Best Fasting Teas and Tea Tips for Best Health

Last Updated on February 22, 2023 by Avia

Over the years, fasting and intermittent fasting (IF) have become popular ways to detox, lose weight, and promote overall wellness. It’s believed that fasting can help your body heal and rid itself of toxins and waste. But, when done incorrectly or too frequently, it can do more harm than good. One way to ensure you get the most out of your fast is by drinking tea. Certain fasting teas have ultra-powerful herbs which can help support your body in marvelous ways.  From boosting energy and enhancing detoxification processes to reducing inflammation or improving mood – I can tell you firsthand that fasting teas have revolutionized my health immensely.  

So, I thought it might be a good idea to share my story as well as share some research I’ve done about the best teas for fasting and my experience with using teas during intermittent fasting.  So, get your tea kettles on the hot plate, sit back, and enjoy these fresh insights into different fasting teas, how to prepare them, tips on IF teas and more!

Avia’s Introduction to Intermittent Fasting and Fasting Teas

A few months ago, I succumbed to a perfect storm of health problems.  Much to my chagrin (and significant physical discomfort), I found myself agonizing over a trifecta of ailments – one of which was a hellish bout of colitis.  I’m not a fan of traditional medicine, but after five weeks of mind-boggling pain, I went to the emergency room since my holistic practices weren’t providing relief.  Long story short, the ER doctor put me on a clear liquid diet for three days.  Thus, I was introduced to the wonderful, magical world of fasting teas.

Now, I’m no stranger to tea.  In fact, it’s my go-to hot beverage, and I even prefer it over coffee. I’ve even been known to do some pretty revealing tea leaf readings in my decades-long experience as a spiritual consultant.  However, I was clueless about being on a liquid diet.  After three days of doctor-prescribed clear liquid diet, I started feeling much better.  I also lost weight.  Granted, that is absolutely not the way I wanted to shed those extra pounds I’ve been carrying around – but it got me thinking about fasting teas, and intermittent fasting.

My niece dropped a significant amount of weight on intermittent fasting (IF), and so did my mom.  As I was already on a detox roll, I thought I would give it a shot too.  Today, I’m happy to report tremendously pleasing results.  How much weight have I lost with fasting teas and intermittent fasting?  I can’t say, because I don’t weigh.  However, I can say that I can fit into a pair of jeans that have been shoved in the back of the closet for two years for fear the buttons would blow out if I tried them on at my original weight before eating leaner, cleaner, and fasting with teas.

What Are Fasting Teas?

Essentially, they are just regular teas – but they are being consumed while fasting.  Just about any tea on the market can be used as a fasting tea – as long as they do not have additives such as sweeteners.  I’ve found some teas better for fasting than others.  This article is intended to outline which teas have worked in my health & beauty routine and help you make better choices if you are new to fasting teas or drinking tea for optimal health.

Can You Drink Tea While Fasting (Hint, YES!)

Yes, you can drink tea while fasting! In fact, tea is a great way to help you stay hydrated while fasting. Just be sure to choose a tea that is caffeine-free and devoid of any added sugars or sweeteners. Herbal teas are a great option for those who are looking to fast.  

There is a caveat, however.  If you’re fasting or intermittent fasting – you can’t add anything to your fasting teas.  So, skip the milk, creamer, sugar, honey, or sweeteners.  Just straight tea.  Why? Because tea has no calories, but the stuff we might be tempted to add to tea does.  And as you probably know, adding calories while fasting is breaking the cardinal IF rules.

Why Would You Want to Use Fasting Teas?

The best fasting teas are made with all-natural ingredients like herbs and spices, and they can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and curbing your appetite.

Plus, fasting teas can also help detoxify your body, improve your digestion, and increase your energy levels. If you’re looking for a healthy way to lose weight and improve your overall health, then fasting teas are a great companion to your detox, weight-loss, or IF endeavors.

How Tea Can Boost Your Intermittent Fasting Results

If you’re looking to boost your intermittent fasting results, adding tea to your diet can help. Tea is a natural source of caffeine (at least black & green teas are), which can help increase energy and focus during your fast. It also contains antioxidants that can improve metabolism and protect against cell damage. Green tea, in particular, has been shown to boost fat burning and promote weight loss.

