertness which gives you a productive day. As everyone knows, green tea is great for weight loss and digestion because it burns fat without affecting your energy. 

If you are looking for the best tea for morning energy and fat burning, have a cup of green tea. Don’t drink it on an empty stomach as it increases acidity levels instead have it before exercise for the best results.

2. Oolong Tea

Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea where the process of tea leaves is different than black and regular green tea leaves. It is a semi-oxidized tea and has the same caffeine level as green tea. Oolong tea is refreshing and gentle.

It has similar health benefits as green tea. You can drink it in the morning to start your day as it helps increase your body’s metabolism and make the day active.

The better the metabolism, the perfect weight management you have got. The benefits of having an increased metabolism help weight loss, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, and keep glucose levels for an entire day.

Apart from these benefits, oolong tea also helps maintain mental awareness and alertness.

3. White Tea

White tea, based on its quality will have less or more caffeine than green tea. The reason for high caffeine white tea is that very young leaves are processed for this tea making. If you wanted your morning tea to be flavorful like fruity, floral, or sweetness, white tea is the best choice.

The amount of caffeine and L-theanine in the white tea gives mental alertness and improves cognitive performance as you have it in the morning. Also, this tea benefits overall brain health, physical performance, and mood of the day due to its antioxidant properties. Its heartwarming effects make it a suitable hot drink for winter mornings. 

4. Matcha Tea

A hot cup of tea prepared from matcha green tea powder is a great alternative to your regular coffee as it has high caffeine but not high as coffee and gives effects of calmness and long-lasting alertness.

Unlike other regular tea blends and tea bags, matcha green tea powder is available as a fine powder that is well mixed with water and ingested. So you get all the goodness of the tea.

The tea powder is prepared from shade-grown green leaves. The caffeine level of shade-grown teas is higher than that grown in the sun. Also, with matcha tea, you consume the whole leaf, so it provides more health benefits than your regular coffee.

The energy you get from matcha tea is different than coffee. It helps you keep focus and calm for a long time. Matcha tea is often recommended as a great post-workout drink as it has high antioxidants and plant nutrients. One of a kind is ECGC which helps fat oxidation and weight loss.

If you are on a weight loss diet and workout plan, a cup of matcha green tea in the morning boosts your energy and helps muscle recovery with no caffeine crash.

Read More: Benefits of Matcha Green Tea for Weight Loss

5. Black Tea

If you are a coffee person who is trying to juggle it with tea for a change, you can try a new routine with black tea. It has a similar taste to coffee compared to other teas and is the most caffeinated tea type (less than coffee). So you will not miss your coffee. 

Black tea made from young leaves such as Yunnan needle teas and golden monkey tea contains high caffeine levels than white tea. But a black tea like Lapsang Souchong made from old leaves has less caffeine.

Raw tea leaves have more caffeine than coffee beans. The level of caffeine gets decreases when brewed it using hot water. That’s why a cup of coffee has more caffeine than a cup of hot tea.

Black tea gives as much energy and boost for the day and is a healthy option over coffee. Along with the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and brain health compounds, Black tea helps with sweat evaporation so it cools down the body. So you can replace your summer coffee with a hot or cold cup of black tea.

There are many variations of black tea available with different spices, fruits, and ingredients added to create different flavors so everyone can have it for their liking. 

Some of the popular black tea varieties are,

Irish Breakfast Black Tea – It is a rich and strong cup of morning tea. A classic tea that goes well with milk and sugar too.

English Breakfast Tea – This tea blend combines Indian, African, and Chinese teas. It can be consumed plain or with milk and sweeteners.

Assam Black Tea – Being the most flavorful black tea, it has a rich copper color and hints of malt.

6. Earl Grey Tea

A type of black tea, traditionally flavored with bergamot oil or bergamot rinds is called Earl grey tea. It has the same or less caffeine than regular black tea. 

The reason why earl grey is the best tea for morning time is the bergamot oil used in the tea preparation helps to improve energy and immunity.

