In the photo above, you can see some of the herbal teas I bought and tested during the last month. If the saying ‘you are what you eat’ is to be believed, I must be at least 30% chamomile and valerian by now!
If you spend much time with us Brits, you’ll soon discover that an important step in dealing with many of life’s problems is to put the kettle on.
As well as being a reliable friend that accompanies us in both the good and the bad times, can tea really help us sleep better though? Or is it just the placebo effect and taking some time out to relax that does the trick?
Personally, no herbal tea I’ve ever tried has magically knocked me out if I wasn’t already tired. In reality, I choose to drink them for three main reasons: they don’t contain caffeine, they taste good, and I find they mark a moment in the evening when I intentionally decide to slow down and start unwinding before going to bed.
In this article, I’ll start off by sharing my thoughts on twelve ready-made teas, which includes some classics I’ve drunk for many years. After that, I’ll take a look at the evidence they work, along with some reader suggestions of even more teas to try.
Contents
- 12 teas I bought and tried
- What evidence is there that tea might help you sleep?
- Teas recommended by previous readers
12 teas I bought and tried
How I decided on this list
I’ve been drinking some of these teas for several years anyway, so they were easy includes. To broaden the selection though, I picked up a few I hadn’t previously tried from Sainsburys and Waitrose supermarkets in the UK, and also looked online to see what was currently popular.
My partner and I spent a month drinking our way through the twelve teas, drinking two cups of each tea on two consecutive nights. We then spent a week tasting all of them at different times during the day to see how the flavours compare.
I know it’s always tempting to see lists like this as a ‘number 1 must be the best’ recommendation. However, neither my partner or I found any of them to be noticeably more relaxing than the others. Don’t get me wrong – we both agree that relaxing on the sofa with a nice cup of tea is, well, relaxing. But none of them made us feel unexpectedly drowsy mid conversation!
So, this list has ended up being more about how much we enjoyed the taste. And as you know, taste is subjective. If number 10, 11, or 12 on the list sounds like your cup of tea, don’t be afraid to try it just because it didn’t tickle our taste buds so much.
Some ingredient spellings are different, such as camomile and chamomile. This is due to American and British differences, and I’ve listed them as they appear on the box.
Please note that all the photos in this article are my own and the exact teas I bought and tried, but the manufacturers may change the ingredients or packaging in the future.
1. Pukka Night Time Blissful Rest
Ingredients
- Oat flowering tops (30%)
- Licorice root
- Chamomile flower
- Lavender flower (14%)
- Lime flower (10%)
- Valerian root (4.9%)
- Tulsi leaf
There are three Pukka teas on my list, but the night time blissful rest is my personal favorite. My partner had it as number three, so we both agreed it’s a lovely sleep tea.
It has a pleasant aroma, without the lavender being overpowering. The same applies to the taste, which is flowery and balanced, with a hint of sweetness. It’s the only one we tried with oat flowering tops, which perhaps contributes to the gentle taste.
We also both agreed that the taste is simply what you’d associate with a sleep tea. Nothing jarring or too strong – just a soothing tea you can sip at bedtime.
You can find it in some supermarkets and health food shops in the UK, on the Pukka website, and on Amazon globally.
2. Yogi Tea Bedtime Ayurvedic Blend
Ingredients
- Fennel (31%)
- Chamomile flowers (17%)
- Peppermint (13%)
- Cardamom
- Lemon balm
- Lemon grass
- Valerian root (6%)
- Sage (5%)
- Lavender flowers (3.5%)
- Nutmeg
With ten herbal ingredients, the taste of the Yogi Bedtime (the Ayuverdic blend version) isn’t overpowered by any of them, which is a good thing in our opinion.
It has a warm, herbal glow that we immediately associated with the thought of a calming drink. In some ways, all of our favorites had this in common: they may have herbal/flowery elements, but are balanced and enjoyable to drink.
The Yogi Tea was one that seemed to get better the longer we kept the teabag in too, with the taste developing nicely rather than becoming too strong.
I bought it on Amazon, but you can also find it on the Yogi Tea website. It may also be sold in some health food shops, such as Holland and Barrett in the UK, and stores like Walmart in the US.
3. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Infusion
Ingredients
- Chamomile
- Spearmint
- Lemongrass
- Tilia Flowers
- Blackberry Leaves
- Orange Blossoms
- Hawthorn
- Rosebuds
When I asked my partner to describe the taste of the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Infusion, her reply was that “It has a rounded palette, with sweet notes.”
After wondering if she’d ever had a job as a wine critic, I realized she was right. Like the previous two, this one works well as a sleep tea because it’s well balanced, with all eight ingredients working in harmony.
The spearmint does just about poke its head through the other flavours, which we both liked. Perhaps it’s also an ideal choice if you’ve overindulged late at night and need some mint to work its digestive magic.
I bought it on Amazon. You can also find it on the Celestial Seasonings website, and in some health food shops around the world.
4. Pukka Night Time Berry
Ingredients
- Rosehip
- Hibiscus Flower
- Chamomile Flower (15%)
- Lavender Flower
- Licorice Root
- Ginger Root
- Echinacea herb (6%)
- Elderberry (4%)
- Blackcurrant Fruit (4%)
- Valerian Root
- Blueberry Flavor
- Blackcurrant Flavor
After I’d finished taking the photos of the brewed teas for this article, I realized they were all yellow/orange with one exception – Pukka Night Time Berry. The Berries in this tea give it a lovely colour, as well as a punchy aroma and taste.
As you’d expect from looking at the ingredients, it has a fruity taste that’s both sweet and slightly sour at once. Along with the berries, perhaps the Echinacea contributes to the interesting blend of sweet and sour. I’m not always a fan of herbal teas with a strong taste of berries, but this one hits the spot nicely.
You can find it in some supermarkets and health food shops in the UK, on the Pukka website, and on Amazon globally.
5. Tick Tock Bedtime
Ingredients
- Camomile (20%)
- Apple
- Rooibos (15%)
- Honeybush
- Lemon Balm (13%)
- Liquorice
- Lavender (3%)
- Aniseed
- Blackberry Leaves
I’m a huge fan of Rooibos tea and often drink it during the daytime, so I was very happy to discover a specific sleep tea with Rooibos included alongside some typical bedtime tea ingredients.
Tick Tock Bedtime has a full-bodied flavor (back to the wine descriptions!), with a herbal aroma and taste that isn’t dominated by any of the nine ingredients. I could detect the Rooibos though, which gave it a warming feel that I found relaxing to sit down and sip.
I bought it in Waitrose in the UK. It’s also on the Tick Tock Tea website, in some health food shops, other supermarkets like Morrisons, and on Amazon.
6. Twinings Sleep Spiced Apple & Vanilla
Ingredients
- Passionflower (35%)
- Apple Pieces (15%)
- Camomile (14%)
- Cinnamon Bark (10%)
- Natural apple flavouring with other natural flavourings (10%)
- Cardamom (6%)
- Cloves (6%)
- Natural vanilla flavouring with other natural flavourings (4%)
There are two versions of Twinings Sleep on my list, but we both preferred this one. It has a beautiful vanilla aroma, even though the vanilla is slightly more subtle in the taste. Perhaps that’s because the spiced edge created by the Apple, cardamon, cinnamon, and cloves is so apparent.
Relaxing on the sofa while drinking this tea on a cold night in January just felt right to us. The combination of sweetness and warming spice make it a perfect sleep tea for those long winter nights.
I bought it in Sainsburys supermarket, and it’s also sold in other supermarkets in the UK as it’s a popular bedtime tea. You can also find it on the Twinings website and on Amazon.
7. Pukka Three Chamomile
Ingredients
- African chamomile flower (70%)
- Egyptian chamomile flower (20%)
- European chamomile flower (10%)
If you just want a straight up chamomile tea without other ingredients, the Pukka Three Chamomile is the one we recommend.
We’ve both tried various chamomile-only teas over the years, but this one from Pukka stands out for its intense flavor. It’s also interesting that it contains a blend of African, Egyptian, and European chamomile.
There’s not much else to say about it really – it’s just pure chamomile that you’re likely to associate with relaxation if you’re used to drinking chamomile.
You can find it in some supermarkets and health food shops in the UK, on the Pukka website, and on Amazon.
