What Tea Should I Drink? Specific Teas for Different Purposes

Many of us around the world wake up in the morning with a warm cup of tea, making it the second most consumed beverage after water globally.

By the time we wake, we have been fasting for around 8 hours, and our body needs proper hydration. Tea warms your body and adds health-promoting substances that complement the diet. However, not many tea drinkers are aware that tea contains caffeine.

Tea VS Herbal Infusions

Brews without caffeine such as herbal infusions provide you with the benefits that we need not only for hydration but also detoxication first thing in the morning. On the other hand, teas (only made from Camellia Sinensis leaves), contain different caffeine levels and are better to be consumed when the extra energy and focus is needed.

Based on how teas are cultivated, processed and stored, the caffeine content in tea varies. As a general rule, black tea and matcha tea have the highest caffeine levels.

Most (but not all) herbal teas are caffeine-free. Herbal infusions, such as chamomile, peppermint, lemon myrtle, etc. have zero caffeine. Some of their benefits include from helping you wind down after a long day at work and promoting a better night’s sleep to supportive digestion and providing vitality in the mornings. The most notable exception to this rule is Yerba Mate and other plants such as guayusa, yaupon and guarana.

It is important to know the right time to have tea as specific teas serve different purposes. Here are two major considerations before putting the kettle on:

Make sure to not combine tea with your main meals.

Since tea contains caffeine, which can increase our energy and support the digestive system, for most people, it makes sense to drink tea right after their meal. Tea contains tannic acid and reacts with the protein and iron content in the food. As a result, it can prevent the absorption of these components. This is the reason why it is recommended having your cup of tea at least twenty minutes after a meal.

Avoid strong tea on an empty stomach.

Tea contains tannins that can cause mild acidity. If a person has severe acidity, then it should be avoided having a very strong cup of tea (or coffee) early in the morning on an empty stomach.

As with everything, moderation goes a long way. If you find yourself longing for a hot cup of tea, these are the ‘hacks’ I use to regulate my caffeine intake.

WATER TEMPERATURE & STEEPING TIME: Hotter water and longer steeping time will draw out more caffeine in brewed tea.

TYPE OF TEA: All teas made from the Camellia Sinensis plant contain caffeine (E.g: Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea, etc). Herbal infusions such as chamomile, Lemon Myrtlte, Hibiscus, etc have no caffeine therefore they’re perfect as an evening tea.
CHOOSE LOOSE LEAF: As conventional tea bags contain broken leaves of smaller size, they result in higher levels of caffeine extraction during steeping.
QUALITY: Opt for organic, 100% natural teas whenever possible. The quality of the leaves can greatly affect how your body responds to the caffeine tea contains.
Tea is the only plant that contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes calm and relaxation. It works in synergy with the stimulant caffeine to induce a state of balanced mindful alertness.
Caffeine from tea is shown to absorb more slowly in the body than caffeine from other caffeinated drinks. This gentle release promotes a longer period of alertness without a jittery rush at the start or crash at the end.

Even if caffeine content in tea is low compared to coffee and other energetic drinks, ensure you consume plenty of water throughout the day to maintain proper hydration.

These are the teas that work best for different times of the day:

Morning Tea

First thing in the morning, you might feel a bit sluggish and you might be tempted to reach for a strong cup of tea to wake you up. Try reaching for a blend that combines tea with other plant-based ingredients so that caffeine can gently support your body waking up naturally:

Masala Chai: As it is a blend of black tea with different ingredients, the caffeine level is low.
French Earl Grey — This is a black tea blend that usually has moderate caffeine content and lots of flavour.
Late morning: Matcha with plant-based milk — Made from a powder of green tea leaves, matcha is rich in antioxidants.

Afternoon Tea

I know lots of people find they can’t have caffeine in the afternoon, as it can make it harder to fall asleep at night.

These are a few tea varieties you can choose from, depending on whether you like an early or late afternoon tea.

Lapsang Souchong — Because of the caffeine in black tea, it might be best to have it earlier in the afternoon so it doesn’t affect your sleep.
Green tea — If you struggle to focus in the afternoon, green tea can help! It contains L-theanine, an amino acid which can help your brain to focus.
Herbal Infusions — Having a herbal infusion later in the afternoon can help curb sugar cravings. Some varieties, like rooibos tea, can also help get your digestive enzymes working after lunch.

I love a cup of fresh Lemon Myrtle, I have found that it is good for reducing bloating.

Evening Herbal Infusions

I often have a cup of herbal infusion after dinner. It helps me relax, supports my digestion and I sleep really well. These are some of the best teas to have at night:

Chamomile tea — This is the tea to reach for if you are feeling stressed.
Peppermint tea — If you overdid it with dinner, peppermint tea can help ease a full stomach.
Blue Lotus tea — This is a good evening choice as it supports deep sleep and relaxation. The flavour is a combination of fruity and nutty, perfect after dinner.

In a nutshell

Learning how different teas and herbal infusions can help support our energy levels at different times of the day is a step forward to making conscious choices for our wellbeing.

From my own experience and expertise, I can assure you the best times to drink tea are in the morning and in the afternoon, whereas herbal infusions should be consumed in the evening.

Tea lovers who experience slight caffeine sensitivity can still enjoy their favourite teas from Andina Tea. Consider brewing fewer tea leaves and using slightly cooler water, which will extract less caffeine from your tea. You can also choose green tea with lemon myrtle and Masala Chai, since they naturally have lower caffeine content.

For those who are completely avoiding caffeine, herbal infusions and other botanicals are the way to go.