Last year I quit coffee and high-caffeine “energy drinks” because it put me on a weird rollercoaster energy cycle that just was not conducive to a steady stream of productivity. I switched almost exclusively to tea for caffeine and used alternatives like cocoa, guayusa and red ginseng to get the job done. Tea has a […]
Tea (Camellia sinensis)
The leaf of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is often used to awaken and stimulate thanks to its mild caffeine content and contains many beneficial health properties.
Tea leaves are the source of the non-essential amino acid L-theanine that is taken in isolation for its calming and focus-enhancing properties when combined with caffeine. This may explain why many people switch to tea or caffeine and theanine capsules from coffee as their daily pick-me-up notice they feel energetic but not jittery or anxious.
Tea leaves are also a fantastic source of tannins and anti-oxidants such as EGCG that may enhance metabolism and health.
Guayusa: a natural Amazonian caffeinated brew
A week ago I acquired 2 lbs. of guayusa and have been drinking it frequently since then, in between my bouts with green tea. I had been interested in this stuff since it was compared to yerba mate and thought it would be great to try. For those who don’t know, guayusa is a […]