8. Clipper Snore & Peace
Ingredients
- Chamomile (30%)
- Lemon Balm (15%)
- Lemongrass
- Lavender (14%)
- Fennel seed
- Rosehip
- Spearmint
Clipper Snore & Peace contains a fairly sizeable percentage of lavender (14%), but manages to contain the potentially intense smell and flavor that lavender is known for.
There were a couple of teas that didn’t make this list because of what I call extreme lavenderization (the taste was so strong, I had to invent a word for it).
Snore & Peace definitely has a noticeable lavender taste, so it’s one to consider if you enjoy that. Unexpectedly, we found the lavender aroma and taste is strongest when you first pour the tea, but the other flavors catch up after a few minutes and balance it out.
I bought it in Waitrose in the UK, and it’s sold in some other supermarkets too. You can also find it on the Clipper website and Amazon.
9. Twinings Sleep Valerian & Orange Blossom
Ingredients
- Camomile (35%)
- Passionflower (35%)
- Lavender (12%)
- Orange Blossom (10%)
- Valerian Root (4%)
- Natural Blood Orange Flavouring (2%)
- Natural Flavouring
In a similar way to lavender, valerian can also dominate the taste of a herbal tea if the manufacturer allows it to. This version of Twinings Sleep manages to contain the two, even though it still has a noticeably herby taste.
The inclusion of orange blossom and orange flavouring perhaps helps counterbalance the overall feel of the tea. It has a curious combination of earthy flavors with a sweet note layered over the top.
We both thought it has a slightly more medicinal taste than the spiced apple and vanilla Twinings Sleep, but still enjoyed drinking it while relaxing before bedtime.
I bought it in Sainsburys supermarket, and it’s also sold in other supermarkets in the UK as it’s a popular bedtime tea. You can also find it on the Twinings website and on Amazon.
10. Dragonfly Tea – Night Sky Calm
Ingredients
- Camomile
- Lemon balm
- Liquorice
- Honeybush
- Valerian
- Oatstraw
- Lavender
- Sage
Dragonfly Tea Night Sky Calm was one that surprised both of us. It has a kind of medicinal taste when you first sip it, with the valerian and sage coming across quite strongly. But then there’s a kind of sweet aftertaste that lingers in the back of your mouth and throat afterwards.
Some of the other teas have a similar effect, but none as strongly as this one. We couldn’t quite decide which ingredients were responsible for the delicious after taste. Whichever they are, they offset the medicinal side nicely, making it a lovely tea to relax with.
Dragonfly tea also make a couple of excellent mint teas if you’re looking for a digestive tea. And they also make one of my all-time favorite daytime teas, the superb Earl Grey and Rooibos blend.
I bought this one on Amazon. You can also find it in supermarkets and health food shops in the UK and some other countries, as well as the Dragonfly Tea website.
11. Nutra Tea Chamomile & Valerian
Ingredients
- Chamomile (85%)
- Valerian (15%)
In comparison to most of the other teas I’ve looked at so far, Nutra Tea only contains valerian and chamomile. Both the aroma and taste are therefore predictably strong, with no other ingredients to balance them out.
Personally, I preferred the teas that add a little sweetness, but if you’re a fan of chamomile and valerian, this is one to consider. The mix isn’t quite as strong as in some other chamomile and valerian focused teas I’ve tried, so you can still enjoy the tea without feeling it’s too much.
I bought it on Amazon, and haven’t seen it in any physical shops in the UK. You can find out more about it on the Nutratea website.
12. Teapigs Snooze Sleepy Tea
Ingredients
- Organic Apple Pieces (80%)
- Organic Chamomile Flowers (12%)
- Organic Lavender Flowers (8%)
Teapigs Snooze Sleepy Tea ended up in twelfth place only because the lavender was a bit too powerful for my palette. If you associate lavender with relaxation and enjoy the taste though, you may well love this tea.
From the second you pour hot water over the teabag, the unmistakable scent of lavender fills the air. It also contains apple pieces and chamomile, but they fade into the background with so much lavender floating around.
Even though it’s only listed as 8% of the ingredients, I found it provided more like 80% of the taste. So if you find lavender calming and enjoy drinking it at night, this is one to try.
