It's odd to think of a nearly 5,000-year-old beverage as trendy, but in America tea is becoming exactly that. With sales growing from an estimated $1.84 billion to more than $6 billion since 1990, it's crossed over from the Birkenstock set to the rest of us. That's good news for anyone with the adventure bug, because traditional tea, as opposed to herbals like chamomile, can provide an all-natural boost that's a lot easier on you than coffee or, worse, most "energy drinks." Traditional tea comes from Camellia sinensis, an evergreen plant native to China's tropical Yunnan province. It shares coffee's pick-me-up appeal but has an amino acid, L-theanine, that causes its naturally occurring caffeine to have a milder, steadier effect that peaks after 60 minutes or so and falls to half strength over the next four to six hours. Tea expert Paul Holmgren describes the effect as a "more friendly, approachable boost" than coffee's. Tea's powerful antioxidants, called catechins, may be able to repair certain types of cellular damage that can lead to cancer. And observational studies in Asia, where folks drink as many as five cups a day, point to a possible connection between green tea and reduced cardiovascular disease. Now traditional tea is gaining traction with the endurance set, as marathoners carry diluted bottles on long runs. "Recent animal studies suggest that green tea's combination of caffeine and a polyphenol called EGCG has the potential to improve endurance," says University of Miami sports nutritionist Lisa Dorfman. Here are the teas to know.

The Best Energy Teas

1 | OOLONG
Oolong has a fruity, roasted taste and a sweet aroma, and some cultures believe it lowers cholesterol and blood sugar. It also reputedly speeds metabolism by 10 percent (teagarden.com).

2 | PU-ERH
Pu-erh ("POO-erh"), a robust black brick made in Yunnan province, has a following as a digestive aid and for allegedly lowering blood alcohol levels and flushing toxins (taooftea.com).

3 | ROOIBOS
This caffeine-free, antioxidant-packed brew from South Africa isn't officially tea, but never mind: Its antispasmodic properties can tame stomach cramps (ntelligentsiacoffee.com).

4 | YERBA MATE
Also not strictly tea (it's in the holly family), this caffeinated elixir was discovered by Paraguay's Guarani Indians as a digestive aid and morning brew before it caught on abroad (guayaki.com).

5 | BLACK
The stuff of traditional tea bags, its processing and preparation make it the most caffeinated. Still only half as charged as coffee, it's the ideal way to kick the bean (todd-holland.com).

6 | WHITE
Brewed properly, this rarity, made from young leaves, has a sweet taste, little caffeine, and antimicrobial properties for oral health. Steep with hot, not boiling, water (teance.com).