If you’re ready for a coffee alternative, these natural tea options are for you!
No matter your reason for wanting to switch up your coffee routine, I think we can all agree that it’s the ritual of making coffee that we miss the most. Coffee has become a sacred part of our culture, but overconsumption of high amounts of caffeine has left some of us feeling anxious, tired, and restless.
Tea and herbs are a much gentler way to deliver our body and mind energy, without the jitters of coffee.
3 Tea Alternatives to Coffee
There are plenty of natural ways to boost your energy and immunity through plants. Try these three teas for a clear, wild energizing start to your morning.
Matcha Tea
Matcha has regained popularity in the past decade, and for a good reason! Powdered green Matcha tea contains 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. Wowza! It also helps enhance concentration, lower blood sugar levels, and calm the mind.
Although Matcha does contain some caffeine, it doesn’t have as much as coffee and the caffeine release is gentler without spikes and crashes.. Many people describe the effects of matcha as a calming focus and alertness.
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- a cup hot water
- ¼ tsp ashwagandha** (optional)
Directions: Add matcha powder to your mug with 1 tbsp hot water, maple syrup, and ashwagandha (if adding in). Whisk with a bamboo whisk until the matcha is combined well, making a paste. Add the rest of the water and stir.
Chyawanprash Tea
Chyawanprash has been consumed for over 2,000 years to boost overall health and vitality. This ancient herbal jam contains many of the most popular spices found in traditional chai tea, such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and pepper, as well as a variety of superfood ingredients, like ashwagandha, bacopa, and ghee. What makes Chyawanprash such an excellent alternative to coffee is the fact that it doesn’t contain caffeine, and instead, uses adaptogenic herbs to help gently boost energy and make you more resistant to stress.
Enjoy PIOR Living’s Chyawanprash by licking off a spoon, or you can also add it to hot water as a coffee alternative.
- 1 tsp PIOR Living Chyawanprash
- ½ cup hot water
- Optional: ½ cup warm goat or plant-based milk (oat, almond, coconut)
Add water (and milk) to a pot and heat until a slow simmer. Pour into a mug and add Chyawanprash.
Digestive Tea
Keeping our digestion healthy is essential for overall health. Try this caffeine-free tea first thing in the morning to kickstart your digestive health for the whole day.
- 4 cups of water
- dash of cayenne
- a handful of ginger, minced
- 1 tsp rock salt
- 1/2 lime
Add water, cayenne, ginger, and rock salt to a pot. Boil on medium for 15 minutes; about 1/2 will burn off. Take the pot off the heat and let cool. Add 1/2 lime juice and add 2 tbsp of honey (don’t add the honey to boiling water, wait until it cools)
Recipe from Ayurvedic Institute
Clare Michalik, Ayurvedic Practitioner
