Inside: Love your morning coffee, but have a sneaky suspicion it might be time to give it up? Here are nine caffeinated teas to help you replace your coffee with tea.
So you’ve been thinking about getting off the coffee bandwagon, but not exactly sure where to start, or even if it’s possible? Maybe you’ve been drinking coffee every morning since 15, or you started once the kids came along - but either way it’s gotten a little out of hand. Mid-morning jitters, anyone?
Whatever your reason for wanting to end your relationship with coffee, I’m glad you’re here. And I’ve got some news for you - the coffee alternative isn’t so bad! In fact, it’s actually pretty fun (and some would say, better for you - you’re welcome).
If you’ve been around this mama’s morning community for very long, you probably already know the alternative I’m going to suggest (Ok, and if you read the title to this post).
You guessed it: TEA.
If you really need a slow transition from coffee, it’s best to start with caffeinated teas - and I'll give you some suggested types later on down. But what about if you’re here and not sure you’re ready to break up with coffee? Here are a few indicators it might be time...
4 Signs You Might Need to Replace Your Morning Coffee
You get a headache if you miss your morning cup ‘o joe
You can’t seem to drink just one cup (and are grumpy until you’ve had more)
Concentrate without coffee? Just doesn't happen
The thought of quitting makes you queasy (and maybe a little depressed)
If any of these ring true for you, read on, mama! It might be time to find a replacement for your morning coffee.
But...
Can you really replace coffee with tea?
Well yes, you can. I wouldn’t be here writing this if you couldn’t. But first, I have a
Confession: I am not a coffee drinker. And I’ve never been.
So why do I write about how to switch from coffee to tea, and what authority do I have to do so???
Well, I once didn’t like tea, either.
But I do now, and here is how:
When we were in college and fresh, vibrant newlyweds, we woke up every morning early to go on a run together. Knowing I didn’t like coffee, and in an effort to help me wake up, (yes, waking up before the sun did not always come easy for me!) Lance would pour me a hot cup of tea and bring it to me in bed.
It was such a sweet gesture, I didn't have the courage to tell him I actually hated tea.
No, instead I would say “thank you, babe!” as I sipped and grit my teeth.
But over the weeks and months, I began to crave that morning mug. And now (as you all know), there isn’t a morning that passes (or afternoon, or evening) that I don’t cherish my freshly brewed tea.
So while I may not know how to transition out of drinking coffee, I do know how to start something new - how to begin a new rhythm.
And just like anything else in life - you can make a change, and you can make a choice.
So today, if you’ve been thinking about switching up your morning joe with a cup of tea, I’ve got some ideas for you.
But before we get to that:
Should you replace coffee with tea?
Should you? I don’t know if you “should”, but I do know that I love my morning tea, and there are plenty of reasons why tea is a good/better alternative to your morning cup of joe. Here is a quick breakdown of a few of those reasons:
Coffee: known to increase anxiety and agitation
Tea: known to reduce stress
Coffee: stains teeth, and it can be hard to get rid of that coffee breath!
Tea: doesn’t stain teeth as bad, and doesn’t leave that same smell
Coffee: can contribute to heartburn and digestive disorders (due to the high levels of caffeine that increase the acidity in your body)
Tea: counters the acid and makes your body more alkaline (it’s more natural state)
Coffee: tends to be addictive
Tea: not as habit-forming, but still has a bit of caffeine to get you ready for the day
Coffee: contains compounds called cafestol and kahweol which some studies show increase bad cholesterol
Tea: may improve those cholesterol numbers!
So mama, if you’re looking for something to replace your coffee, today I want to give you nine caffeinated teas you can enjoy first thing in the morning. Nine teas that can give you a little lift - a little extra boost. They will help rejuvenate and get you prepped and ready for the day.
Are you ready? Because it's time 🙂
Best teas to replace your coffee
Green Tea
Of the three main categories we are talking about today green tea is my favorite! I really enjoy the earthy flavors - there is something about it that feels clean. Plus, there are tons of nutritional benefits as well. In fact, it’s often proclaimed as the healthy drink because it’s:
- High in antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory
- Packed with flavonoids (which help fight cancer)
But not all green teas are not created equal, and here are three different types you can try out:
1. Sencha Green Tea
This is the most common type of green tea. It has 50mg of caffeine, which is about half the amount of a normal cup of coffee.
2. Tencha Green Tea
Tencha green tea is known to be full of vitamin C, and boosts your energy + metabolism. It contains more caffeine than Sencha, with about 75 mg of caffeine.
3. Matcha Green Tea
Matcha is basically the superfood of green teas. If green tea is full of antioxidants, matcha is jam packed. It has been known to increase your body's detoxification systems and is one of the best food sources of catechins (an antioxidant that stops cell damage and helps prevent disease). Pure matcha has a higher caffeine content than some other green tea varieties with 70 mg per cup.
Black Tea
Black tea is one of the most common teas, especially in the west. While black tea is not often thought of in terms of its health benefits, studies have shown that it might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s often enjoyed with milk, but I tend to leave the milk out and drink it straight. Here are three types of black tea:
1. Assam Black Tea
If you’re looking to replace your coffee (but are leery of reducing your caffeine intake) Assam might be a good place to start. It’s strong, and has a high level of caffeine. Depending on how long it is steeped, Assam tea has around 80 mg of caffeine.
2. Darjeeling Black Tea
Their caffeine levels are similar, though Assam taste slightly stronger than Darjeeling. Darjeeling is sometimes known as the “Champagne of Teas”.
3. Earl Grey
Early Grey is a black tea that has been blended with oil of bergamot. The oil of bergamot that has been infused with the tea has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. Early Grey has a unique taste - and fun fact: when I am pregnant, this taste and smell of bergamot oil makes my stomach absolutely churn. But when not pregnant - it’s great!
Oolong
Oolong, a lesser known tea from China, is often thought of as the middle ground between a black tea and green tea. While black teas and green teas come from the same plants, the difference is in the amount of time the leaves are exposed to air while they are being dried (also called oxidation). Green tea is not oxidized at all, while black tea is highly oxidized. Oolong is somewhere in the middle.
A cup of oolong tea has somewhere between 10 - 60 mgs of caffeine. Like other teas, oolong varieties have been known to have great benefits to your health such as:
- Increased metabolism
- Increased mental performance and relaxation
- High in antioxidants
There are several varieties of oolong, but here are three you can start with:
1. Phoenix Tea
2. Iron Goddess of Mercy (crazy name, huh??)
3. Wuyi Oolong Tea
There you have it! A few ideas for your next morning alone - while the kids are sleeping and it’s still dark outside (if you don’t get giddy thinking about that, I’m so sorry you’re missing out!).
But let me be clear. This really is not about a simple cup of tea - this is about a signal to the start of your day. It’s about a physical reminder that something new is starting, and yesterday is in the past. There is something important about marking new beginnings. And while new days happen every 24 hrs, there is something important about marking this new beginning.
So with that in mind, head to the store (or stay right where you are and slip over to amazon) and choose a few new teas to try.
Then enjoy a fresh cup in the morning, and remember that today, this day, is a new day. You can make different choices, you can have a new attitude, you can shift to a brand new perspective.
Isn’t that what makes new beginnings so much fun?
I'm so grateful we get to start again every 24 hours.
Enjoy mama! I'm rooting for you.