If you’re new to intermittent fasting, start by incorporating one cup of tea into your daily routine. As you become more comfortable with the practice, you can increase the number of cups you drink per day. Just be sure to listen to your body and stop if you start feeling lightheaded or nauseous.

Oh, and this brings me to the prerequisite public service announcement, which is sadly necessary to convey in this day and age.  That is to say – please don’t take any of this article I’ve written as medical advice.  I am not promoting fasting teas, fasting, or IF.  I’m just telling you my experience and results.  Consult with your medical professionals, holistic practitioners and/or nutritionists before changing your diet or taking fasting teas. 

Health Benefits of Tea

When it comes to health benefits, tea is in a league of its own. Tea has been shown to improve heart health, increase weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of cancer, and boost cognitive function. Here are some of the most impressive health benefits of tea:

Immunity Defense

Tea is packed with antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage and may reduce your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

Heart Health

Drinking tea has been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

Weight Loss

Tea may also aid in weight loss by helping you burn more calories and improving your metabolism.

Balancing Properties

Tea consumption has been associated with lower cholesterol levels and improved blood sugar control, both of which are important for heart health.  Additionally, some teas can help soothe cranky digestive issues (like the colitis I had), which is key in keeping a balanced, healthy gut.

Better Mood

Some teas contain caffeine, which can help improve mental alertness, energy and focus. In addition, theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves, has been shown to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness.

Types of Fasting Teas

There are many teas that can be helpful when fasting, and the following are some of the best options available.

Green Tea

Teas for the green family are a great choice for fasting because it helps to boost metabolism and increase energy levels. It also contains antioxidants that can help to protect the body from damage during a fast. I like green tea for its mild yet bright flavor. It has an earthy kind of taste, and that verdant essence of green is a big perk – at least for my palette.  

Originally enjoyed in China thousands of years ago, green tea retains its color because it isn’t oxidized (not exposed to oxygen). This results in a vibrant, bright taste, and being unoxidized also gives the human body the ability to absorb more of its antioxidants as compared to oxidized tea (such as black tea).

Black Tea

This type of tea is the highest in caffeine content.  Therefore, it’s often a good replacement for coffee if you are seeking a fasting tea for a bolt of caffeine while replacing your regular cup of joe.  Black tea can also carry strong, punchy flavors, but it doesn’t have a “punch you out” bitterness that comes with coffee.  So, it doesn’t really need added stuff like creamer or sugar like some coffees in order to cut the acidy, acrid taste.  

Black tea is another good option for fasting, as it can help to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. Black tea also has numerous health benefits, including improved digestion and decreased risk of heart disease.  

White Tea

Super-low in caffeine, delicate-tasting, and freshy-fresh flavors – white tea is another excellent tea for fasting.  What sets white tea apart from its counterparts is that tea leaves are plucked when they are just young leaves or wee buds.  

You can really taste that youth in every sip (at least, I think so). It is very low in calories and contains antioxidants that can help to detoxify the body. White tea also has numerous other health benefits, including improved skin health and reduced risk of cancer.

Herbal Teas

While I love black teas, I like to add a little cream to them.  For me, that scratches them off my list of fasting teas because that cream will break the no-calorie fast rule.  So, herbal teas are also a great option for fasting.  They can help soothe the digestive system and provide various other health benefits. 

Herbal teas are in the “clear liquid” category, so they really saved my bacon when I was on that three-day clear liquid diet during my health scare.  These teas are diverse and come in a dizzying array of flavors.  They are typically light, aromatic, sometimes flowery, and – well – herby tasting. Some of the best herbal teas for fasting include chamomile, ginger, lavender, and peppermint.  

Rooibos (Red Tea)

Okay, you got me. Rooibos isn’t technically a tea at all, but it’s worth a mention here for it’s powerful health-boosting properties (and it’s super-delicious too).  Rooibos is a red tea made from the leaves of a shrub (known as aspalathus linearis) found in South Africa.  

This unique type of tea is, in my mind, bursty.  Meaning, it is full-bodied, but it’s not as robust or intense as black tea. Rooibos has woody, nutty hints, and it’s crammed with antioxidants. It’s been used as a tea to treat illness and inflammation for centuries.

