Best Tea For Sleep – Top 8 Bedtime Teas

Your best night’s sleep could be the difference between drinking tea, and not drinking it. Tea is the most common beverage after water, so if you’re not drinking it on a daily basis already like most Americans, you should start. It is highly sought after for its alertness effects as coffee, but with less caffeine. And thus less negative side effects, including being able to drink it late in the day. Giving you several options when it comes to the best teas for sleep.

Tea is commonly enjoyed cold as iced tea, but many of the teas listed below should be served warm for the maximum calming benefits. If you’re skeptical, remember that drinking teas and other herbal supplements has been a practice used for centuries, so you know it works. Whether it’s sipping on warm liquid alone or the endless benefits that these teas offer, drinking any of these teas is a simple way to improve your sleepy time routine.

The Benefits of Tea For Sleep-

There’s no doubt that there is science behind it. Teas for sleep have many of the natural ingredients found in sleep supplements, but offer an even more relaxing way to enjoy them.

This includes multiple pro-sleep and anti-anxiety herbal ingredients that create a calming effect as well as an overall sleepiness. Chamomile and Valerian tea specifically have a sedative effect, while Lavender and Lemon Balm have stress reducing and anti anxiety effects.

Finally, spearmint can alleviate indigestion so the body can relax for sleep, but thee are just a few of the magic, calming remedies. Research supports that many teas strengthen the immune system and enhance the mood, making you fall asleep calmly and easily. With so many benefits and few side effects, it’s difficult to resist a simple cup of herbal tea. Feeling sleepy already? You should be.

How Tea Helps You Sleep –

Drinking warm tea is comparable to taking a warm bath. Surprisingly, while the liquid is hot, it actually cools down your body temperature by drying off your body’s excess moisture and signaling to your body that it’s time for sleep. Just as you wouldn’t drink these herbal teas in the middle of the workday, we don’t recommend drinking black and other caffeinated teas before bed, but these herbal teas should definitely do the trick for sleep.

Sleepytime and bedtime teas are caffeine free, herbal teas that contain the same ingredients as sleep supplements, but offer a more pleasant way to enjoy them. American root for example is a common ingredient in sleep supplements. Taken alone, valerian is actually somewhat stinky, and simply washing it down with a splash of water can be unpleasant.

But in valerian tea, combined with other natural ingredients, getting the same benefits from valerian root can be much more enjoyable, and warm. Using pro-sleep and anti-anxiety ingredients, herbal teas promote calming and sleepiness in the body. Different teas offer different calming effects such as sedative, stress-reducing, and even indigestion-relieving effects. The question isn’t if these teas will help you sleep; they will. The question is if you are going to try them.

How to Improve Your Nightly Routine –

Improving your sleep routine to incorporate tea is as simple as can be. Consider it the last step in your routine. Herbal tea should be taken almost right before you go to sleep. Pajamas on, chores done, and dinner eaten. You can enjoy your favorite tea by simply sitting alone or even cozied up to your favorite show. All it takes it boiling water and at least 5 minutes for the tea to steep.

The longer you let the tea steep before drinking, the more strong and flavorful your tea will be. Keep in mind you are steeping for all the major benefits of herbal tea including: added hydration, drug inducing side effects, and of course, the easiest most inexpensive way to get some beauty rest!

Top 8 Bedtime Teas:

If you are a major tea lover then you enjoy having a different type of tea for just about every occasion. Whether it is to wake up, focus for work, relax after work, or perhaps even a relaxing cup of tea before you go to bed. Well that is the tea we are looking at today. The best tea for sleep must be soothing and relaxing but also free of stimulants like caffeine. There are even some ingredients commonly found in sleepy time teas that have gentle sedative effects to help ease even the most restless folks into a deep sleep. We are going to share with you our top 8 bedtime teas and why we love them so much.

8) Decaf Green Tea – Stash

As we all know green tea is packed full of antioxidants and is well known for all of its many health benefits. If you’re going to get the most out of these benefits then you’re going to want to drink some every day. Which is why it can be such a great nighttime routine.

However keep in mind that even decaf green tea has on average 20-30 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Which means this is not a good option for anyone who is especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

Ingredients: Decaffeinated Green Tea

Buy Stash Decaf Green Tea Here

Do you know when you should stop drinking caffeine before bed to get your best sleep possible? We do, check out our article Caffeine & Sleep to learn all about the effects caffeine has on your sleeping habits.

7) Sweet Dreams – Bigelow

This delightful little tea is big on flavor. The Sweet Dreams by Bigelow is any easy drinker, full of delicious flavors that blend together very nicely.

If you are wanting a serious tea that will knock you out, then keep going down the list, this tea isn’t the one for you. But if you’re looking for a soothing tea that is pleasant to drink and caffeine free, then this is the perfect choice.

Ingredients: Chamomile, Hibiscus, Peppermint, Rose Blossoms, Spearmint, Spice, Orange Blossoms.

Sweet Dreams Tea by Bigelow Available For Purchase Here.

6) SleepyTime Tea – Celestial Seasonings

Does it get anymore classic than Sleepy Time Tea? This nighttime tea by Celestial Seasonings has been a go to for sleepy tea drinkers for decades.