Aside from this, the oil has citrus properties that help digestion and digestion-related problems like constipation. Earl grey is the best tea for morning bloating.

Not only that but if you are struggling with morning anxiety, then have a cup of Earl Grey tea as it has all healthy properties to be the best tea for morning anxiety.

7. Pu-Erh Tea

Pu-Erh or Pu’er is aged and post-fermented tea from China. It is dark, rich, and smooth with no touch of typical black tea. The tea leaves are left to ferment after the full oxidation happened in turn the tea gets a strong earthy flavor.

Most people consider this tea a substitute for coffee because of its strong flavor. But as a fact, the flavors are different despite both being string but in different ways. 

Pu-Erh tea is low in caffeine whereas some of its varieties have no caffeine. It does not mean it can’t be an energy drink. If you need a low-caffeine morning drink for the same energy that your coffee has been giving, try Pu-erh tea.

It is also the best tea for morning sickness and drowsiness.

8. Yerba Mate Tea

Yerba mate is not a tea as it is not made from the tea plant. It is a kind of brew like a herbal tea. 

The tea is made from the dried leaves of the Argentian yerba mate tree. A cup of mate tea has 80 mg of caffeine which is higher than matcha.

The plant contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and many essential antioxidants with plant compounds.

The plant leaves are rich in tannins which is the reason for their earthy flavor and bitter taste. Like Pu-erh tea, with a strong flavor but high caffeine, mate tea is the closest possible alternative to coffee.

The mate tea has special xanthine called Theobromine which is a natural stimulant found in chocolates. This naturally occurring stimulant gives more smooth and long-lasting energy than caffeine.

9. Kombucha Tea

If you want a smooth and light morning drink with low caffeine, Kombucha is the right choice for you. It is also a fermented tea that has little sweetness naturally which in turn helps support digestion and balance gut bacteria.

Despite the fact of not drinking tea on an empty stomach, this particular tea on an empty stomach actually gives benefits to your digestive system.

Best Caffeinated Milk Teas for Morning Time

• English breakfast tea 
• Masala chai
• Royal milk tea 

1. English Breakfast Tea

Traditional English breakfast tea is a blend of Assam tea, Ceylon tea, and Kenyan leaves, basically a mix of Indian, Chinese, and African teas. This flavorsome tea with milk is great to drink in the morning. 

English breakfast tea with milk is creamy and heavy than caffeine teas but healthier than coffee. If you like to have milk tea, you would love this tea for your morning drink.

The milk added to the tea lessens the total caffeine amount so you get a moderate caffeine punch for the day.

English breakfast tea is the best morning tea for good heart health. It helps the heart to pump blood with less strain which in turn helps you do more physical tasks and reduce stress levels.

2. Masala Chai

Masala chai from India is popular for its fragrance and mix of flavors. It is a milk tea made with ginger, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, nutmeg, and lemongrass.

If any morning you are in the mood to drink something sweet and spice for energizing and nourishing your body and mind, have a cup of masala chai with milk and honey. Masala chai possesses all the health benefits of black tea along with the nutrients of ginger and cinnamon. The mixed ingredients of this tea increase energy, boost immunity and soothe inflammation in and out.

3. Royal Milk Tea

It is a Japanese tea that is most likely an English breakfast tea. The royal milk tea gives the same energy to start the day as the English breakfast tea, only the brewing process is different between them. Royal milk tea is stronger, creamier, and milkier than English breakfast tea.

The tea is maximum made with a mix of Assam and Darjeeling tea leaves with milk.

If you can’t leave your milk coffee but want to have a less caffeine drink with the same milky flavor, try Royal milk tea as it has a similar taste and flavor.

Best Caffeine-free Teas (Herbal Teas) for Morning Sickness

• Rooibos tea 
• Sage tea 
• Ginger tea 
• Peppermint tea 
• Rosemary tea 
• Lemon tea 
• Turmeric tea 
• Tulsi /Holy basil tea

1. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos is native to South Africa. It is also called red tea or bush tea. The leaves have many antioxidants that reduce the risks of heart disease. The tea has a pleasant flavor and is bright ruby. If you are considering an alternative to typical black or green teas with a caffeine-free drink, try this Rooibos tea.