Best Green Teas for Fasting

When it comes to fasting, there are many different teas that can help you through the process. Green tea is a great option for those who are looking for a natural way to help their bodies cleanse and detoxify. Here are some of the best green teas for fasting:

Sencha Green Tea

This type of green tea is perfect for those who are new to fasting. It has a light and refreshing flavor that will not overwhelm your senses. Sencha is a whole-leaf tea from Japan, and it has an overarching vegetal flavor.  I love it for tea-leaf reading too.

Matcha Green Tea

If you are looking for a more potent green tea, matcha is a great option. It is made from ground-up green tea leaves, and it contains oodles of antioxidants and nutrients.  I like matcha because of its unusual flavor. 

Gyokuro Green Tea

Gyokuro is one of the highest-quality green teas available. It has a very sweet flavor and is perfect for those who want to enjoy a luxurious fasting tea experience. It’s also been known to help with oral health by reducing icky breath, reducing gingivitis, and preventing tooth decay because it has naturally occurring fluoride in the leaves.

Genmaicha Green Tea

Genmaicha is another budget-friendly option that still packs a punch when it comes to health benefits. It contains brown rice, which gives it a nutty flavor that I simply adore.  In fact, it’s that toasty flavor that gives it substance. Because it has gravity and heft, genmaicha (or genmai) green tea seems more filling or satisfying to me as fasting teas go.

Best Herbal Teas for Fasting

Herbal tea is a great way to help your body during a fast. There are many different types of herbal teas, each with their own unique benefits. Here are some of the best herbal teas for fasting:

Ginger Tea

This perky tea is great for aiding digestion and helping to calm an upset stomach. It is also a gentle diuretic, which can help to reduce bloating during a fast. I get a combo tea with ginger turmeric, which really helps stabilize my gut and calms down cranky digestive issues.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint is refreshing and helps to promote wakefulness. In tea, it can be incredibly invigorating – not to mention it’s a great breath freshener.  It is also useful for treating headaches and indigestion.

Chamomile Tea

This versatile, floral-flavored tea has been used for centuries for its soothing and calming effects. It is perfect for drinking before bedtime because is can induce relaxation. It can also help to relieve stress and anxiety.

Lemon Balm Tea

I love lemon balm tea for its refreshing and mild calming properties. It can also help to boost the immune system and fight off infections.  I used to have a lemon balm bush in my backyard, and the bees loved it. To this day, a cup of lemon balm tea reminds me of sunshine and happy bumbling bees.

Best Black Teas for Fasting

When it comes to fasting, black tea is a great choice. Not only does it provide a boost of energy, but it also helps to suppress the appetite.

If you’re looking for a black tea that will help you get through your fast, here are some of the best options:

Yunnan Black Tea

This Chinese black tea is perfect for those who are new to fasting. It has a smooth flavor that won’t overwhelm your taste buds.

Assam Black Tea

This Indian black tea is perfect for those who want a bit more of a kick while fasting. It has a bolder flavor than Yunnan black tea and can help to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Earl Grey Tea

My personal favorite black tea (and Jean-Luc Picard’s, too! lol).  This tea has oil of bergamot infused in the leaves, which gives it almost a licorice-like flavor (at least to me).  Of course, this and all the best black teas for fasting listed here contain more caffeine than their white or green counterparts, so it provides a nice pick-me-up in the morning.  

Ceylon Black Tea

This Sri Lankan black tea is perfect for those who want to add some spice to their fast. It has a spicy flavor that can help to increase your metabolism and curb your appetite.

Tips on How to Prepare and Drink Fasting Teas

When it comes to fasting teas, everybody has their own methods and rituals about boiling, brewing, and steeping.  If you haven’t perfected your own method, here are some tips on how to make the perfect cup of fasting tea:

• Start with fresh, cold water (I prefer filtered water from my BFF’s Berkey water filter). Bring your water to a boil and then let it cool for about 2 minutes before pouring over your tea leaves, powder, or bags. Too hot water sometimes scalds tea leaves – especially tender leaves as found in white teas. Hence a bit of wait time before pouring.

• Next, use 1 about teaspoon of tea leaves (or powder, grinds, flowers, etc) per 8 ounces of water. If you’re using a tea bag, 1 bag per 8 ounces of water is perfect.