I bought it in Sainsburys in the UK, and you’ll also find it in other supermarkets like Waitrose and Tesco. It’s also available on the Teapigs website and on Amazon.
What evidence is there that tea can help you sleep?
The bottom line is that there hasn’t been enough research into the sedative effects of the herbal ingredients in tea form to draw any firm conclusions. And studies of the ingredients in other forms, with higher quantities than typically found in tea, have found mixed results.
On a more optimistic note for bedtime tea lovers, there’s plenty of support among sleep experts for the idea that intentionally taking some time out to relax before bed can put you in the right frame of mind for sleep.
If drinking your favorite cup of herbal tea in the evening feels relaxing to you, perhaps even forming part of a relaxing bedtime routine, then that may be all the evidence you need.
Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the key ingredients in the herbal tea world. I won’t cover every ingredient listed in the teas above – just the most commonly found ones.
In the photo below, I’m enjoying the best part of my bedtime routine – a relaxing cup of tea and a good book. Bliss!
Chamomile
Chamomile is found in many brands of herbal tea, either alone or mixed with other plants. It’s in all twelve of the store bought teas I discussed above!
As for evidence that it works as a sedative, one review study in 2019 found that it helped with sleep quality, but not with the severity of insomnia.
Studies involving chamomile in actual tea form are very limited. One study in 2016 found that it helped postpartum women sleep better. However, after four weeks there was no difference between those and the control group who didn’t drink the tea. So they suggested that “the positive effects of chamomile tea were limited to the immediate term.”
Valerian
People is an ingredient in six of the twelve teas I tried. It’s one of the few plants which have been shown by researchers to help with sleep. However, a detailed review in 2018 of previous clinical trials found that the overall picture was one of inconclusive results.
Other researchers suggest it may work, but the problem is one of the clinical trials not being well designed. I haven’t found any research studies that used valerian tea specifically; they tend to be in larger dose supplement form instead.
Lavender
Although chamomile and valerian have long been two of the stars of bedtime teas, lavender makes an appearance in eight of the twelve teas I tried.
The evidence that lavender helps with sleep is mainly anecdotal though. I haven’t seen any evidence that it helps with sleep when drunk in tea. One review of eight studies using aroma inhalation suggested that it may provide a small to moderate benefit, but that more research is needed.
Interestingly, in a study in 2015, Taiwanese researchers found that lavender tea helped postnatal women feel less fatigued and depressed – but only in the short term compared to a control group.
Lemon balm
Like lavender, lemon balm has plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that it helps with anxiety, stress, or insomnia. It’s included in four of the teas on my list.
In a study in 2004, lemon balm was found to be associated with an increase in self-reported feelings of calmness.
One study in 2011 found some positive results when using a concentrated extract. But again, it wasn’t in tea form so the same effect can’t be guaranteed if you drink it – especially if it’s just a small contributor to a tea mix using several ingredients.
Passionflower
The passionflower is stunning when in bloom, alien almost with its complex design. Is the beauty of the flower mirrored in the quality of your beauty sleep though?
There is some research using it in tea form. In the study, 41 participants were given either passionflower tea or a placebo tea. The researchers found that those drinking the real tea had ‘short-term subjective sleep benefits’.
Spearmint and peppermint
In the past, I would only make myself a mint tea if my stomach was bubbling away uncomfortably after eating, but it’s also sometimes included in these herbal teas.
Despite a lack of research using mint in tea form specifically, animal studies have found that peppermint oil can help with indigestion and some other stomach complaints, and work as a muscle relaxant.
And in a study in 2020, using aromatherapy with peppermint was found to improve the sleep of cancer patients.
Teas recommended by previous readers
In the years since I first wrote this article, many readers have shared their favorite teas for sleep. With so many great suggestions, I’ve compiled the list below.
- Yogi soothing bedtime caramel.
- Lemon balm and skullcap combination.
- Chamomile Nights by Stash, with chamomile, spearmint and lotus.
- Chamomile mixed with Chinese tea.
- Lavender sun tea.
- Sleepytime tea mixed with chai white tea and Rooibos red tea.
