While many people enjoy their daily cup or two of coffee, there are also some reasons why you might want to cut back. Perhaps you worry that you are consuming too much, it makes you feel jittery and anxious, or you just want to be able to wake up without it. Whatever the reason may be, consider these seven alternative options to help you get energized.

Green Tea

Green tea is often touted for its health benefits, and it also has an earthy taste many people find pleasant, even when unsweetened. It does contain caffeine but substantially less than a typical cup of coffee, helping to prevent the jitters. The trick to a good cup of green tea is to only steep the tea for a few minutes, or it can start to have a bitter and astringent taste.

Matcha Tea

Matcha is a bright green powder made from grinding up young green tea leaves. Like green tea, it contains some caffeine for that energizing boost, and it is full of amino acids and antioxidants as well. Because the entire leaf is ground up and used in the tea, matcha tea also provides a bit of fibre. It has a sweet and earthy flavour with no bitterness.

Peppermint Tea

If you are hoping to kick caffeine entirely, then peppermint tea is a great place to start. The cool, minty taste is very refreshing, helping you feel more awake. Plus, unlike having to deal with coffee breath, peppermint is a natural breath freshener. Peppermint is an easy herb to grow yourself as well.

Lemon Water

The bright and sour taste of lemon juice is a great way to wake yourself right up. When diluted with water, it makes for an enjoyable drink that many also use to aid in digestion. Get the taste just right by squeezing anywhere from a lemon wedge to a whole lemon into a cup of water and using as little or as much sugar as you like.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is the ultimate refreshment. It is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and many more important nutrients. It also helps to replenish the body’s electrolytes, making it the drink of choice after exercise or on a sweltering day. Coconut water is commonly used in energizing smoothies as well.

Chai Tea

Chai tea is a popular South Asian beverage made of black tea and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The black tea provides a small caffeine boost, and the spices invigorate the senses. The creaminess of chai tea can also trick your brain into thinking you are drinking coffee, making it a fantastic replacement for your morning cup.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a gentle drink that delivers calming energy without the jitters. It is brewed using tea but contains less caffeine than a typical cup of tea. The fizziness of the drink also provides a little pick-me-up, and the probiotics can help keep your gut bacteria in balance as well.

Kicking a coffee habit or lowering your intake is a lot easier with the right substitutes. While you might still crave a good, strong cup of coffee sometimes, these seven alternatives offer an energizing boost that can help make you less reliant on the java.