Interested in energizing teas with a caffeine kick? Check these out! Our highest-caffeine teas provide not only great flavor, but also a powerful boost of energy. Our recommendation is to go with a tea with up to 80–90 mg of caffeine for the best experience. Here are a few great recommendations for high-caffeine teas, as well as what to look out for!
How Much Is Too Much?
In addition to its profound effects on the brain and nervous system, caffeine is an extremely powerful chemical. Caffeine is the main component of any caffeinated beverage, and, in the right amount, it will keep you awake, alert, and productive.
How does caffeine do this?
Your brain is like a circuit board filled with transistors and delicate circuitry that changes state depending on the current passing through it. Your brain has certain receptors that can fire or relax just as a switch does.
Usually, the firing or “on” state results in stimulation, while the “rest” or “off” state results in relaxation and winding down. In our hypothetical brain circuit, if you zoom in on the area that controls alertness, you will find that the circuits in that area fire and relax under different circumstances.
In the office, several circuits will continuously fire, enabling you to stay focused and alert. However, as you wind down at home, the circuits will gradually cease firing and go into a relaxed state, eventually putting you to sleep.
Here’s where caffeine comes in! After consumption, caffeine enters the brain and binds to certain receptors (or, in our analogy, circuits).
A constant firing of your brain’s circuits causes you to remain awake and alert because it blocks the circuits that control wakefulness, alertness, and focus. Increasing the amount of caffeine you consume or consuming it more frequently increases its potency.
But how much is too much?
According to many health agencies, adults should not consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. As a result, you should limit yourself to drinking 3–4 cups of tea (each with 80–90 mg of caffeine) per day. There are several options available for not just a daily caffeine fix, but also great taste!
Buyer’s Guide For Highest Caffeine Teas
Buying a highly caffeinated tea requires you to look out for the following:
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Caffeine content per cup
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Tea bags vs. loose leaf
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Quality of Leaf
Total Caffeine Per Cup
A high-caffeine tea’s caffeine level per cup is the most important factor to consider. The amount of caffeine that you will receive in each serving will not be listed on the packaging, but look around the packaging for either a visual indication or a direct reference to the amount in milligrams (mg). If available, look for a strength indicator on the label. This will indicate the strength of the tea.
One dot is considered low caffeine (around 20–40 mg) while three to five dots are considered high caffeine (around 90–130 mg per cup).If you are taking a strong blend that goes up to around 130 mg per serving, we strongly recommend that you consume only about 2–3 cups per day. Remember: caffeine can cause a lot of unwanted symptoms!
In addition to keeping you awake for longer, it also directly affects your heart health and can affect your digestive system, causing a range of separate symptoms.
Loose Leaf Vs Tea Bag
There are two main types of tea available: bagged and loose. You should use loose leaves and a quality tea strainer or infuser if you are old school and like to brew your tea carefully.Since tea bags eliminate the need for clean-up and are highly convenient, they are a godsend for many people.
It’s as simple as adding the tea bag to a cup and letting the leaves steep in hot water for a few minutes to get hot tea instantly!
Making large batches of tea with tea bags can be tedious, and it isn’t the traditional way to brew tea leaves, which is why some purists abhor it (especially during guests’ visits).
Choose the right type of tea for your daily needs, no matter what your reasons are. It is better to choose loose tea leaves if you want to steep and brew your own tea, or if you make large batches of tea.
Leaf Quality
It is important to make sure that you are getting the most value from your tea, regardless of what type you choose. The problem with cheap tea is that it will contain shredded tea leaves, whether in a bag or loose form. The more the tea leaves are processed, the more their inherent quality and flavor is lost.
In general, if you buy a highly processed tea, you aren’t going to get good quality leaves – sneaky manufacturers might even mask the flavor of the tea by adding unnecessary chemicals and stabilizers! Ensure the packaging is detailed and select manufacturers with a great reputation so you get the best experience.
Highest Caffeine Teas
We have listed our top recommendations for high-quality, high-caffeine teas now that you know all about high-caffeine teas and what to look for.
1. Tazo Green Tea – Energize High Caffeine
Our first green tea option is one of the most classic. With these tea bags, you’ll enjoy a refreshing ginger, guarana, and green tea flavor, as well as a high level of caffeine to get your day started. Tea leaves in each bag aren’t as processed as other options on the market, resulting in a smooth brewing experience and a high-quality taste.
