The way that tea is categorized is determined by how its harvested or processed, along with the location the tea leaves are derived. Grouped into three main categories—black, green, and oolong, these narrow categorizations expand to over 1,000 varietals across the world.
Your Best Digs found that the average Brit drinks 265 liters of tea per year while 159 million Americans have a cuppa every day. With its production reaching 5.2 million metric tons per year globally, it's not surprising that tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, second only to water.
This hot drink has been revered for its health benefits since its discovery some 5,000 years ago. Harvested from the plant Camellia sinensis, tea has been studied for its medicinal properties to improve cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychological health. Other benefits include anti-aging and physiological effects. Learn how to make this ancient remedy your go-to for every mood in this guide.
Tea for Energy | Tea for Focus | Tea for Sleep | Tea for Digestion | Tea for Anxiety | Tea for Mood Boost
Types of Tea
With origins rooted in China, Africa, Sri Lanka, and beyond, tea has been the go-to natural medicine and herbal remedy for centuries. In this guide we describe types of tea to enhance your mood. From energy and focus, to digestion and anxiety you'll be curling up to a hot tea in no time.
Tea for Energy
The caffeine content in tea varies widely. Ditch your morning cup of joe for one of these herbal alternatives for a natural boost.
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate tea, derived from the Argentinian yerba mate tree, boasts more caffeine than nearly every other tea. Healthline states that a single eight-ounce glass is packed with 85 milligrams, nearly the same amount as coffee
Black Tea
You can wave unpleasant coffee jitters goodbye when you have a cup of black tea. With the same caffeine levels as a cup of coffee, the amino acids create a calming effect. You'll enhance blood flow without over stimulating your heart for an ideal energy boost.
Tea for Focus
Get your study materials ready, these teas enhance cognitive function and can give you the edge you need to refocus.
Green Tea
Renowned for many of its beneficial attributes, green tea is chock-full of ingredients that increase focus. That's because the presence of the L-theanine results in a long-lasting boost that is sure to keep your head on straight.
White Tea
White tea boasts brain-enhancing functions with its L-theanine properties by resembling a neurotransmitter related to memory. Because it's the least processed type of tea, white tea is the purest form of the beverage you can drink.
Tea for Sleep
The chemical compounds found in depressants like sleeping pills and alcohol have undesirable side effects. Drink these teas for a healthier alternative to lull you to sleep.
Chamomile Tea
As a caffeine-free herbal tea, chamomile is the ideal before-bed drink. The chamomile plant has a near sedation effect from its apigenin content. The chemical binds to benzodiazepine receptors in your brain to have you counting sheep in no time.
Valerian Tea
Valerian tea is derived from the valerian root which has mild sedative properties. The benefits of this plant include deep, restful sleep without a drowsy after-effect. Coined as "nature's valium", this tea is sure to support healthy sleep habits.
Tea for Digestion
Teas can aid with nausea, indigestion, IBS, bloating, and more. Herbal teas without caffeine are a perfect post-meal beverage to settle the stomach.
Ginger Tea
Blended between herbal and ginger extract, this hot beverage can also be made at home by steeping ginger in hot water. Believed to counteract nausea, this tea will settle your stomach by stimulating saliva production to assist in breaking down the food you eat.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is known to settle stomachs and ease the common cold because of the presence of menthol. Menthol assists to lessen nausea and IBS. Like other herbal teas, peppermint tea isn't tea at all, but a blend of mint leaves and hot water.
Tea for Anxiety
Finding natural remedies to treat anxiety has been popularized recently, ranging from exercise to tinctures. These teas will lower your stress levels and reduce anxiety symptoms with every sip.
Rooibos Tea
Grown in South Africa, this caffeine-free tea is full of antioxidants which can boost both mood and memory. Additionally, you'll find minerals such as calcium and magnesium that will subdue nervous tension.
Lemongrass Tea
Full of antioxidants like vitamin C, lemongrass tea has calming properties will ease your busy mind while promoting relaxation. Drinking this beverage can reduce elevated heart rates and increase red blood cell count.
Mood Boosting Tea
Whether you need a caffeine kick or something to sip on that lightens your mood, these teas are the perfect midday pick me up.
Turmeric Tea
The Curcuma longa plant produces turmeric, 78% of which is grown in India says Medical News Today. The antioxidants found in this plant have been found to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which is commonly connected to depression.
Rooibos Tea
This South African tea has minerals that are known to relax the body and even increase libido. Otherwise known as red bush tea, rooibos is high in antioxidants with nearly 50% more than green tea. Those antioxidants help release inflammation, which has been discovered to be a cause behind less-than ideal moods.
The polyphenols in tea are the antioxidants that neutralize oxidants in your body. The benefits go far beyond the antioxidants, as long as you stay away from sugary versions of the drink. Adding sugar to your tea virtually counteracts its positive benefits. Always keep supplies for a cuppa in your kitchen cabinets for a quick mood boost, or a peaceful wind down after a stressful day.
Sources: NCBI 1, 2, 3 | Your Best Digs | Medical News Today 1, 2 | Science Direct | Harvard