3 Surprising Benefits of Making Green Tea Your Signature Work Drink
The high-performance fuel your workday could be missing
Every week, I open my YouTube and podcast episode with an invitation to ‘grab your cup of tea’.
I also mention green tea on my website homepage and in some of my other personal brand bios. Tea, especially green tea, isn’t just a manufactured part of my personal brand. For me, there aren’t enough hours in the day to drink the amount of tea I’d like to.
I’ve been devouring green tea since I was a teenager. Tea is what those who know me, personally and professionally, know is my work drink of choice (unless it’s time for an out-of-hours Shiraz wine, of course).
I’m not alone in my love of tea. The global green tea industry is currently valued at approximately $14.8 billion. And is expected to grow to around $29.3 billion by 2030.
The ancient drink is the second most common drink in the world. It’s behind only water. And yet, coffee culture, born almost two millennia after tea, seems to dominate the traditional corporate sphere. Think morning coffees, coffee runs and catching up over coffee. Realistically, water cooler talks have been replaced by coffee machine chats. Although Gen Z seems to have other ideas (more on this in a minute).
I’ve always loved the taste of teas and generally understood its health benefits. But, it’s only been more recently, that I’ve really discovered the true potential of tea - especially the benefits of green tea. And perhaps, more surprisingly, the unexpected benefits of green tea for my work day.
So, in this blog, I’m spilling the tea on green tea:
The Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is a tea that hasn’t gone through the same oxidisation as black tea. The unfermented tea also hasn’t gone through the same withering processes. So, it contains the highest concentrations of tea’s nutrients.
Green tea is often touted as being one of the healthiest drinks in the world. Gen Z seem to understand this better than most at the moment. A much-welcomed matcha tea trend seems to have infiltrated influencer culture, modelling the way for seemingly healthier drinking habits for the next generation.
There are many different types of green tea. But matcha, for example, is widely considered the healthiest as it’s made from powder derived from the youngest leaves (hence, its green glow). This concentrates its nutritional impact compared to its green tea counterparts.
While the claimed benefits of green tea are vast (including weight loss and reduced inflammation), here are some more direct potential benefits for your workday:
1. Drink away depression
Studies have claimed that drinking just three cups of green tea per week reduced depression by 21%.
Other studies claim drinking four cups of green tea per day reduced depression by 51%.
Much of the mood-lifting qualities of green tea are due in part to the presence of caffeine - which green tea still contains - though in smaller doses compared to its coffee counterpart. For example, it’s said that while coffee contains about 96 milligrams of caffeine per cup, green tea contains 29 milligrams per cup. While there’s much to be cautious about when it comes to caffeine, it also has its benefits. So, drink green tea to get some of the benefits of caffeine in less copious quantities.
2. Sip away stress
The green goodness of green tea is also claimed to help reduce stress. The relaxing effect of green tea is attributed to the L-theanine found in green tea. Green tea also helps to reduce your body’s production of cortisol. As an adaptogen, it helps to regulate your psychological processes. So, feel stimulated when you need to, or keep composed when the time calls for it. Either way, you’ll have your co-workers green with envy over your ability to manage your mood.
3. Fuel your brain
Some studies have shown that green tea may reduce cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults. With some claiming it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. So, use green tea to help keep your brain function flowing at work even as you age.
Tips for drinking green tea
Like all good things, you’ll still need to indulge thoughtfully:
1. Time your tea
Remember, green tea still contains caffeine. So, time your tea for the best times of the day.
Avoid green tea first thing in the morning. It’s said that your body naturally has a cortisol spike for the first couple of hours of the morning to help you wake up. Adding caffeine on top of this disrupts this natural process. Over time, it may make you more resistant to the boost a better-timed green tea can give you.
Due to its caffeine, I personally stop drinking green tea by around 3-4 pm at the latest. Then, I switch to caffeine-free teas like peppermint, camomile or rooibos tea.
2. Consider 4 consistent cups daily
Chinese medicine has recommended drinking green tea for thousands of years. While you might enjoy a cup here and there, consider adding consistent cups to your day. If you have a regular coffee habit already, could you benefit from making the switch to green tea for some cups instead? Ask your doctor or nutritionist what’s best for you personally.
3. Pay attention to the source
China is the biggest exporter of tea globally and is said to account for around 70% of the global green tea market. With such a large quantity of tea, quality will vary. Consider upping your green tea budget to avoid brands heavy in heavy metals and pesticides. Japanese brands account for a much smaller percentage of the market, which is why the teas they export are often more premium choices.
If you’re not going green with green tea already, consider making green tea your signature drink, especially for your work day.
So, what’s your signature work drink?