- Chamomile steeped in hot water along with lemon verbena, with some lemon and sugar added.
- Brewing 10 sweet mint leaves in hot water.
- Sleepytime tea with vanilla.
- Triple Leaf Relaxing Tea (Chinese herbal tea).
- Linden leaves tea.
- Peppermint and chamomile tea combined.
- Tension Tamer.
- Tazo tea.
- Happy Nights tea by Carmencita.
- Nettle tea and Chamomile with a teaspoon of raw honey.
- Teavana’s Winterberry.
- Decaffeinated Earl Grey.
- Nighty Night.
- A concoction of the leaves of guava, taro and mulberry.
- Triple Leaf Relaxing.
- Ahmad Verbena (Vervain).
- Hibiscus tea.
- Dr. Stuart’s relaxation tea.
- David’s tea – Mother’s Little Helper.
- Morpheus from Tin Roof Teas.
- Teepee dreams from the Native American Tea Company.
What’s your favorite tea for sleep?
Which tea do you drink to help you relax as the sun sets and the moon rises? Do you think it has true sedative properties, or is it just the placebo effect working its magic Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Celestial Seasonings is my favorite tea. I drink at least 2 cups a day. The herbal teas can be drunk right before bedtime also.
Thanks for your comment Yak. I really like their teas as well!
Really informative blog. I totally agree with you that herbs have amazing benefits and work wonders for insomnia. Like you mentioned, my favourite herb is Chamomile herb . It calms the body and helps in relaxing sleep & my favourite brand is BestSource Nutrition.
Hi Juili
Thanks for your comment. Glad to hear you like the blog, and that you also have good results from herbal teas.
Regards
Ethan
Hello Ethan. First of all, thank you for the excellent article and website! I have learned a lot of useful information about sleep reading your articles. I love my herbal tea at night and can’t go without it. I believe chamomile is the perfect antidote to stress and a nice way to wrap up the day.
Hi Jazz
You’re very welcome – it’s always great to hear the site is appreciated! It sounds like you have a firm favorite there, and it’s great it helps you unwind so well.
Regards
Ethan
I drink Bigelow green tea. I noticed when I would drink it every now and then i would get sleepy. When I started having insomnia really bad, I decided to try my tea. I have the best sleep now.
My teenage son and I, who both struggle to sleep, find that a cup of Twinings Chamomile and Honey tea before bed helps us to sleep better.
Hi Jake
Thanks for sharing your tea suggestion – I also like that one. I always find honey adds a little magic to most teas!
Regards
Ethan
The tea that works best to help me sleep is pure Lemon Myrtle (from Australia).
Hi Zeruiah
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. I’ll look into that tea.
Regards
Ethan
Hi I’m Ms Keenan, I’ll try some of them & see if they work the way I need because I need to get some natural sleep. thanks
Hi Ms Keenan
Thanks for your comment – I hope you find one that you enjoy and gets you that natural sleep you need.
Regards
Ethan
Hey great article. We’d love it if you would try some of our Teepee Dreams from NativeAmericanTea.com. It has many of the ingredients you speak about it! Let us know if we can send you some!
Hi Joe
Thanks for your compliment. Teas aren’t too expensive, so I’ll buy some myself when I decide to do the next batch of tests to update the article. Thanks though!
Ethan
A small tea boutique in Raleigh blended a wonderful tea called Morpheus. I use it for my ADHD grandchild and my 75 year old spouse who suffers from night time anxiety after a heart attack 4 years ago. I make him a cup every night before bed. It tastes really good as well as being beneficial. I order online Tin Roof Teas. Loose leaf and fresh leaves.
Hi Linda
Thanks for the suggestion. I haven’t heard of that tea, so will have to look it up.
Regards
Ethan
Love the list at the end of this article! So many teas just waiting to try:-)
Hi Christy
I’m happy to hear it! Enjoy discovering new flavors.
Regards
Ethan
I like celestial seasonings too, and have a little collection of different ones. I’ve tried it cold with ice in the hot weather recently and even that tastes good!
Hi Jenny
Thanks for your comment, and that’s a great idea! I might have to give it a go during the heatwave coming to the UK this week.
