Mix up your morning while retaining your caffeine kick.
For many of us, coffee is an essential part of our morning routine. It tastes great, warms us up and – most importantly – wakes us up. If you’re looking for some variation in your mornings, or just want to consume less caffeine, there are plenty of alternatives you can try that will still give you a boost.
Globally regarded as one of the healthiest drinks you can get, green tea has a natural, leafy flavour that sits halfway between sweet and savoury. With about 30 milligrams of caffeine per cup, compared to coffee’s 196 milligrams, it’ll give you a smooth boost without the jitters.
If you’re after more of a kick, chai has roughly twice the caffeine content of green tea at 60 milligrams per cup. It has a cinnamon-like flavour and it smells great – perfect for anyone with a bit of a sweet tooth.
Black tea has a similar caffeine level to chai, sitting at around 57 milligrams per cup. Flavour wise, black tea’s bitter and earthy qualities make it more suitable for those who enjoy coffee’s dark taste.
A concentrated green tea powder, matcha has around 85 milligrams of caffeine per cup and a much more intense flavour. With matcha, you’re literally drinking ground tea leaves mixed with hot water, although some powders are infused with sweet flavours to dull the bitter edge. Matcha’s intense taste and high caffeine dosage combine nicely to give you a boost when you need it.
One of the most effective ways to get your heart rate going in the morning is with a run or a gym session. This is a great way to gather your thoughts before a busy day, energise and relieve stress.
If you’re after something cold and refreshing, kombucha is a great option. The fermentation process creates probiotics that are great for your stomach, and it contains small amounts of caffeine to help give you a kick in the morning. There’s a wide range of flavours on the market, and most have very low amounts of sugar.
Popular in South America, yerba mate has a strong, bitter taste and a good amount of caffeine, hitting you like a coffee at just over 100 milligrams a cup. It’s typically consumed from a gourd, but lasts well in a thermos at your desk throughout the day.
If all else fails, there’s always decaf.
Caffeine levels based on a 285ml cup.