Rooibos is low in tannins and high in minerals and plant nutrients. This combination of goodness in the tea as a morning drink will keep you hydrated throughout the day. A healthy boost in the morning will keep your day productive.

2. Sage Tea

Sage tea is prepared from the plant called Salvia officinalis, the common sage or just sage. It is from the mint family. Sage is naturally caffeine free also herbal tea made from the plant gives more health benefits.

It is a kind of peppery tea that help improve digestion and support weight loss. Sage tea is often recommended during menstruation to alleviate cramps and morning sickness.

3. Ginger Tea

Ginger tea is the best tea for morning sickness. It is a popular morning drink in many cultures. A cup of hot ginger tea in the morning treats nausea, sickness, and indigestion.

Ginger is an herbal plant root that naturally has nutrients and properties that treat upset stomach, constipation, and other stomach-related ailments.

It is not truly a tea as it is made from ginger plant roots not from tea leaves. This is one of the popular herbal tea consumed especially to soothe the stomach. 

4. Peppermint Tea

If you like mint flavor and need refreshment with less caffeine, have a cup of peppermint tea. It is another herbal tea that soothes the mind and refreshes it.

Have a lovely morning with a hot cup of peppermint tea and elevate your mood for the day with full alertness.

5. Rosemary Tea

Are you a fruit lover? If then you will like a cup of rosemary tea in the morning with a fruity flavor. It wakes up the mind and energizes the body.

Rosemary tea helps improve memory powder, concentration, and overall brain health. So it is good for the students.

6. Lemon Tea

A great detoxing drink for the day would be lemon tea with honey. It detoxifies the body and helps stay active for the day.

Lemon tea on an empty stomach in the morning can flush out wastes and toxins from the liver.

7. Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea is a spicy yet flavorful tea with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and medicinal properties. Turmeric tea in the morning helps metabolism, digestion, immunity, and manage diabetes too.

Also Read: Benefits of Turmeric Tea

8. Tulsi/Holy Basil Tea

Do you need a hot drink to relieve stress in your mind and body? Have a cup of holy basil tea. It reduced stress, and exhaustion, and prevents forgetfulness.

If you struggling with a morning cold or always wake up with a sore throat, drinking basil tea in the morning can give better relief.

What is the best tea to drink in the morning?

The choice of the best tea to drink in the morning is based on your caffeine requirement, flavor liking, type of tea you prefer, and more personal requirements. Teas like mate, black tea, and matcha are high caffeine teas among other types so if you are switching from coffee to tea, try them.

Herbal teas like ginger and peppermint are caffeine-free and have stimulating and energy-boosting properties.

Benefits of drinking tea in the morning

What can you get from drinking tea in the morning? Let’s look into that.

Energy – The primary benefit of drinking coffee or tea in the morning is energy. The morning tea blends and coffee have caffeine that helps to boost energy and morning buzz. Not only caffeine drinks but also caffeine-free or herbal teas can give you energy.

Brain Power – The most common ingredients present in teas are caffeine and L-theanine. These two components help boost brain power, enhance focus, and concentration, and keep you alert all day long.

Hydration – Drinking the best tea in the morning keeps you stay hydrated and active.

Healthy substitute – Teas are better substitutes for coffee or processed energy drinks.

Calmness – You can plan your daily routine with different types of teas in the morning depending on your food diet, health requirement, workout plans, taste, or mood for the day. The best cup of soothing morning tea will start your day smoothly and calmly.

Tips for drinking the best tea in the morning

Are you ready to have routine tea start in the morning? Here are a few things you should know about before you start.

Consider different types of teas

It is not necessary to stick to a single tea variety for all days. Despite differences in taste, flavor, aroma, and medicinal properties, most teas mostly serve the same benefits such as energy, digestion, brain power, concentration, mental alertness, and more.