Tilia flowers have a mild sedative effect that will lull you to sleep. While hawthorn will regulate your blood pressure.

Blackberry leaves also provide healthy benefits to the liver and so forth. We love the gently herbal and minty flavor of this tea. It is a soothing blend that pairs well with a teaspoon of honey.

While it is the tannins that give blackberry leaves their many health benefits, they are also know to give certain individuals headaches. (If a single glass of dry red wine has ever given you a headache, it was probably caused by the tannins.) If you are sensitive to tannins we suggest avoiding this tea.

Ingredients: Chamomile, Spearmint, Lemongrass, Tilia Flowers, Blackberry Leaves, Orange Blossoms, Hawthorn and Rosebuds.

Buy Celestial Seasonings – SleepyTime Tea Here

5) Yellow & Blue – Harney & Sons Fine Teas

Yellow & Blue is a simple and sophisticated tea. Harney & Sons combined the soothing sensations of Lavender, Chamomile, and Cornflower to relax minds, bodies, and souls around the globe. Sometimes simplicity really is best, and it doesn’t get much more simple than these three ingredients. Sip on this before bed and feel all your worries melt away.

Ingredients: Chamomile, Lavender, Cornflower

Buy Harney & Sons Yellow & Blue Herbal Tea Here

4) Get You’re A** To Bed – Snarky Teas

As the box says “Stop stalking your ex on social media and get some shut eye”.

This snarky sleepy time tea is a great for a relaxing cuppa before bed. All funny labels aside, this tea is simple and effective. Containing a total of three ingredients Chamomile, Lemongrass, and Lavender you really get the impact of all three. The lemongrass adds a nice refreshing touch to this soothing blend. Safe for folks young and old. This is a crowd pleaser for sure.

Ingredients: Chamomile, Lemongrass, Lavender

Get your Snarky Teas – Get You’re A** In Bed Tea Here

3) Bedtime Tea – Yogi

This Bedtime Tea by yogi is a great sleep tea. You can tell from their extensive list of ingredients that not only did they focus on sleep, stress relief, but also flavor.

Some big hitter ingredients on this list are Skullcap Leaf (used for helping anxiety and sleep aid), St. John’s Wort (used to help depression), Passion Flower (calms the mind), and Valerian (sedative effects). These heavy hitters are great for those who need help with anxiety and depression as well as a little extra help drifting off to sleep.

Ingredients: Licorice Root, Spearmint Leaf, Chamomile Flower, Skullcap Leaf, Cardamom Seed, Cinnamon Bark, St. John’s Wort Leaf and Flower, Rose Hip, Natural Flavors, Raspberry Leaf, Lavender Flower, Stevia Leaf, Passion Flower Extract, Valerian Root Extract

Bedtime Tea from Yogi Available Here for Purchase

2) Sleep and Relax Herbal Tea – Gaia Herbs

This is a great nighttime tea for those who has anxiety keeping them awake. Passionflower helps to slow down and quiet your mind. While other supporting ingredients like lemon balm, chamomile, and licorice root are often used to reduce stress.

All together this tea is less about creating a sedative effect and more about calming you down so you can get to sleep easier. This is a strong tea and the label even suggests keeping it away from children. So while you won’t be feeling too loopy from this tea, it is potent and effective.

Ingredients: Passionflower Leaf, Lemon Balm Leaf, Chamomile Flower, Licorice Root, Chamomile Flower Freeze-dried Extract, Natural Orange Flavor, Passionflower Leaf Freeze-dried Extract

Buy Gaia Herbs Sleep and Relax Herbal Tea Here

1) Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Valerian Herbal Tea

This sleep inducing tea is one of the most effective we have ever come across. Does your busy mind keep you awake, then this is a great tea for you.

The passion flower helps slow down your thoughts while the Valerian Root begins to put you to sleep. Lemon balm tastes delicious and also has a gentle sedative effect. This tea is great for sleep. You will be surprised at how pleasant this tea tastes for how effective it works. If you really want to feel the effect of your tea kicking in, this is a great option for you.

Be sure to follow their rather specific brewing instructions.

Ingredients: Organic Valerian Root, Organic Passionflower Herb, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf, Organic Peppermint Leaf, Organic Caraway Fruit, Organic Licorice Root.

Buy Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Valerian Herbal Tea Here

Curious about other food and drink that may help you get to sleep? Then you will love our blog on Best & Worst Foods Before Bed.

Start Enjoying Tea Before Bed –

With herbal teas being as simple, inexpensive and effective as they are, it would be silly not to at least give them a try. Herbal teas for sleep are a great alternative to other sleep aids like prescription medications. Some of these teas are also great to help ease stress, anxiety, and even depression. You can purchase them online, at local grocery stores and farmers markets, just about anywhere you shop. Herbal teas are the cheapest, easiest, most delicious way to start enjoying your sleep again. With antioxidant benefits and overall improvements on your health, you’re doing your body even more good than just sleep. So pick your perfect poison and sleep peacefully.

Thanks for reading Our Sleep Guide’s blog on the Best Teas For Sleep. We hope it helped you learn a little more on how to improve your bedtime routine. If you have any questions on mattresses, bedding or sleep related inquiries, please feel free to contact us!