Can Tea Affect Your State of Mind? (+ the Best Teas to Get You Into Any Mood) 

Can Tea Affect Your State of Mind? (+ the Best Teas to Get You Into Any Mood) 

Most of us think of tea as a relaxing, calming drink. Something to sip on when winding down from a busy day. But tea’s got a few more tricks up its sleeve. It's one of the most diverse beverages in the world and the second most consumed, right behind water! Tea's diversity isn't just in flavours, brewing methods, and areas of origin. Its diversity also lies in the way it makes us feel. 

• Want to get pumped up, happy, and energized to take on the day? There's a tea for that. 
• Want to relax, calm down, and center yourself? There's a tea for that. 
• Want to focus and get productive? There's a tea for that. 

Let's break down how these teas may affect your mind and find the perfect tea for your desired mood. 

Slow morning? Bad sleep? Need energy? Look no further than these energizing teas. 

Looking for a little kick to start your morning off right? Or that gentle energy boost to push you through the 3pm slump? We've got just the tea for you. 

Many of us think of coffee as the morning energy beverage, but its high caffeine content can leave you feeling jittery and anxious. Even worse, when coffee wears off, it wears off hard, leaving you in a slump. While it might seem like more caffeine is the answer here, it's often the opposite! 

Most teas have less caffeine than coffee but may provide a more gradual, consistent energizing effect. Plus, the lower overall caffeine content means you can enjoy more of your favourite tea than coffee! Fewer jitters, more delicious. 

Our favourite energizing teas are: 

Yerba Mate 

Yerba Mate is a natural energy drink. Traditional to South America, it is higher in caffeine than most teas but won't leave you shaking with the jitters. It may provide a soothing increase in energy, mental clarity, alertness, and concentration. Sounds like magic, right? You're not the first to think that. It's been called "the drink of the gods" by indigenous South Americans, and we can see exactly where they're coming from.  Learn more about Yerba Mate in our dedicated guide here.

Try out our delicious Yerba Mate Chai if you're looking for a boost in energy, mood, and immune function! 

Scottish Breakfast 

This is a delicious and robust black tea with a strong profile with hints of malt and wood. It has a medium-high caffeine level to get you up and ready to take on the day! As with nearly all black teas, its caffeine level is lower than a standard cup of coffee. You'll get a nice kick-in-the-butt to start the day, but none of the jittery, heart-racing feelings that come with too much coffee. 

This tea holds up great to milk and sugar, and its complex flavour profile pairs perfectly with a healthy breakfast. It's really a 'win the morning, win the day' blend. 

Try it for yourself right here! 

Looking for more of a 'meditation-app-in-a-cup'? Try these calming teas!  

Tea is a well-known relaxant. When many of us think of tea, we immediately picture someone wrapped in a blanket with a good book on a rainy day. 

If that's the mood you're looking for or just need a tea to accompany your lazy Sunday, we've got you covered. Let's get cozy with these calming, relaxing infusions. Our picks for relaxing tisanes are largely decaffeinated but often have additional ingredients to help boost their relaxing qualities even further. 

Tea Fact: Herbal teas like Chamomile & Tulsi aren’t technically teas. They’re known as tisanes because they don’t come from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis! Want to know what else makes them different? We actually have a full post about it right here! 

Chamomile 

This is one of the most well-known relaxing herbal tisanes. This floral, light, non-caffeinated tisane is a perfect cuppa to help you relax before bed. The tisane contains apigenin, a chemical compound that induces sleepiness when it binds to the GABA receptors in the brain. That's what gives the tea its signature calming, drowsy effect. If you're looking to decompress after a long day or encourage a deeper, more restorative sleep, chamomile is for you!

Check out our Chamomile right here! 

Tulsi

Our next relaxing, calming tisane is Tulsi. It must be something special if it's known as the Elixir of Life, Holy Basil, and the Queen of Herbs. Tulsi is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine for its stress-relieving benefits. It's an adaptogen, a natural substance that may help your body adapt to stress while promoting mental balance and clarity. 

Tulsi is also a great choice to boost your immune function as it's high in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and zinc. Free from caffeine, you can enjoy this tisane all day long for a relaxing, calming effect. It's like a deep-breathing exercise you can drink. 

Sip on relaxation and balance right here.

Deadlines coming up? Need to focus? Get focused with these infusions! 

Green or black tea before a big meeting or a study session could be the quick fix you need. Recent studies suggest that l-theanine and caffeine, commonly found in tea, may improve cognitive function. These substances work better in combination, making tea a uniquely beneficial beverage for boosting focus and cognitive function. We all need a little boost sometimes, and tea can be a delicious, natural way to help you focus and take on your busy schedule. 

Our top picks for focus and brain function teas: 

Imperial Matcha

This is a great option to help focus and improve cognition. Matcha is a double hitter when it comes to its effect on mood. It contains caffeine and L-theanine, which can relax the mind without making you drowsy. So if you need a gentle energy boost but don't like the anxious, hyper-energizing effects of pure caffeine, this is an outstanding balance. 

Matcha is a form of powdered green tea that's been growing in popularity by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Often blended hot or cold, it produces a rich, earthy, botanical tea. Its unique and robust texture makes it very satisfying to drink, especially if you're looking for a boost to help you focus and tackle.

Try our Imperial Matcha for a balance of focus and a positive boost to your mood! 

Peppermint Tea 

Looking for a caffeine-free boost to your focus and brain function? Our Peppermint is a wonderfully refreshing, energizing tea. A fresh, herbal drink to give you a natural, caffeine-free boost of energy and clarity can be just what you need to make it through a slow afternoon at work. 

Sometimes to boost focus, you need to remove distractions. Like an upset stomach, stuffy nose, or menstrual cramps! Peppermint tea has been shown to have several excellent potential benefits to your body and mind. It can freshen your breath and even help with digestion after a meal. It's bright, fresh, and full of flavour. Light and refreshing, it leaves a perky, cooling sensation in the mouth. 

Give it a try here, and let us know if peppermint perks you up! 

One last recommendation. A tea for indecision. 

This is our favourite blend to help you decide what tea you're in the mood for. Let the floral, full-bodied flavour of the Jasmine China Green Tea help you focus and decide what mood you're hoping to achieve. It's a great tea for focus, concentration, and decision-making. Its combination of caffeine and L-theanine makes our go-to choice when we need to make a tough decision about which of these amazing mood-altering teas to try. 

If you're overwhelmed by choice, this is the tea for you! 

No matter the mood you’re looking for, there’s a cup of tea to help you get there. Always be mindful of the caffeine content and the nutrition facts. Check for amino acids, nutrients, and vitamins in your tea. They'll point you in the right direction! 

Get More Tea Tips with Similar Posts:

• Why is Herbal Tea so Relaxing & Which Blends Work Best?
• Our 7 Best Loose Leaf Teas for Waking Up Right and Sleeping Soundly
• The Best Tea Alternatives for Coffee (And Why You Should Switch)