As we all have a fixed morning routine for our comfort, it is no fault in trying different teas every day. We have many tea varieties why not make the most out of them and their benefits?

Not all teas are good on an empty stomach

You should be aware of taking food before drinking tea in the morning. It is because some teas benefit more when taken on an empty stomach such as lemon tea whereas some other teas work great after food like Green tea. And there are tea varieties that should not be taken on an empty stomach for safety reasons. So do proper research for better consumption time of your tea. Otherwise, you will risk stomach upset or bloating.

Best Morning tea for coffee lovers

As you are moving from coffee to tea for your morning drink, here are some tips for you to handle change more effectively.

If you have been drinking coffee for its caffeine boost to wake your body and mind, consider choosing the high caffeine teas in the beginning to lessen the impact of change to tea in the morning. Give some time to your body and work down from there, then slowly change from high caffeine to low caffeine teas. 

It is okay if you can’t replace your coffee with tea completely. You can have any of the above teas in the second cup of the morning after your coffee. You can get the same benefits without giving up the morning coffee.

Just shuffle the drinks, and also make sure you have chosen the right tea varieties like low-caffeine teas. As the coffee is already high in caffeine, having another cup of high caffeine tea in the morning may not be good.

Which is better Herbal tea or True tea?

Herbal teas unlike true teas are made from whole plants, their roots, flowers, and leaves. Some true tea blends include tea leaves and herbal teas.

In terms of caffeine, herbal teas have only a half milligram of caffeine so they might not give you a morning buzz like a cup of coffee or tea. But they can offer as many health benefits which differ for each herb used and its other ingredients used in the tea.

Herbal teas are great for health than just giving energy.

Best Morning Herbal Teas for Dieting

We have some special tea mentions for those who looking for the best morning tea for dieting. Be sure how much you need and when you can consume. Consult your nutrition, diet assistant, or healthcare professional for this safety information.

Senna Tea

It is a herbal tea or drink made from the senna plant. It has a bittersweet flavor and a slightly earthy aroma. Senna tea is available as powder, liquid, and as a supplement. Senna tea has laxative properties along with anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic properties.

The best time to have senna tea is before bed. I know the post is about the best morning teas, but as we talking about the best teas for dieting, senna tea works as a laxative within 6 to 12 hours of consumption, that’s why it is taken before bed.

If you have a constipation problem, take senna tea at night and you will see the effect the next morning.

Catherine Tea

Herbal tea with dietary benefits is Catherine Tea. It is often recommended for a weight loss diet as it can remove toxins and burn fat around the stomach. No wonder why people call it a Slim Drink as it helps the body slimmer.

It was originally introduced for women now even men get the same benefits from it.

As it is not truly a tea from leaves instead it is a drink made from plants, it tastes bitter. The plant compounds help speed up fluid absorption in the body and help weight loss.

Other slimming down, Catherine Tea increases metabolism, reduced aging, enhances brain functions, and purified the body.

Blue Tea

Originally from South East Asia, Blue Tea has been consumed for centuries. It is electric blue color and has no caffeine. It is made from Butterfly blue pea or just blue pea tea. The benefits, color, and caffeine-free properties of Blue Tea make it popular.

The blue pea flowers are infused with hot water to make the tea. It offers benefits for the immune system, cognitive functions, weight management, and more.

In Ayurveda, blue tea has been used as an antistress, antidepressant, memory enhancer, and sedative agent.

Here comes the end. We have mentioned the most popular and effective teas to drink in the morning. The best tea for the morning completely depends on the person’s choice of flavor, caffeine requirement, and many other factors. 

You can get many varieties of tea such as teas with high antioxidants, teas with high caffeine to boost energy, teas with less caffeine to reduce the jitteriness of coffee, teas that can relax your mind, and teas with specific health benefits like digestion, cognitive improvements, and so on.

No matter for what purpose you need tea in the morning, there is sure to be a tea variety that fulfills your health needs and tastebuds.

To find the best tea for the first cup in the morning, try several different varieties. I am sure it will be fun.