We have known for a long time that our bodies have different needs depending on the time of day and the activities we do. If we meet these needs in the right way, we can maximize our productivity and, above all, significantly improve our well-being. The timing of certain activities and what our menu looks like affect key processes in the body: healthy sleep, proper digestion or brain function. Drinks that are intended to stimulate us, namely coffee and tea, also fit into this scheme. So, when is the best time to drink green tea, so as to fully benefit from its properties?
Black vs. green tea
At the very beginning, it is worth noting that these two types of tea actually differ in the production process, not in the species of plant from which they are extracted. However, this is an important difference, as it influences the effects of these drinks on our body. Black tea is fermented, which makes the brew taste more intense. However, by drinking it, we introduce less stimulating theine into our body than in the case of green tea.
Green tea is pressed and dried immediately after harvesting, which gives it freshness and tenderness. Containing more theine, it also contains L-theanine, which is responsible for the steady distribution of theine in the blood. Thanks to this effect, we feel a surge of energy, the level of which remains stable for a longer period of time, without the effect of a quick stimulation that runs out just as quickly.
In the morning or in the evening?
Since we already know that green tea has a more subtle effect on the body, one might assume that it doesn’t matter exactly when we drink it. In fact, the recommendations for consuming this infusion are much less restrictive than, for example, in the case of coffee, which, if drunk even a few hours before bedtime, can disrupt our rest. However, it is worth remembering that drinking green tea will also have a stimulating effect on the brain, so it is best to stick to the safe limit of two hours before going to bed. The afternoon is about as safe part of the day, and you can confidently serve yourself the first cup shortly after arriving at work, provided that two hours have already passed since breakfast. Why does it matter though?
Green tea and meals
The answer to the question “drink before or after a meal?” is: not on an empty stomach, but also not immediately after eating. Green tea drunk first thing in the morning can negatively affect digestion – the mucous membrane of an empty stomach does not always respond well to the powerful antioxidants contained in the brew. Green tea should also not be drunk with a meal or immediately after eating. The best health effects, including, of course, speeding up metabolism, will be achieved by taking four-hour breaks between meals and brewing green tea exactly in the middle of such a slot, i.e. two hours after eating. It should also be remembered that green tea is not to be sipped with medicines or supplements.
Green tea vs. matcha
Most of the rules for drinking green tea also apply to matcha, a drink made from powdered tea leaves. However, matcha works best consumed during the first half of the day, as one serving contains about 68 mg of caffeine, which will be released gradually over several hours after drinking.
As for meals, on the other hand, it is worth knowing that matcha can also be a tasty and healthy addition to desserts. It will retain its stimulating properties if you choose sweet offerings prepared cold: at temperatures low enough not to affect the substances contained in the leaves. In pastries, however, it works well as an extra ingredient that adds an interesting flavour.
All in all, the best time to drink green tea or matcha seems to be the first half of the day at work – when we are past breakfast and have several hours of maximum productivity ahead of us.
