We all find ourselves in a bad mood sometimes but instead of letting yourself stew, try a new brew! Whenever you’re feeling sad, anxious, tired, or upset, a cup of tea is a quick and healthy way to boost your mood.
Like a nostalgic color-changing mood ring, a comforting cuppa can be just what you need to help evaluate and adjust your mood — only with real results. We already know that tea is delicious, but we figured out exactly how it affects your mood and which teas you should be drinking for every mood.
Sips by is a personalized tea discovery subscription. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more here.
HOW TEA IMPACTS YOUR MOOD
Are you wondering how a simple beverage like tea can actually have a noticeable impact on your body and mood? We know it might seem too good to be true, so here’s the (scientific) tea behind the buzz!
Caffeine
The caffeine in tea not only boosts your mood but also your productivity because the healthy kick of caffeine makes you feel more alert while improving your cognition and focus. A cup or two of caffeinated tea is the perfect way to start your day or have an afternoon pick me up that won’t leave you with a jittery crash.
L-theanine
When you drink green or black tea, there’s a natural dopamine boost brought on by the amino acid l-theanine present in the tea. The l-theanine in tea naturally relaxes and balances out your mood, so it’s the effect of this amino acid that cancels out and calms any jittery side effects the higher levels of caffeine in tea would otherwise cause you.
Aromatherapy
The aromatherapeutic properties in fragrant teas such as lavender, mint, chamomile, rose, and lemon balm enhances and even aids in producing a calm and tranquil mood. Next time you’re feeling down, try steeping and savoring a fragrant tea — it’s basically a whiff of happiness in a cup!
Adenosine
Typically, adenosine sends a sedative signal to the brain which triggers the sensation of tiredness in our bodies. However, research shows that drinking tea temporarily blocks adenosine receptors from signaling to your brain that you’re tired, increasing your overall energy instead. It’s important to remember that while this is a fantastic way to give your body a short-term boost of energy, it does not replace the restorative effects of a good night’s sleep.
Antioxidants
Finally, tea is full of powerful antioxidants that protect the cells in our bodies from activating the harmful chain reaction of free radicals, ultimately reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, blood clots, and more!
TEAS TO DRINK FOR EVERY MOOD
The right cup of tea can turn your day around if you’re feeling gloomy, grumpy, sleepy, or stressed and help enhance your mood if you’re feeling mysterious, cheerful, reflective, and even romantic. Trust us, if you’re feeling it, there’s a tea you can steep for it! So here’s a quick list of which teas to drink when you want a boost to alleviate negative moods or help achieve positive moods.
SAD
Price: $10
Feeling blue? Brighten Up with OFFBLAK’s herbal tea with ginger & forest fruits designed to rejuvenate you with exciting flavor! Naturally containing antioxidants, this tea is designed to help you glow from the inside, out.
GRUMPY
Price: $10
Happy - Uplifting Tea by teapigs is an uplifting blend of turmeric, apple, and lemon balm - historically drunk to support mood and wellbeing. Good if you're feeling a little grumpy.
TIRED
Price: $8
Looking for a quick and healthy energy boost? Energize by Davidson’s Organic Teas is a fruity yerba mate and green tea blend with a robust, earthy base that's meant to boost energy levels and provide balanced rejuvenation.
ANXIOUS
Price: $15
Need to relax? Chill out with this fruity caffeine-free Tulsi Tranquility tea by DAVIDSTEA. It’s overflowing with uber calming ingredients like rosehips, rose petals, strawberries and tulsi, aka holy basil – a sweet and aromatic herb thought to relieve anxiety and stress.
Whimsical
Price: $15
Blended with herbs said to attract and please the faeries, The Witchwood Teahouse Faerie tea is a joyfully uplifting blend that is truly magical. This tea changes color each time you brew it, so you’ll never brew the same cup twice! While the pleasant floral and subtle white tea flavors remain consistent the color of this whimsical tea will change from golden to dark grey-purple.
Humorous
Price: $11
Chariteas' Laughing Lemon Yerba Mate is an energizing and fun herbal blend. The grassy flavors yerba mate meet the bright sweet qualities of a lemon drop. Said to boast many healthful properties, yerba mate will give a smooth caffeine boost. You can enjoy Laughing Lemon in many ways: hot, over ice, as the liquid in a smoothie, or steeped with your favorite sweetener.
Romantic
Price: $15
Steeped with love, Sugar Cookie Sweetheart by Cookie Tea is a vanilla sugar cookie rooibos tea blend that includes sweet pink heart sprinkles. The rooibos tea base adds a touch of natural warmth to comforting notes of vanilla and white cocoa for a cup that is reminiscent of freshly baked treats, lazy weekend mornings, and handwritten notes.
Reflective
Price: $12
A cup of tea is a lovely ritual to induce a calm and clear mind, perfect for reflection and creative activities such as journaling. We recommend Total Recall by Thésaurus Tea for a brew that’s sure to help set your senses straight and ignite your mind to its greatest potential. This original tea blends silky oolong, piquant peppermint, zesty orange, and feisty turmeric.
Happy
Price: $8
A treat on the good days and the bad, it’s impossible to feel down when drinking a tea with a purpose! Bee the Change by DAVIDsTEA is good for you and the bees in the ecosystem, as 10% of the proceeds are donated to The Bee Conservancy. Embrace the invigorating powers of this vibrant floral honey rooibos! Strewn with defense-boosting echinacea, naturally sweet honeybush and aromatic rose, clover and marigolds, it’s a soothing caffeine-free infusion you’ll love to sip both hot and iced.
WELLNESS TEA SHOP
Explore the Wellness Tea Shop.
Discover new wellness teas for you to enjoy, feel better, and more relaxed.. Shop caffeine-free teas, herbal teas, and more. Explore our latest tea collections meant to help your overall wellness in areas like skin health, energy, digestions, and sore throats. Explore these and more in the new Wellness Tea Shop!
Interested in trying these teas and others? Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription box or explore the loose leaf tea shop.
About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate.