Everyone hates being unable to sleep.
Luckily, a cup of herbal tea before bed could be the answer!
There are so many benefits of having tea before bed:
- Herbal tea helps you relax.
- A drink before bed has been shown to improve sleep.
- It puts you in a great routine for getting a good sleep.
On top of all that, the ingredients valerian root and chamomile have been shown to cause drowsiness and help you sleep.
Be sure to let me know what helps you sleep in the comments at the end!
The Best Tea to have Before Bed
There are a lot of different types of tea available, but it’s important to stay away from all types that have caffeine in them.
I know people who love a cup of caffeinated tea before bed. At first I thought they were mad for having caffeine late at night, but actually, It may well help them sleep! Now hold on I promise I’m not talking crazy. Having a warm drink before bed is very relaxing and once you’re relaxed you can sleep, despite the caffeine.
Now, if you take out the caffeine, but keep the warm cosy feeling you get from a hot drink, then you’re onto a winner. This is why herbal teas are the absolute best.
Below, I’ve listed the 3 best herbal teas to help you sleep
Clipper Organic Sleep Easy Tea Bag
Clipper tea is everything the doctor ordered when it comes to a cup of tea before bed. A great blend of ingredients, including chamomile and valerian root, help you drift off no problems at all, the perfect end to a long day.
The cinnamon really makes this tea stand out and makes it taste almost Christmasy. It is absolutely delicious.
So put up your feet up and enjoy this delightful cup of organic herbal tea before bed.
The Clipper Organic tea is the only one on the list containing both chamomile and valerian root. It is the best natural cure for sleeplessness.
Ingredients
Cinnamon, Chamomile, Honeybush, Lemon Balm, Valerian Root, Natural Orange Flavouring.
Pros
- Contains both chamomile and valerian root which help you sleep.
- This product is 100% organic and vegan friendly.
- Great for relaxing you at any time of day.
Cons
- None, this tea is great!
I had a look around and this stuff is surprisingly hard to come by in supermarkets, luckily you can get yourself a ton of it from Amazon.
Celestial Seasonings, Sleepytime Tea Bags
Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea has been around for 40 years and enjoyed the world over. The fragrant herbs give you a refreshing cup of tea to forget your troubles and ease into a restful sleep. Absolute bliss.
The spearmint in this tea also has a lot of great digestive properties which ease your stomach and reduce bloating.
Find yourself with tummy troubles before bed? This will sort you out.
Ingredients
Chamomile, spearmint, lemongrass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn and rosebuds.
Pros
- Contains chamomile to help ease anxiety and relax you.
- Contains spearmint to aid digestion and lessen bloating.
- 100% Natural.
Cons
- The smell can be strange to those not used to herbal tea.
- No Valerian Root
Again this is an American brand so not so common in supermarkets. But you can pick it up on Amazon.
Whittards of Chelsea Dreamtime Instant Tea
Whittards Instant Dreamtime tea is a godsend for those who don’t enjoy traditional herbal teas. The sweet flavours of honey, vanilla and apricot are absolutely delicious.
Although it doesn’t have any active ingredients in it, this instant tea is so enjoyable that you can’t help but relax.
It is also great for kids because of it’s sweeter flavour.
A lot of instant drinks contain milk but the Whittards instant tea does not, making it suitable for vegans and the sweet flavours make this tea a real treat before bed.
Pros
- Sweet, delicious and perfect for those who don’t enjoy traditional herbal tea.
- Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans.
- Great for children.
Cons
- No chamomile or valerian root.
- Whittards instant tea contains added sugar.
You can pick up Whittards Dreamtime tea direct from Amazon
What do the experts say?
Even if you don’t believe in herbal remedies, the relaxing effects of a hot cup of tea before bed definitely relax you and help you sleep. But there is also scientific evidence that helps prove a cup of tea can help you sleep
Valerian Root
Valerian root (not to be confused with Valyrian steel) has been a natural remedy for sleeplessness and insomnia for centuries.
Studies have been done which show the effectiveness of valerian root in causing drowsiness. People who took valerian root before sleep also reported a better night’s sleep overall.
This is why valerian root is the most common ingredient in Herbal Sleeping Tablets.
Chamomile
The chamomile flower has been the home recipe for insomnia for a long time. Unfortunately very little research has been done into its properties related to sleeping.
It has been shown that chamomile helps reduce stress and anxiety which can cause sleepless nights. This is why chamomile is one of the most commonly recommended cups of tea to help you sleep!
Spearmint and Peppermint
Mint has a lot of great properties that can help you sleep at night. Although mint itself does not cause drowsiness, it is a digestive aid and will help settle your stomach. One your stomach is settled and bloating reduced you can relax into an easy slumber.
Mint is also very aromatic and the gentle smell of herbal tea helps soothe the soul and relax the body.
What about green tea?
Green tea can help you sleep if you have it before bed but it needed much more detail than this article had space for so check out my article on green tea before bed here.
I know many people who lie awake at night unable to silence their brains. So, if your mind won’t stop running at night, a cup of green tea before bed could be in order.
Finally, here are 3 Tips To Get The Most Of Your cup of Tea Before Bed
1. DON’T OVER BREW
It can be tempting to leave your mug stewing for 10 minutes to try and get the biggest flavour but it’s not worth it. Over stewing herbal tea, leaves it bitter and unenjoyable. 3 minutes is the optimal time for stewing herbal tea. It just takes time to start appreciating the subtle flavours, but doing so is a great mindfulness technique that will definitely improve the experience of your before bed cup of tea
2. CHANGE INTO COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
Changing into pyjamas is a great way to settle into a bedtime routine. It lets your body and mind know that it’s almost time for bed and allows you to relax way more than any tight fitting clothes do.
3. DON’T WATCH TV
There is nothing relaxing about a cup of tea before bed if you’re drinking it while watching a high octane thriller. Even casual TV keeps your eyes too stimulated to manage sleep. Always turn off the TV an hour before you go to bed and enjoy your cup of tea with a good book.
What about you?
What type of tea before bed do you enjoy? Or do you completely disagree that a cup of tea before bed will help you sleep? Either way, let me know in the comments below!
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