2. Tiesta Tea Energizer
With this premium black tea, you will benefit from the high caffeine content and subtle flavors you won’t find in cheaper brands. Our recommendation is to look into these premium loose tea leaves if you don’t like tea bags. You can steep them in warm water whenever you feel fatigued and enjoy a quick cup!
3. Tiesta Tea – Passion Berry Jolt
For anyone who enjoys premium flavored tea, this is a great option. You can notice the quality of this tea simply by looking at the leaves. It has a subtle hint of berry flavor mixed with a classic earthy and nutty tea flavor.
Furthermore, this product comes in a recyclable and reusable airtight container designed to keep the tea leaves fresh for a longer period of time. The container fits in your bag, so you can make high-caffeine tea wherever you are!
4. Tiesta Tea – Chai Love
If you’re a fan of chai like we are, then you’ll absolutely love this tea flavor! By providing a spiced blend of high-grade tea leaves, Tiesta brings yet another excellent tea flavor made from premium loose tea leaves. In many Asian tea varieties, you’d normally find a layer of spiciness to complement the natural flavors. Every cup of this tea is guaranteed to contain high levels of caffeine, and you can conveniently store the leaves in the airtight container included!
5. Tazo Tea Bags High-Caffeine Earl Grey
We can’t recommend this tea highly enough if you enjoy keeping your morning tea traditional. With every cup, you’ll feel a jolt of caffeine from premium tea leaves (in tea bags). Among familiar flavors, you’ll also find earthy and floral notes! A great thing about this tea is that it’s a perfect and convenient option for people who want to have a personalized cup every day.
6. Celestial Seasonings Black Tea – Morning Thunder
Be prepared to be blown away! Morning Thunder tea is roasted specifically to provide you with all the energy you need to get through the day. This tea is made from premium, carefully roasted tea leaves and has all the classic black tea flavors without being too bitter or acidic. Unlike other brands, Celestial Seasonings offers only the finest blend made from traditional South American botanicals.
7. Tiesta Tea – Earl Grey de la Crème
The classic flavor of Earl Grey, infused with hints of vanilla, makes this tea blend nothing short of brilliant! That’s right – now you can make a creamy black tea blend that tastes great as well as contains high-quality caffeine that will boost your mental and physical health. With these premium loose tea leaves, you can steep large batches of tea without having to deal with multiple tea bags!
8. Elevate Tea ENGLISH BREAKFAST BLACK TEA
It is sometimes better to keep things simple – if you enjoy your tea strong and simple, then we recommend you try this blend. A traditional black tea designed to wake up people who need a kick in the morning.
Unlike other black teas, this black tea contains no additional flavors, chemicals, stabilizers, or preservatives – you just get a simple cup of black tea that can also serve as a great base for other caffeinated beverages.
9. Celestial Seasonings Black Energy Tea
Green tea contains as much caffeine as coffee! We recommend you check out this pack of tea bags if you love high-quality green tea – each one has been crafted with precision and quality to deliver a refreshing cup every time! Don’t worry about fancy steeping strategies, just add one tea bag to a cup, pour in hot water, and steep for five minutes.
Using the tea bag and leaves properly will ensure that there will be no flavor or caffeine loss during the brewing process. There is no need to continuously dunk the tea bag and cause spills.
10. Tiesta Tea – Superior Matcha – High Caffeine
For those looking for something more than their usual cup of Earl Grey in the morning, matcha is a great natural option. Our premium-grade matcha is made from premium Japanese tea leaves and is specifically designed for people who enjoy strong-tasting matcha with a moderate caffeine kick.
This powder is made through a superior blending process, which makes it easier to dissolve and steep. If you prefer, you can also use it to make a variety of delicious, matcha-flavored, caffeinated beverages at home.
11. PG Tips Extra Strong Black Tea Pyramid
This tea truly lives up to its “extra strong” label, unlike other low-quality products. The 40 pyramid-shaped tea bags are designed to help you brew high-quality tea quickly without having to wait or squeeze out the flavors from the bag.
You will get all the energy you need to power through your day with each bag of premium-grade tea leaves! If you are seeking a beverage that keeps you focused at the desk, or on the field, then we highly recommend checking out this tea.