The Best Teas to Drink Before Bed (and What to Avoid)
There’s something special about ending the day with a warm cup of tea. A calming bedtime ritual can help your body slow down, quiet your mind, and prepare you for restful sleep. The right tea can make all the difference—some herbs naturally encourage relaxation, while others can keep you awake long after you’d like to be asleep.
Here’s a look at the best teas to enjoy before bed, along with a few you may want to skip in the evening.
Tea That Helps You Relax
Certain herbal teas have been used for generations to promote calmness and better sleep. Because they’re naturally caffeine-free, they’re perfect for winding down at night.
Chamomile Tea- Chamomile is one of the most well-known bedtime teas for good reason. Chamomile flowers contain natural compounds that may help promote relaxation and reduce mild anxiety. The flavor is soft and slightly sweet with subtle apple-like notes, making it an easy and comforting choice before sleep. It contains a natural antioxidant called apigenin, which binds to receptors in the brain that promote relaxation and may help reduce mild anxiety. This gentle sedative effect is why chamomile has been used for centuries as a traditional sleep remedy.
Peppermint Tea- Peppermint is refreshing and soothing. While it isn’t a sedative, it helps the body relax by soothing the digestive system and reducing muscle tension. Its cool, minty flavor is both calming and refreshing at the same time.
Lemon Balm and Other Gentle Herbs like lemon balm and passionflower are also known for their calming properties. These teas can help quiet a busy mind and create a peaceful moment before bed.
Our Relaxing Blend: A Perfect Bedtime Cup
If you’re looking for a tea crafted specifically for evening relaxation, our Relaxing Blend is a customer favorite. This soothing herbal tea combines peppermint leaves and chamomile flower to create a balanced cup that’s both calming and refreshing.
The chamomile provides a gentle sense of calm, while peppermint adds a light, cooling note that helps settle the body. Together they create a smooth, comforting tea that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day.
It’s the kind of cup you’ll want to sip slowly—perhaps with a book, soft music, or simply a quiet moment before turning in for the night.
Tea to Avoid Before Bed
Not all teas are ideal for nighttime. Many traditional teas come from the same plant and naturally contain caffeine.
Many people assume tea is always a gentle nighttime drink, but that is not always the case. In fact, some teas can keep you awake even though they contain less caffeine than coffee.
Most traditional teas, black, green, white, and oolong all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Because they come from this plant, they naturally contain caffeine, although typically in smaller amounts than coffee.
A cup of coffee might contain 90–120 mg of caffeine, while tea usually ranges from 20–60 mg per cup, depending on the type and how it is brewed. Even though the caffeine level is lower, it can still stimulate the nervous system and interfere with sleep if consumed late in the evening.
Tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. This compound promotes a calm, focused feeling and slows the absorption of caffeine in the body. Because of this interaction, tea often feels smoother and less jittery than coffee. However, the caffeine is still present and can remain active in the body for several hours. For people who are sensitive to caffeine, even a small amount can delay sleep or make it harder to fall asleep.
Another reason tea can affect sleep is the timing of caffeine metabolism. Caffeine has an average half-life of about 5–7 hours, meaning that half of the caffeine consumed may still be circulating in your system late into the night.
So while tea may seem like a lighter option than coffee, it’s important to remember that many traditional teas still contain caffeine—and that small amount can be enough to keep you awake if enjoyed too late in the day.
Create a Calming Bedtime Ritual
Enjoying tea before bed isn’t just about the ingredients—it’s also about the ritual. Taking a few minutes to slow down, brew a cup, and enjoy the warmth can signal to your body that it’s time to rest.
For evening drinking, herbal teas are usually the better choice. Herbal infusions such as chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, or fruit blends do not come from the tea plant and are naturally caffeine-free, making them more suitable before bedtime.
Whether you choose a classic chamomile or a soothing cup of our Relaxing Blend, the right tea can help turn bedtime into one of the most peaceful moments of your day.
