Whether it’s an ear worm (a song that just keeps on going round and round and round and... okay, you get the picture) in your head, the thought of a big meeting is stressing you out, insomnia, or even getting less than the recommended 7 hours sleep a night, lack of sleep is going to leave you feeling dopey and drowsy the next day. Our round up of the best teas for sleep brings together our top picks for the best slumber-friendly tea choices that promise to promote a good night's sleep.
- Brew yourself a top cuppa with our list of the top 5 teapots
- Save yourself potential sleep time with the best hot water dispensers
- Looking for alternatives to coffee? Check out our guide to the best green teas.
So what makes the best tea for sleeping? Unfortunately, teas that help you sleep aren’t going to offer the indulgent, malty goodness of Horlicks but they are light and cleansing and just the thing you need to wind down after a long day.
There are typically a couple of herbs that you should look out for when researching the best tea for sleeping; Passionflower and Valerian are the top drowse inducers so keep your eyes peeled for these in the ingredient lists if you are looking for deeply relaxing teas. Camomile and Skullcap also known to help the brain relax so you can catch some well needed Zs, so if it is an overactive mind you are trying to settle, these ingredients are your go-to choices.
Our top picks for the best teas for sleep includes popular supermarket brands such as Whittards and Pukka so don't worry, you won't need to order in a batch of magic tea leaves from Tibet to be on your way to a good night's sleep!
Featuring three big ingredients that are proven to help cure insomnia, this Super Elixir is the marvellous medicine for those that find themselves lying awake all night. On the surface of it, lemon balm, passion flower, lemon and mango delightfully guise the heady combination of skullcap and valerian, which are known to be good at knocking you out for the night. Whether it’s to induce sleep or simmer down stress, this sleep elixir/anti-anxiety tea will induce calm from the moment you set eyes on its serene blue caddy.
While closer in flavour to a traditional green tea, this Valerian based tea for sleeping should help you to get the rest you need. With the addition of passion flower and lemon balm, you’re best drinking a couple of cups towards the end of the day to slowly relax you in the lead up to bedtime, with the last cup being 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime to help maximise its benefits.
A sleep inducing tea doesn’t have to be expensive. This one from tea-kings, Whittard will only set you back five pounds or so and contains relaxing ingredients including camomile and lavender. Also in the mix are liquorice and linden flowers, which give it a sweet lift, making it a pleasant, pre bedtime drink.
Wellness tea as well as sleepy tea, this blend is great for the whole body. Whether your digestive system is feeling unsettled or you regularly feel a little under the weather, this tea should help your body to feel more in sync, ensuring you feel better all round. With people complimenting its pleasing taste, this is a great all-rounder that isn’t too heavy on your pockets, either.
Featuring Lemon Balm and rose petals, which are mild sedatives and camomile and lavender, which are relaxants, this tea is the perfect blend of ingredients for inducing a great night’s sleep. The teabag pyramids are stored in a beautiful tubular pot – it’s almost a shame for you to hide it away in your tea cupboard – while the tea itself turns a pretty pink colour, emanating its floral bouquet.
Many people swear by camomile – it is a natural relaxant after all. This tea from Taylors of Harrogate contains organic camomile, which delivers on purity and flavour, more so than mass produced camomile. It is a soothing blend that can be drank throughout the day, rather than just at night, so it’s a good job you’re supplied with 100 bags.
They’re the cheapest tea bags on the list but that doesn’t make them any less effective. Containing ingredients including camomile, lavender and valerian root, this tea contains sedatives and relaxants to send you off to sleep in an instant. While there’s mixed opinions on the flavour, most people genuinely find that this tea improves the quality of their sleep.
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