The morning beverage is a beautiful thing. 99% of the time it’s a split between tea and coffee.
While coffee tends to be more popular amongst people looking to keep their eyes open for longer than five seconds at a time for obvious reasons, it’s tea that can really do wonders for your mind and your body.
Depending on your taste and possibly diet, there is a wide selection of teas for you to try first thing in the morning. Some of these include Pu-Erh, rosemary, hibiscus, and oolong.
Below are ten of the best for your morning tea needs.
Rosemary
Famous for its distinct taste and smell, Rosemary comes from the Rosmarinus Officinalis plant and is rich in flavonoids, terpenes and phenolic acid. Mainly though, it’s just very delicious first thing in the morning, when your throat is a bit dry and sore.
Rosemary tea is a terrific natural diuretic that can be used in diets targeted at weight loss and reducing clogged-up fluid. Basically, this tea increases the urination process, stimulating the body to get rid of the fluid and built-up toxins, improving overall health. That’s what you need first thing in the morning!
Peppermint
You know what peppermint tastes like. It’s in pretty much every brand of gum you’ve ever chewed on. Just the aroma alone has been known to spruce up a smelly room. But you’ve likely never had it in tea form. But you should, and in the morning!
Peppermint tea relaxes the stomach muscles, reducing contractions that lead to pain. It can also alleviate nausea, bloating and gas. So a cup of this stuff in the morning with your breakfast is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make!
Ginger
Ginger incidentally makes a really nice tea but it’s been purchased for other reasons for centuries before it became popular as a hot drink. You can get ginger in fresh, dehydrated or powder form when it comes to making teas, smoothies, soups or even salads. You can also get it as an essential oil.
You should drink ginger tea in the morning if you’re prone to sleeping funny. Ginger contains bioactive compounds cineol and borneal which have a strong analgesic action that has been known to relieve muscle pain. It has been shown to help ease the pain associated with arthritis, rheumatism and arthrosis.
Rooibos
Pronounced roy-boss, rooibos is a herbal infusion prepared with leaves from the Aspalathus linearis plant. This brew has a low tannin level, so you don’t get any of the possible dry mouth or nausea associated with more tannin-heavy teas. Native to South Africa, rooibos is now popular across the world.
Rooibos is a great tea to drink in the morning because it’s rich in minerals and antioxidants. These properties will keep you hydrated all day long and boost your antioxidant levels. Caffeine-free, rooibos is so nice it’ll feel like a true pick-me-up.
Matcha
The unique tasting and looking matcha tea is made by finely grinding green tea leaves that are shaded from the sun three weeks prior to harvesting. By doing this, it promotes chlorophyll production. Heavier than other teas regarding caffeine content, a cup of matcha won’t leave you irritable and wired.
Drinking matcha first thing in the morning can kick start your metabolism, if it’s weight loss you’re interested in, helping you burn fat at a rate of four times the average. One of the best benefits of matcha, though, is how it induces calmness!
Oolong
Oolong is another classic tea from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Most teas that are oxidised release tannins, which make your mouth dry, but oolong leaves are only partially oxidised, resulting in a subtler flavour.
Oolong tea can complement your morning perfectly thanks to its agreeable flavour and health benefits. One cup of this will increase your metabolism, ease digestion and lower cholesterol. Worried about feeling sluggish? Oolong tea promotes mental alertness.
Hibiscus
An infused tea made from the calyces of the roselle hibiscus plant, hibiscus tea has a sharp taste with hints of cranberry. It’s so popular in Senegal, it’s actually the national drink.
Hibiscus tea, if you like a tangy drink to start your day off with, can be a great pairing with your breakfast. Packed with all the right antioxidants, hibiscus is said to lower blood pressure. Of course, this shouldn’t be your only method of remedying high blood pressure, but it’s a nice option all the same!
Pu-Erh
Pu-Erh is a low-caffeine, fermented tea that many people find very helpful first thing in the morning. If you wake up feeling a little feverish or chilly, a cup of Pu-Erh tea can help warm you up and soften the symptoms. Have some of this stocked ready for winter mornings.
Pu-Erh tea is similar to green tea in taste and smell, unless its a heavily aged one, which look more like black tea. You can find it in melons, mushrooms, tea blocks, tea bags and loose leaf. We’d advise going for one of the lighter Pu-Erhs if you’re looking to throw something back in the AM.
Rose
One of the oldest flowers in the world, roses are sturdy things, especially when it comes to tea. There are hundreds of rose varieties that are safe for human use. You can find them in everything from fragrances to Middle Eastern and Chinee cuisine.
If you’re going through a bad spell of dry or irritated skin, you may want to try drinking rose tea first thing in the morning. This is a great source of antioxidants, and is sugar, caffeine and calorie-free! The natural Vitamin E and Vitamin C in rose tea will promote healthy skin.
Kombucha
Kombucha had been around for 2,000 years before it really took over the West in the late 20th century. Today, people drink this fizzy tea exclusively, thanks to its energising properties.
Should you drink kombucha first thing in the morning? Yes! And preferably on an empty stomach. This fermented tea helps balance your gut bacteria and supports digestion throughout the day. Having it before you eat breakfast will truly get things moving, and will provide you with a fantastic taste while doing so!