Regards
Ethan
Thanks for the useful article and great list of teas at the end there. There are several I have never heard of and will start working my way through them:-)
Hi Ann
You’re very welcome! I have been doing the same actually, and thanks to previous readers have discovered a couple of great new teas.
Regards
Ethan
FIRST OF ALL, I ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH GOOD TEAS CAN DO. I LIKE CELESTIAL SEASONINGS HERBAL TEA, SLEEPYTIME MINT. RELAXING IS TRUE, BUT CAN YOU TELL ME WHY IT TAKES A LITTLE LONG TO KICK IN BEFORE FALLING ASLEEP. MAYBE I SHOULD EXPERIMENT WITH BIGELOW SLEEPY OR CHAMOMILE. THANKS. EUGENIA
Hi Eugenia
Thaks for your comment. Yes, tea can be very beneficial! It’s actually normal to take a while to fall asleep. 10 to 20 minutes is a normal amount of time, so you might not have a problem there.
Regards
Ethan
A cup Celestial Sleepy Time with a teaspoon of honey and a oz. of whiskey has cured my life of living with insomnia. I’m 71 years old.
Hi Lee
Thanks for your suggestion. Disguising a hot toddy in a cup of herbal tea? Interesting idea! I’m trying to imagine the flavor, though can’t quite do it, so I’ll just have to give it a go myself…
Regards
Ethan
My favorite is Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Lemon Jasmine Decaf Green Tea. It’s basically their Sleepytime herbal tea blended with decaffeinated green tea, and that gives it greater body and depth of flavor. Additionally, you get the benefits of the green tea.
Hi Eric
Thanks for the suggestion – I’ll have to try that one since I’m a fan of Sleepytime.
Regards
Ethan
I have been using Dr Stuart’s relaxation tea. I’ve found this most helpful in getting me and keeping me asleep. Was recommended by a psychiatrist as I didn’t want an addictive medication
Hi Derek
Thanks for your suggestion. I’ll add that one to the list!
Regards
Ethan
Thank you for this informative article. I learned a lot and am going to try some of the teas. I’d much rather drink a natural tea than take a drug.
Hi Cheska
You’re very welcome – I hope you enjoy the teas.
Regards
Ethan
David’s Tea (Canadian tea company) makes two wonderful sleepy teas: Mother’s Little Helper and Valerian Nights. They are both delicious and have taken care of my (moderate, anxiety-related) sleeping troubles. You can order them online. If you sign up for emails they will periodically have 40% off 4oz or loose leaf tea sales and you can stock up like I do. I swear by them!!!
Hi Aja
Thanks for the suggestions. I haven’t tried them personally, but have heard of them. I’ll have to give them a go!
Regards
Ethan
Ethan – I have trouble staying asleep but recently heard that Guava Leaf tea consumed daily has a long term affect on sleep. Are you familiar with it? It’s also supposedly quite good for blood sugar and is a powerful antioxidant.
Hi Jane
I haven’t tried it myself, so can’t say from personal experience.
Maybe another reader has tried it?
Regards
Ethan
I suffer from both anxiety as well as insomnia, and I have been seeking out natural remedies for several years now. There are countless health benefits to various herbs, but none ever succeeded in helping me to truly relax. This of course was until I encountered Hibiscus. Hibiscus tea has been a real game changer for me. It’s almost instantly relaxing, and it also works rather well as an anti-depressant. I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with trouble unwinding at the end of the day (as a side note it is also really effective with digestive health and promotes an increased metabolism while fighting free radicals at the same time- oh! and it also has significantly more vitamin C than oranges, so it’s great for immunity during the flu season! :) ).
Hi Jordyn
Thank you for your suggestion – I’ve just gone and added it to the list. It’s great that after doing some experimenting, you’ve found one that truly works for you. I hope you continue to reap the benefits!
Regards
Etthan
Hi where do you purchase you tea. I discovered this tea in it’s flower form at a market but when I went back for more they didn’t carry it any longer perhaps because of the time of season. I purchased some on amazon but it’s isn’t as supportive of my health as the fresh flowers did.
Hi Jordyn I experience the same problems as you have mentioned, I would kindly like to know where I can find the recommended sleeping tea??
