1. Indian Black Tea
Indian black teas make a great alternative to coffee, as they brew up dark and strong, have a full body, and are high in caffeine. While Chinese blacks tend to be mellower and more delicate, Indian blacks have a little bite to them, and with about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee, they still pack a punch in terms of morning energy. They are delicious taken black, or with added milk and sugar.
Our Irish Breakfast, a blend of Assam and Tanzanian teas, is a robust breakfast tea that’s sure to please those who are looking for the strength and richness of a cup of coffee, with the added benefits of tea. Irish Breakfast tea leaves are especially fine, and they brew up a strong, dark cup. Our Assam, a rich black tea grown in the Assam region of India and traditionally used in many breakfast blends, is another great option. We also carry a variety of different flavored black teas, including teas like Vanilla Velvet, Masala Chai, and Solstice Spice.
2. Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh teas, like black teas, have about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee, making them another excellent candidate for a morning cup. Unlike black teas, however, pu-erh is lightly fermented, giving it a deep black color and luxurious, earthy taste and texture that’s sure to appeal to those fond of the depth and richness of good coffee. Pu-erh is sourced from the Yunnan province of China, and has a fascinating history stretching back hundreds of years. Pu-erh aficionados often speak of a body high that accompanies drinking this tea, which warms you from the inside out and relaxes both the body and the mind.
At Artful Tea, we carry three different varieties of pu-erh. Our organic Leaf Pu-erh has a rich, mellow, earthy flavor, while our Caramel Pu-erh adds a depth of malty, nutty sweetness to its pu-erh base, and is perfect with a splash of milk. Our Dandy Cinnamon Pu-erh includes dandelion root, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon peel, and has a pleasantly tart, uplifting flavor that warms you from the inside out!
3. Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate is a type of tea made from the leaves and stems of the holly plant ilex paraguariensis and popular throughout South America, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. Mate is high in caffeine, containing almost as much as coffee per cup. Mate is said to contribute to focus, clarity, and alertness, without the jitters that come from drinking too much coffee, making it a great alternative for those looking for a stimulant without adverse side effects. It is traditionally drunk out of a hollow gourd through a straw known as a bombilla, but can also be prepared in the same way as other teas and tisanes.
Our traditional Yerba Mate is a great option for those looking to try mate on its own, with no added ingredients. Our Nutty Mocha Mate is a rich, delicious blend of mate with chocolate and hazelnut, sure to appeal to those with a sweet tooth, while our Lively Lemony Mate is an uplifting, citrus-forward brew that’s sure to start the day off on a great note!
4. Matcha
Grown and produced in Japan, matcha is a powdered green tea. Matcha is delicious taken on its own, and can also be added to lattes, smoothies, and baked goods. Matcha is packed full of health benefits, making it a perfect fit for those looking to reap the health rewards of a concentrated green tea. The shaded growing period common to matcha produces a tea with higher caffeine and theanine levels, giving matcha its unique stimulating and relaxing properties. Because matcha consists of the entire tea leaf ground up into a fine powder, it also has much higher caffeine levels than other types of tea. Some people experience the caffeine present in matcha differently than the caffeine present in coffee, describing it as a calming and invigorating feeling that energizes both the body and mind.
Matcha is a great alternative to those who are looking to switch from coffee to tea, but still want higher caffeine levels along with the many other benefits of good tea. We offer a variety of different matcha products, including ceremonial grade matcha, culinary grade matcha, and even matcha that you can shake up in a water bottle and take with you on the go!
5. Rooibos
If you’re looking to steer clear of caffeine entirely, but still want a warming and soothing cup of tea, rooibos teas are a great alternative to both coffee and other caffeinated teas. Rooibos is native to South Africa’s Western Cape region, where it is still primarily grown today. Dutch for “red bush,” rooibos is sometimes also called red tea or red bush tea. Beloved for its antioxidant properties as well as for its lack of caffeine, rooibos is a great alternative for those looking to move away from caffeinated tea or coffee. Although rooibos is an herbal tea, it has a similar taste and body to that of a black tea, with a bit of additional natural sweetness.
Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, and has a rich, slightly sweet flavor, with a body similar to that of a black tea. We carry a variety of Rooibos teas, from classic unflavored Rooibos to flavored varieties like Earl Grey Rooibos and Vanilla Rooibos.
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Transitioning from Coffee to Tea
You may be interested in switching from coffee to tea for a variety of reasons - maybe you’re trying to consume less caffeine, maybe you’re interested in the many health benefits of loose leaf tea, or maybe you’re just interested in trying something new. Whether you’re looking to move away from coffee entirely, or just want to switch things up every once in a while, tea is a tasty, healthful alternative to coffee, with a wide variety of choices.
If you do decide to give up coffee and replace it with tea, it’s usually a good idea to make the switch gradually, giving your body time to get used to the reduced amount of caffeine. You may also want to stick with highly caffeinated teas at first to make the transition easier and give you the boost you’re used to at the beginning of the day. If you’re just looking to change your routine and try something new, you may want to experiment with traditional breakfast blends, herbal teas, or other kinds of tea such as green teas, white teas, or oolongs. With so many options available, tea can be a wonderful alternative even for committed coffee drinkers!
