Can Tea Help with Focus and Productivity?
September is here and that means back to school! For both parents, kids, and kids going off to college, this can be an extremely stressful time of year. There’s books, clothes, and school supplies to buy. College students need to pick and register for their classes. Morning commutes are getting more jammed up, now that everyone’s back from vacation and buses are back on the road.
Adjusting to new schedules and getting back to routines after a relaxed summer can be hard and often detracts from our focus and productivity.
People around the world know that consuming caffeine first thing in the morning can provide a nearly immediate energy and focus boost. And while some teas have less caffeine than coffee, others can actually have more. Black, green, and white teas all have caffeine, ranging from 47 to 90 grams of caffeine for an 8 ounce cup. By comparison, brewed coffee typically has about 95 grams of caffeine, but can have more or less depending on the roast and brewing method.
Now, you might think: I need as much caffeine as possible to feel awake and focused. But the problem here is that, while coffee has more caffeine, it can disrupt your sleep. One study found that while people experience boosts to alertness and cognition, coffee consumption can cause poor sleep quality. Tea, however, provides the same or similar levels of alertness, but without degrading your sleep.
It’s Not Just about Caffeine
Caffeine can certainly perk you up, but it turns out there are other compounds in tea that can improve cognition and mental clarity. In fact, there are two other types of stimulants in tea: theobromine and theophylline. Theobromine makes breathing easier while speeding up your heart rate, while theophylline improves blood flow. Additionally, the amino acid L-theanine acts similarly to caffeine in that it is a stimulant, but it promotes a state of mind known as “alert relaxation.”
Which Teas to Drink for Maximum Focus?
As mentioned, black, green, and white teas all contain these compounds that promote mental acuity and clarity, helping us to feel awake and aware. Here are three teas we’ve developed that will have you up and at ‘em!
Great Rise (black tea): The perfect morning blend, offering a heady mix of malty sweetness and warming spice.
Earl Grey Green (green tea): Smooth and tangy bergamot mixed with bright citrus make this green tea a pure delight any time of day.
White Peach Passion (white tea): Who wouldn’t want to wake up to the smell of hibiscus, rose hip, and peaches?
If the start of the school year has given you mind fog, now’s the perfect time to brew up a nice cup of tea to wake up your brain! Explore all our flavors.