Regards
Matthew
Hi could you please tell me where I could buy this tea please I am suffering really bad at the moment with anxiety & am trying lots of herbal things as I really don’t want to go down the road of medication again, thank you
Hi Emma
Try health food shops, or online with Amazon or other major retailers. And if you search online you can find recipes to make it yourself.
Regards
Ethan
I bought a Celestial Seasonings sampler box, to try for the winter months. First, I tried Sleepytime, and I didn’t feel sleepy at all. Then I tried Chamomile, and it put me right to sleep. I confess I added a splash of cream. I keep it in my Yeti tumbler and can sip it hot for an hour or more. Way better than melatonin, and it wears off before it’s time to awaken. — Julia
Hi Julia
Thanks for your comment. Funnily enough, I quite like milk in chamomile tea, though people often tell me I’m weird for doing so! I like it just plain too, but once in a while a drop of milk and honey makes a nice change. It’s the only herbal tea I can drink with any dairy products though!
Regards
Ethan
I drink verveine tea at night. Found it difficult to find in uk, readily available in French supermarkets but Ahmad teas do one. Love it. Discovered it whilst on French exchange when I was 12, away from home, home sick and the french mum gave it to me every night to help me sleep. I’m in my 50s now and still drink it!
Hi Amanda
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. I’ve just added it to the list!
Regards
Ethan
Really liked this article.. Really helpful. I’m a terrible sleeper. Always have been, but as I’ve got older the lack of sleep really hits home and makes days hard to cope with.
I’ve changed loads of things to help, some work some don’t..
I’ve introduced ‘sleepy tea’ into my nightly routine and 3 out out 7 nights I get a solid sleep…
Its hard to know which is good tea and which is a waste of time, I will be adding some of these to my cupboards.
Sleep tight everyone x
Hi Lea
Thank you for your comment – it’s always encouraging to know readers like an article!
I know exactly what you mean about some things working and others now. For me it’s the same, and in some ways a constant battle to get everything lined up during the day and evening to ensure I have the best chance of sleeping well. I find the more good practices I keep up, the better.
As for tea, well it’s a lot about personal taste. I like all of the teas in this list, but I know from giving them to family and friends that they aren’t all to everyone’s liking!
I hope you find one that you do really like though, and that it warrants a place in your cupboard:-)
Regards
Ethan
Can someone tell me if adding sugar or a sweetner to a bedtime tea, such as Pukka bedtime tea, reduces the effectiveness of its sleep promoting properties?
Thankyou
Andrew
Hi Andrew
Thanks for your question. I don’t think it alters the tea’s properties. Perhaps if there’s a lot of sugar, it might keep you awake a little longer. But a little probably won’t make much difference in my experience.
Regards
Ethan
I recently introduced my boyfriend to Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra tea and it works like a charm for him. And he’s not even a big tea drinker so I’m glad I was able to share something I love. When I’m out of Sleepytime (Extra or otherwise), I find Bigelow’s Sweet Dreams or Cozy Chamomile does the trick. :)
Hi Megan
Thanks for your comment. Maybe it’s just because the sleepytime, and variations, are awesome teas! I don’t know many people who have tried it in my house and not liked it. Bigelow is great too, and a more than worthy backup plan for when you run out of the favorite.
Regards
Ethan
Very good article, I enjoy drinking herbal tea often. I’ve tried Bigelow lemon tea and Yogi ginger tea are two of my favorites. Currently, I’m trying my own infusion of dried orange leafs, purple thyme, chamomile, tamarind seed and cardamom with honey to taste. Very soothing combination!!!
Hi Amapola
Thanks for your comment, and I’m happy to hear you liked the article. Your infusion sounds very interesting – I’m curious as to what kind of taste it has!
Regards
Ethan
Very interesting article ! I’m excited to try those tea asap.. Thanks for sharing and more power to you…
Hi Genalyn
Thanks for your comment and kind words. I hope you enjoy the teas!
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan, thanks for the great read and suggestions! I loved the list of readers favorite teas at the end there – so nice to see an article taking note of what people have to say:-) for the record, I love celstial tea too!
Hi Fey
Thanks for your comment and kind words. I’m very happy to hear you liked that part of the article!
