There are a number of common herbs used in tea blends and singly as an herbal tea that can increase energy levels. Be aware that some teas labeled “energy teas” owe most of their “boost” to caffeine rather to the action of any particular herbs.

Some herbs commonly used in energy teas include green tea, kombucha, panax ginseng, siberian ginseng (or eleuthero), yerba mate, guarana, noni, astragalus, goji berry, and Oolong (Wu-long) tea.

Green tea is high in antioxidants and is useful for cellular health and has anti-aging properties, and also increases metabolism slightly. For this reason, it is common in diet tea blends.

Kombucha is an adaptogenic herb, meaning that is helps the body deal with stress and helps protect against stress-related illnesses. It is also beneficial for immune function.
Siberian and panax ginseng both increase blood circulation and can improve mental functioning and sexual drive. They are adaptogenic herbs as well and help protect against stress-related illnesses.
Yerba mate is popular in Brazil, Argentina, and other South American countries where it is grown as a drink that replaces coffee or soda. It has a stimulant effect that feels similar to coffee, but for most people is gentler on the stomach.

Guarana is commonly used in weight-control capsule formulations and is a natural source of caffeine. It is also very popular in a variety of energy drinks and soft drinks.

Noni has the reputation of being an excellent energy booster for most people (although the taste can be rather difficult to tolerate, which is why it is often mixed with other herbs when used in a tea form).

Astragalus is an adaptogenic and is helpful for the immune system.

Goji is high in antioxidants and is associated with a wide variety of health benefits, which we will discuss further in a later post. It is sometimes used in weight loss formulas as well.

Oolong (or Wulong) tea has been long used in Asian countries for weight control and has recently become very sought-after in the US for this purpose. We will devote another full post to Oolong in the near future as well.

We hope this general introduction to energy teas has proven informative to our readers. Watch for more information on energy teas, herbal teas for other health concerns, and more. Bookmark us and check back, as we are updating frequently!