Tea is loved around the world; behind water, it’s the second most widely consumed beverage worldwide. It’s a comforting beverage that can provide you energy, relieve stress, settle the stomach, and warm you up on a cold day.
What you might know is that there are plenty of important health benefits to tea, which varies depending on the variety of tea you consume. What you might not know is that, depending on the variety, there could be certain times of day in which drinking tea is most beneficial!
In this article, we will go through the best time to drink tea and give a few options for each time in the day so your tea routine doesn’t get too dull. We’ll also try to explain the science behind our choices so that you can take your tea drinking to the next level!
Teas For Different Times of Day
First Thing In The Morning
When you first hop out of bed, you may be tempted to reach for freshly brewed coffee. Instead, try getting into the habit of making yourself a cup of tea.
Black Tea tends to contain the most caffeine of all teas, about 40 milligrams per cup (compared to nearly 100 milligrams in one cup of coffee). If you are trying to wean yourself off coffee, but you still feel like you need an extra boost in the morning, brew yourself a cup of black tea. This may help to still give you a slight burst of energy without the side effects of too much caffeine; increased heart rate, blood pressure, and even increased anxiety can occur with the consumption of excess caffeine.
A great black tea to consume in the morning is the varietal called Lapsang Souchong. The leaves are dried over pinewood, giving it a distinct, smoky essence. It contains about 60 milligrams of caffeine per cup, which is still less than a cup of coffee…
English Breakfast Tea is a popular blend of black tea, usually made from teas including Keemun and Assam. The caffeine content in a cup of this tea is around 40 milligrams, and its benefits for promoting healthy teeth make it a perfect morning drink!
In addition to oral health, black teas (including English Breakfast Tea), come with a range of health benefits that make them great for early morning consumption. Benefits include a healthy digestive tract, increased energy, and stress relief. Starting off your morning with a revitalized digestive system, a boost of energy, and a calm outlook will help you have a productive and happy day.
Mid-morning
Lots of people reach for their second cup of coffee sometime after breakfast and before lunchtime. Instead of another caffeine-heavy beverage, try getting your energy boost from one of these teas.
White Tea is a very delicate, light tea with a subtle, sweet taste. The leaves are harvested very early in the season, so this tea can be a bit pricier than others. Most people recommend drinking this tea on its own, without food, so you enjoy the taste. This tea contains L-theanine, which is said to calm anxiety and improve mental focus, making it a great option for that mid-morning slump. It contains less than 20 milligrams of caffeine per cup, which can make it a great addition to your mid-morning routine, giving you a little energy without a caffeine overload.
After Lunch
Peppermint Tea is a delicious herbal tea that has some great health benefits, which you’ll likely find helpful especially after lunch. This is a good tea to drink with a meal or immediately after eating because of its ability to kickstart the digestive system and keep it running smoothly. If you suffer from IBS or other gastrointestinal diseases, peppermint tea can help to ease your symptoms.
Peppermint tea can also help to relieve stress or tension headaches. Choosing peppermint tea will help to minimize the pain so you can get on with your day. Finally, peppermint can help to freshen your breath, so it’s perfect to sip on straight after eating. It’s naturally caffeine-free unless blended with other caffeine-containing tea leaves
Mid-afternoon
Green Tea is a good option for your mid-afternoon tea break. Green tea contains anywhere between 30-50 milligrams of caffeine, so it will give you a little energy boost. Like white tea, green tea also contains the amino acid called L-theanine, which is reported to help brain function, so it’s the perfect drink to encourage productivity all afternoon long.
In The Evening
Fruit Tea is a wonderful option to drink during or after dinner. Fruit tea doesn’t contain much caffeine, as most fruits are naturally caffeine-free, so it won’t keep you up until the wee hours of the morning. Fruit tea is usually a blend of dried fruits or peels and may be combined with other herbs. Because fruit tea comes in a wide variety of flavors, you’ll be able to satisfy your tastebuds by choosing your favorite fruity flavors to go with your meal. Lots of people find that fruit tea can be a good, satisfying substitute for sugary drinks like soda. It can also be consumed hot or iced, so it can be a refreshing beverage even when temperatures soar.