Regards
Ethan
My wife and I have recently started using a mixture of 1 part Valerian root, to 3parts fennel seed steeped for about 5 minutes; get water temperature to a rolling boil turn off heat pour into cup with steeper and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Then drink. We always add a little honey. Love it at bedtime.
Hi Brent
Thanks for your comment and suggestion. How does the valerian root smell when you make it that way?
Regards
Ethan
What a great article, so much awesome information. My wife loves Mama Wunderbar tea.
Just recently got the caramel yogi bedtime that I’m currently dissolving into now. I usually drink it while i stretch and roll out to help me unwind and get my focused for rest. great tea & also great post!
Hi Zack
Thanks for your comment and compliment. Enjoy your tea!
Regards
Ethan
My partner and i had major trouble getting into a sleep pattern. Did some research on fruits/veggies that have calming/soothing/relaxing abilities. I make a cup of tea, yogi bedtime and sleepytime, steep really good, add that as a liquid base for fruits/veggies, mix in a blender and its a nighty nighty hot tea smoothie!! Delicious, nutricious, healthy, and the sleep we now get, uninterupted, is perfect!!
Hi Tony
Thanks for your comment and your idea. Do you have particular fruits or veggies that you find work best for this?
Regards
Ethan
How about chrysanthemum tea? Can it help me sleep better at night?
Hi Jack
I haven’t drunk much of it myself, but I know some say it might help with unwinding. Perhaps you can let us know if you decide to try it!
Regards
Ethan
It may be that having a bedtime ritual: hot shower or hot foot bath with epsom salts, cup of hot tea, listening to a favorite piece of music, a meditation tape, etc–or come up with your own. All put together, this 1/2 to 1 hour ritual can tell your brain its time to sleep. Currently I use sleepy time with a T vinegar and tsp of raw unfiltered honey. I have taped all of the devices that have little lights so that there is *zero* light.
Hi Brad
Thanks for your comment. I completely agree – I think creating your own calming ritual before bed is a fantastic way to unwind and prepare yourself for sleep. It’s very tempting to rely on digital entertainment right up until the moment we switch the light off. But taking time away from our devices to do calming, enjoyable things is a much better alternative. It just takes some will power to resist all the fun and interesting things our televisions, computers, tablets, consoles and phones offer!
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan,
I am so impressed with Yogi bedtime tea. My question, is it safe to drink every night for a long period? It is so amazing and helps me sleep all night with zero side effects.
Hi Sandra
Thanks for your comment. As far as I’m aware, yes, it’s fine to drink those bedtime teas in the long term.
Regards
Ethan
Lavender chamomile helps calm and prepare me for sleep
I usually just drink earl grey decaffeinated
Hi there
Thanks for your comment. I actually do the same sometimes! I love the taste in the evening, though prefer a more everyday cup of tea during the day. Not sure why though!
Regards
Ethan
The tea that I find highly effective is ‘Nighty Night’. It works! Hope it helps!
Hi Shiloh
Thanks for your suggestion!
Regards
Ethan
I happened to brew a concoction of the leaves of guava, taro and mulberry. i was asleep in an hour….dunno the science behind it. This calls for an investigation.
First off – love how many comments are posted at weird times of the night/early morning. Really interesting article! I am definitely going to give some of these suggestions a try.
A very interesting article! I will have to try some of the other teas. For the past 20 evenings I have been drinking the Relaxing Tea (Triple Leaf). I poo-pooed it when a friend told me about it. I’m a coffee drinker; and I roast my own. However, I have sleep apnea and have been on a CPAP for 6 or 7 years now. Every time I had to turn over I’d wake up having to pull the hose around with me. Lo and Behold… I tried the TL Relaxing Tea and once I get to sleep, I sleep! I cannot believe it, still! It doesn’t seem to bother me, but I see there is caution in your article about some things and to make sure, if taking meds, you should research. I didn’t do that, all I knew is that I slept like a log. So, I will have to check out the meds I take, along with this herbal tea.
Nancy S.
Hi Nancy
Thanks for your comment. Hopefully your research will show that it’s fine, as it sounds like you’ve had great results with that tea!
Regards
Ethan