We’ve spoken here about gourmet loose-leaf tea as the perfect pairing for a meditation session thanks to calming and centering properties. Naturally, similar properties may lend themselves to focus and concentration. And since it’s officially back-to-school season (and back to work for those of us who had a pretty leisurely summer), concentration just might be the element we need the most help with.
Each autumn, there’s no lack of chatter on the issue of concentration; being able to focus is a huge challenge for many children, older students, and working adults. Overstimulation follows us from screen to screen, and elsewhere in our daily lives, while some suffer from just the opposite. Being able to stay centered and zeroed in, whether on a task or on ourselves, is critical to our productivity. Of course, there are countless medicinal and physical remedies for this—some more holistic than others. But we’d say a cup of Heavenly Tea Leaves or two a day would be a great place to start.
Get on the Beam
While we’ve suggested teas for getting your energy going before, improving focus is a whole different ball game. There are a few types of tea that may help get the party started when it comes to concentration. When it comes to picking the best ones for focus, we’ve done the work so you don’t have to. Read on for the best tuning-in teas.
Matcha & Green Tea
Whether you’re drinking our premium organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha powder, or a more delicate green tea like Organic Just Green, going green means you’re making an excellent choice to keep your mind on-task. Thanks to a steady, moderate, and jitter-free stream of caffeine, your brain won’t run out of steam after a cup of either one of these. Their high L-theaninine content means “improved concentration and alertness,” according to Harvard Health. In addition, we’re looking at studies that have demonstrated “enhanced task performance, vitality scores, and relaxation scores.” Sounds pretty much ideal to us.
Yerba Mate
If you’re looking to stay on track mentally, it’s worth trying something new. Known for its earthy, mineraly, and woody flavor profile, this South American sip is super-high in caffeine, making it a great green tea alternative. Plus, according to Healthline, “Caffeine can also affect the levels of certain signaling molecules in your brain, making it particularly beneficial for your mental focus. Additionally, those who regularly consume yerba mate often report that it enhances alertness like coffee but without the jittery side effects.” Given that this one is just as delicious hot as is does iced, it may just be your new year-round solution.
Black Tea
Nothing beats tradition. That’s why the classic black tea is perfect for lending a pep to your step—spefically when it comes to memory and executive function. Black tea serves to perk us up. UCLA Health agrees: “Unlike some other types of tea, black tea has caffeine—about half the amount in coffee. It also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. The combination helps with alertness and focus. While caffeine on its own can induce a more jittery energy, the addition of L-theanine in black tea produces a stable and level type of energy.” While any Assam tea from our collection will do, we especially love Earl Grey for its bergamot flavoring, reminiscent of a Southern Italian summer. P.S. We use bergamot oil in ours for superior ingredients and flavor.
Peppermint
Need a zesty pick-me-up? Bright and vibrant, Heavenly Tea Leaves’ Peppermint is our go-to when it comes to poor focus due to lackluster energy levels. Altough it's caffeine free, this mint has been shown to boost memory and cognitive performance in some studies. With its origins in Oregon, this high-quality herbal tea, devoid of caffeine, is called supreme for a reason—its flavor is exceptionally refreshing, and it delivers an unmatched cooling effect, which is a nice bonus. Heavenly Tea Leaves also offers another, smaller batch blend, Peppermint Supreme, which is a regenerative organic peppermint from a family farm. This one is from Oregon, too, meaning it lends a superior taste to an already high-quality option.
Stay Sipping and Doing
There are all kinds of causes that lead to the inability to concentrate properly, from lack of energy to high stress. In any case, a fizzling-out memory is no fun, and it’s important that we stay on top of all the tasks we intend to do—including concentrating on our inner selves. Depending on which of these is challenging you, you can play around with a “cocktail” of teas and come to discover your back-to-school fall favorites!