Before Bed
Chamomile Tea is famous for its calming effects, and many people swear by it as a sleeping aid. It has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to help ease stomach discomfort and anxiety. This is because chamomile contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which binds to receptors in the brain. This helps to decrease anxiety, slow the breath, and ultimately helps the body to fall asleep.
When You Have A Cold
Lemon Ginger Tea is widely regarded as an excellent tea for easing the symptoms of the common cold. Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to relieve a sore throat and reduce nasal congestion. Lemon contains Vitamin C, which can help to protect the immune system. The steam from the tea will also help get rid of mucus buildup in the nose and throat. Try adding honey to your brew for its soothing properties.
When You Have Just Finished A Workout
Most people reach for water or juice after a hot, sweaty workout. However, there are a few teas that can be extremely beneficial after exercise making it a good time to drink tea. Does hot tea sound unappetizing? Try it iced as a great post-recovery beverage!
Rooibos Tea is caffeine-free and flavorful. It’s full of beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Calcium will help to strengthen your joints and bones and will help with post-workout muscle recovery. Potassium is a crucial electrolyte that we lose through sweat while we exercise.
Oolong Tea is another wonderful option. Oolong tea contains EGCG phytonutrients, which can help your body to convert fat into energy. If you’re trying to lose weight, add this tea into your workout routine. It also contains catechins which have been shown to help increase the body’s metabolic rate.
When You’re Pregnant
Pregnancy comes with lots of food and beverage restrictions. While some things can be helpful for your energy levels and the baby’s growth, other ingredients can be harmful while you’re expecting.
Here are a few of the teas that are safe to drink during pregnancy:
- Ginger tea
- Nettle tea
- Dandelion leaf tea
- Peppermint tea
- Rooibos tea
While these teas tend to be completely safe, try to avoid any teas with traces of caffeine, or keep your caffeine consumption to less than 200 milligrams per day Of course, it’s important to consult with your medical professional to confirm if caffeine is safe for you to consume during your pregnancy.
You’ll probably find some teas labeled as pregnancy teas. These teas typically contain red raspberry leaves. Many health professionals consider this ingredient to be an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Studies show that it can reduce labor time and prevent early or late deliveries. So if you are not already a tea drinker, drinking tea while pregnant might be a good time to start!
When You’re Stressed
Lots of teas have been proven to be helpful for stress relief because of the antioxidants they contain. Here are a few tried and tested teas for dealing with stress.
- Lavender tea
- Green tea ( try a defcafinated blend)
- Ashwagandha tea
- Turmeric tea
- Rose tea
- Licorice tea
When It’s Cold Outside
All teas are great for keeping you warm. Nothing beats snuggling up with a steaming mug of your favorite brew on a cold winter day. Arguably, some will say this is the best time to drink tea. However, if you want to take things up a notch, there are a few teas that can help to warm you up. Try to choose teas with spices like peppercorns, cardamom, and cinnamon.
These flavors will give your tea a festive flavor, while they can also increase blood circulation to keep you warm from the inside out. You can even steep some extra spices into your tea; ever heard of mulling spice? It’s a traditional blend commonly used to spice apple cider or wine, usually containing orange, cardamon, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. If you can’t find or don’t have a spiced tea on hand, simmer some spices along with your traditional tea bags or loose-leaf tea. You’ll be sure to feel comforted and in the holiday spirit in no time.
Final Thoughts
We’ve made it; a breakdown of which teas are the most beneficial throughout your entire day. All the teas we’ve listed in this article come with a wide range of excellent health benefits. However, if you start planning when you drink these teas, you may notice that the benefits are optimized.
Do you have a favorite tea or a go-to tea regimen? Share your thoughts with us, we’d love to hear from you.