• Steep your tea for 3-5 minutes. This will allow the tea leaves to release their nutrients and flavor into the water. If you’re anything like me, you like a strong cuppa – so I typically just leave the tea back in the water the whole time I’m drinking it.

• Once your tea is finished steeping, remove the tea leaves or bags and enjoy!  Try to savor every sip.  Think about how that tea is nurturing your body, and supporting your intermittent fasting goals (or wellness goals, or whatever).

Of course, there are other ways to brew tea. I have a special ceremonial pot in which I place my tea and hot water – letting it steep when I’m ready to serve. There are also lots of gadgets you can get and experiment with different ways to make tea. I’ve used tea infusers, brewers, and presses. At the end of the day, fixing a simple one-cup with fresh water and the freshest tea possible is my method of choice.

A Word About Mindful Tea Consumption

As with any consumable product, tea is produced worldwide in many different ways.  Therefore, I would strongly recommend purchasing teas from responsibly sourced, environmentally friendly and/or locally grown outfits.  This supports our environment and our community (globally or locally).  Additionally, here are a few things I to really appreciate and submerge myself fully into a fabulous cup of tea:

• Smell before you taste: There is something about inhaling the heat, steam, and aroma of a tea that really makes you connect with the full-on experience of enjoying tea.
• Close your eyes and appreciate: For centuries, tea has not only been a healing agent, but it has also been a go-to for relaxation.  As such, try to eliminate distractions and really get in your tea mojo to ensure a sensational tea-drinking experience.
• Give thanks: While sipping, give thanks for the hands that cultivated, grew, nurtured, harvested, and prepared the tea for your enjoyment.  This is huge (at least for me).  An attitude of gratitude and a hot cup of tea is just a good way to live. 
• Envision the tea enlivening your body: I do this when using tea for medicinal purposes. I visualize the hot healing liquid moving down my throat and through my body – kissing all my body bits, and working its healing magic on me.

Teas in History and Culture

Tea has been enjoyed for centuries and has been mentioned in myths, folklore, and culture throughout history. In China, tea was said to have been invented by Shennong, the Divine Farmer. It is also said that Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, brought tea plants from India to China. Also in China, there is a legend about a man named Lu Yu who wrote The Classic of Tea, the first book on tea. In Chinese symbolism, tea is seen as a symbol of good fortune and is often given as a gift during special occasions such as weddings or Chinese New Year.

Tea was first introduced to Japan in the 8th century by Buddhist monks and became popular among the samurai class. Also in Japan, there is a legend about Sen no Rikyu, a 16th-century tea master who created the Japanese Tea Ceremony.  Japanese tea ceremonies are held to mark important events such as births, funerals, and business deals. 

In England, tea became popular in the 17th century and was associated with luxury and royalty. Afternoon tea was introduced in the 19th century by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Queen Victoria even wrote about her love of tea in her diaries.

Ceremonies and Rituals

There are many ceremonies and rituals associated with fasting teas. In some cultures, fasting teas are used to cleanse the body and purify the soul. In others, they are taken as a sign of respect or mourning.

Fasting teas are often taken during religious or spiritual ceremonies. They may be taken before a big event, such as a wedding or a funeral. Taking a fasting tea can help you to feel more connected to the event and to those around you.

Fasting teas can also be taken as part of a cleansing ritual. This may be done after an illness, when transitioning into a new phase of life, or simply to refresh the body and mind. Cleansing rituals often involve abstaining from food and drink for a period of time, followed by consuming only fasting teas.

Whatever the reason for taking them, fasting teas can be an important part of many ceremonies and rituals. They can help to cleanse the body and purify the soul.

Conclusion About Fasting Teas

Fasting can be a great way to improve your health and well-being, but it is also important to make sure you choose the right teas for your fasts. I hope that my exposure to teas for fasting that I love will help you make an informed decision when choosing which tea is right for you. 

Oh, and I know you all are smart, savvy peeps.  However, I have to say that none of these statements are medically proven or approved by any governing regulatory agency.  Furthermore, the tips in this article about fasting teas and the like are not meant to substitute professional medical advice. 

I’m just sharing my experience with teas for health and the best teas for fasting.  With all that said, I hope these insights into healthy teas inspire you to be your best self!  As always, thanks for reading!

Mighty brightly,

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