Substitute Coffee With These Teas For A Caffeine Kick

By Bryan Kittman | March 12, 2019

If you are not the biggest fan of coffee, but still need a caffeine boost to kick-start your mornings, tea is a great alternative. All teas comes from the same Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen bush indigenous to both China and India. Hundreds of cultivars and hybrids have evolved from the Camellia sinensis plant over time, each thriving in diverse geographical areas of the world. But it’s ultimately the variety of tea plant and how the plant’s leaves are processed that defines the final type of tea that ends up in your teacup.

White tea

With an average caffeine content of around 35mg, white tea is perfect for waking you up in the morning without giving you too much of the jitters. White tea is known to be one of the most delicate tea varieties because it is so minimally processed. Because of thie, they are best enjoyed plain, with no additive like milk or sugar, in order to appreciate the tea’s true flavor. White tea also has a powerful blend of antioxidants that are said to reduce cardiovascular disorders and improve oral health.

Green tea

One of the most recognized types of teas, green tea contains a little bit more caffeine at around 45 mg. Green tea can hail from many different parts of the world and processed using one of many different methods. So how the green tea you’re brewing tastes will depend on many factors. Some common traits used to describe its flavor profile include vegetal, grassy, and earthy. Green tea is packed with polyphenols and catechins, both of which can reduce your risk of cancer and aid your immune system in fighting off sickness.

Matcha tea

Matcha is a type of green tea that has been prepared by steaming, drying, and grinding leaves into a fine powder instead of shaped and rolled. Matcha is key to Japanese tea ceremonies and has become a very popular ingredient for cooking. Characterized by its striking green color, matcha has a fresh, earthy flavor, with caffeine levels ranging from 45 mg – 100mg due to the entire tea leaf being consumed.

Yerba mate

This naturally caffeinated herbal tea made from the dried leaves of the South America holly tree, and is a great substitute for your morning coffee. A cup of yerba mate contains roughly 78 mg of caffeine on average. It is also loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making it a powerful morning beverage. Yerba mate can be enjoyed plain, but it’s also not uncommon to sweeten the brewed beverage with honey, agave or sugar, or even dilute it some with milk or cream.

Black tea

One of the more powerful types of tea, black tea typically contains about 45 mg-50mg of caffeine, about half the amount in a cup of coffee. In addition to a solid kick of caffeine, black tea has been found to have properties that can boost your immune system. Most black teas are strong enough to stand up to milk and sugar. But to truly enjoy the subtle flavor differences between the many varieties of black tea, try sipping them plain with no additives.

Chai Tea

Originating in India, chai tea refers to a huge variety of recipes, allowing the beverage to take on many different flavor directions depending on the ingredients used. Chai that’s heavy on the ginger and black peppercorns can leave a fire-y bite. Others containing more vanilla, cinnamon or nutmeg may leave behind a sweeter note. Those with saffron or cacao may impart some earthy bitterness. And those using fennel or cumin may have a more savory note.