The First Cup: Finding the Best Tea to Drink In the Morning

Are you a morning person? I know I’m not. I’m not even a night owl; I like to say I’m at my best in the middle of the day. Maybe you are one of those people who wake up in the morning, fresh to start your day like one of those chirpy princesses who are dressed by small woodland creatures. Regardless of our different morning dispositions, we have something in common if you’re reading this article: our morning cup of tea.
So which is the best tea to drink in the morning? Today’s article will hopefully give you some guidance with that question. Let's help you select the tea to start your day off well instead of blinking blearily at the tea in your cupboard and picking one at random.

Caffeinated Teas

The advantage of caffeinated teas is that they are able to give you that morning jumpstart to get on your way. The amount of caffeine you need to give you that boost varies from person to person. With a broad range of teas available, you’re sure to find something that suits your tastes and energy needs.
Black tea has one of the highest caffeine levels. If you’re someone who’s really groggy in the morning, consider sipping on a black tea to help you wake up. The many variations of black tea -- with different fruits or spices being added to change up the flavor -- means there’s something to suit everyone. If you like to try different flavors, this could be a tea that works well for you. Some of us love a routine, but if you’re more free-spirited and like a sense of adventure, consider buying the Loose Leaf Tea Sampler set. This is an easy way to discover your new favorite morning brew.
Another advantage to black tea is that it takes milk well, so if you’re transitioning from coffee in the morning, black tea is likely going to be your best tea to drink in the morning.
I suggest Plum Deluxe’s The Spice of Life hot cinnamon spice black tea to start your day off well. Cinnamon and clove notes with a citrus twist sounds perfect to me!

Not far behind black tea for caffeine is oolong tea. Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea where the processing of the tea leaves varies from that of how black and green tea are processed. This results in a semi-oxidized tea. Processing aside, this tea is refreshing and gentle on the palate while still delivering a hit of caffeine to jumpstart your day. Like black tea, you can find many different oolong blends to suit your taste. I suggest trying the Pick Me Up almond oolong tea with maple. This tea has a beautiful maple flavor along with orange and rooibos that, as its title suggests, will offer the perfect pick me up to start your day.
Green tea is a popular choice for drinking in the morning and regularly mentioned for its caffeine levels. While it does not contain as much caffeine as black or oolong tea, it is still a fantastic morning drink. This tea is typically sweeter and has a lighter taste than the other teas we have mentioned. For a green tea to start your day, I suggest Queens Blend Earl Grey green tea. The citrus notes in this tea sound perfect for those fresh morning starts. If it’s good enough for the Queen to start her day with, it’s good enough for me!
We cannot talk about green tea without mentioning matcha. Premium grade matcha has grown in popularity in recent years and is now readily available. Coming from the same plant as green tea, matcha is a powdered form of tea. You can make it into tea or even a latte for something a little different. It will still deliver a caffeine boost, somewhat higher than that of regular green tea.

Caffeine Free Teas

If you prefer to stay away from caffeine, there are plenty of teas without caffeine that will be the best tea to drink in the morning for you.
Rooibos is native to South Africa and is also known as "red tea" or "bush tea." Rooibos is full of antioxidants which is wonderful for long-term health and believed by some to have a connection to the prevention of illnesses such as heart disease. Flavorsome and usually a lovely ruby color, this herbal tea makes a great alternative to drinking black or green teas, and it is caffeine free. I suggest trying the Pineapple Pop herbal tea. The pineapple in this tea adds a nice burst of flavor and energy.
There are many other herbal teas which are caffeine free that you may like to start your day off with. For drinking tea in the morning, I would suggest steering away from teas that include chamomile or lavender. These teas are lovely and have wonderful relaxing qualities; however, you might find yourself feeling more like having another nap if you choose one of these to start your day!
There you have it, a brief introduction to help you choose the best tea to drink in the morning! No matter the time of day you’re reading this, happy tea drinking and have a great day.