What’s the Best Tea for Energy?

Are you lagging?

Struggling to make it through the day?

Need a pick me up—a tea pick-me-up?

We have just the right dose for you! This article is all about the best tea for energy and what tea gives you energy and why. No lolly-gagging here. Time to get rolling—let’s get started!

There’s no time to waste!

Which Tea Gives You Energy?

There are no shortages of tea that will help you jumpstart your day! So, where do we begin? 

I don’t think it’s a matter of which end of the spectrum we start on, so long as we make sure we cover them all—puerh, green, black, and oolong tea.

Let’s go ahead and start with a well-known type of tea—black tea. Black tea is one of the most highly caffeinated teas. Black tea has a caffeine level of around 50 milligrams per eight ounces. It also has a more robust flavor profile due to the longer oxidation process. 

If you’re new to the world of tea, or just didn’t yet know this fun fact—one of the biggest factors in determining caffeine in tea types is oxidation.

Oxidation is the process of oxygen reaction with the freshly picked tea leaf enzymes. The longer the tea is processed for oxidation, the higher the level of caffeine in the tea. This process affects the color and flavors of the tea as well.

Puerh tea has a flavor that is smooth, rich, and decadent. The caffeine amount will fluctuate a bit as it really comes down to several different factors. We’ll just cover a couple of basics to get you headed in the right direction. First up is going to be the age of your puerh and second is going to be how long you steep your tea for. 

The younger your puerh tea, the higher the caffeine content. The post-fermentation process breaks down the caffeine present in the puerh leaves, aging the tea decreases the caffeine content. The second part of this equation that comes into play is the steeping process.

The brewing temperature, brewing time, and the amount of tea will all impact how much caffeine you end up with within your cuppa. On average though, I’d say you’ll end up in the range of 30-100 milligrams per eight ounces. 

Have you ever wondered about reusing your tea leaves? Then look no further than our article, Resuing Tea Leaves More than Once: A Guide—I promise it’ll answer all your questions and more, so you can really get the most out of your tea!

Green tea has a smoother flavor than black tea because even though it is made from the leaves and buds of the same plant as other tea varieties, it does not undergo a long withering and oxidation process. The caffeine level is around 35 milligrams per eight ounces. You’re left with an often bright and cheerful, smooth and dreamy cuppa that is always welcome and delightful!

For many people who are caffeine sensitive, green tea may contain just the right amount of pick-me-up, without being a caffeine overload and cause too much stimulation for your brain and body. 

Last, but certainly not least is oolong tea. Oolong tea is considered a semi-oxidized tea because it usually sits between the processes of what a green tea and a black tea go through. Although some differ—some oolongs are lightly oxidized and tend to be more like green tea—light with hints of floral. Others are more heavily oxidized and carry richer notes and a maltier aroma that is reminiscent of black teas.

Oolong has somewhere in the ballpark of 35-55 milligrams of caffeine per eight-ounce cuppa. Not too shabby! We have a fabulous article, What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like by Jesse McDonald where she dives in with some great info on oolong tea. Hop over and check it out!

Best Tea for Energy

So…we’ve talked a bit about different teas and the caffeine content they provide, but what about the “deets” of these teas?

What about the good stuff like L-theanine?

In this section, we’re going to take a closer look at what exactly separates black, green, and puerh tea when it comes to their ability to provide an energizing effect and mental clarity.

As we know, tea contains caffeine, but it also contains a type of amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine can help improve alertness and focus.

The less oxidized a tea is, the more L-theanine it has. White tea has the most, followed by green, oolong, and black tea. (Puerh had next to none.)

Studies show that beverages containing a combination of L-theanine and caffeine enhance the alpha activity brain and have a greater impact on focus and alertness. A research study suggested that drinking black tea daily had a slight push in the concentration and focus of an individual and reported self-alertness among participants, compared to a placebo.

Not to mention black tea may improve heart health, reduce stroke, has antioxidant properties, and may reduce the risk of cancer—specifically skin, breast, lung, and prostate cancers.

I don’t think you can go wrong here, right?

Green tea may be on the lower end of the caffeine front, but don’t underestimate its superpowers! It has fat-burning properties, may fight certain cancers, may help with weight loss, can fight cardiovascular disease, help with bone loss, and has some of the highest antioxidant fighting powers of all teas!

The catechins, the main antioxidant agents contained in the Camellia sinensis plant, really make green tea the headliner. They have been proven to protect the neurons of the brain!

The caffeine in green tea acts as a stimulant so not only do we feel more energetic after drinking this tea, but green tea is known to improve the function of the brain, including reaction time, mood, and productivity. 

What’s more to love?

A study examined the effects of the polyphenols in tea on cancer cells and revealed that black and green tea may play a vital role in regulating cancer cell growth and conquering new cell development!

Puerh tea contains phytochemicals like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has relaxing effects and contributes to lower stress levels. Even one cup of puerh tea daily can help relieve stress, and sleep soundly throughout the night. Puerh tea also contains plenty of natural compounds that help enhance circulation, delivering increased oxygen levels to your brain and other body parts. 

Puerh tea lets you relax, and then gives you an extra boost without a caffeine crash, so you can make it through your day! As a bonus, it helps with bone health, reduces obesity, lowers cholesterol, has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps protect the nervous system. Serve yourself up a cuppa today and start reaping the benefits!

Go-Get-Em Energy Favorites

You’ve now landed in the land of some of my favorite go-to’s for when you’re really in the need of choosing the best tea for energy. 

First up—a classic favorite, our House Blend black tea. This vanilla black tea is comforting, bold, and malty. Whether you choose to drink it untouched, or with the addition of some milk and sugar, there really isn’t a bad choice to be made. It also serves up great beside biscuits, shortbreads, or scones—whatever you please!

Our Royal Wedding black tea is another beloved addition to our black tea collection here at Plum Deluxe Tea. It’s a vanilla black tea with fresh lemon peel, elderflower, and a hint of sweet almond. It’s a little sweet without the guilt!

When it comes to green teas, we have an endless array but I have a couple of go-to favorites for an energizing fix and our Queen’s Blend green tea is one of them. This lemon crème earl grey green tea is encompassed in layers of complexity that fill your cup with flavors of bright lemon, creamy vanilla, woodsy green tea, bergamot oil, and apple pieces. Need I say more? It’s absolutely yummy!

We have several perfect puerh teas to choose from and I have a couple to introduce to you that are sure to please! Our Peppermint Puerh tastes like it sounds—a peppermint patty, but with more body! It’s an earthy puerh tea blend with both peppermint and spearmint, plus a touch of spices. 

Last, but never least, as I always say—eat dessert first if you feel like it…

Is our ‘Red Velvet’ Chocolate puerh. Plum Deluxe has really outdone themselves on this one—creating a divine dessert tea—a chocolate puerh tea. This puerh tea is a rich blend with both cocoa peel and cocoa pieces, plus blackberry leaves, and chocolate essence. It’s dreamy chocolatey deliciousness in a cuppa!