Herbal teas are some of the most popular hot drinks around. When you combine the natural taste, the lack of any potentially unhealthy ingredients like caffeine, and the suggested health benefits, this perhaps shouldn't be surprising. The combination of water and beneficial herbs arguably results in one of the healthiest things you can put into your body.
From zesty citrus notes intended to wake you up and get your day started the right way, to sleep-inducing herbal concoctions, herbal teas offer a variety of both flavours and potential health benefits to suit everybody.
Trying to choose the right herbal tea for you can be quite overwhelming - and as it's the tea capital of the world, living in the UK doesn't make this any easier! Supermarket shelves are lined with multi-coloured teabags and independent tea companies are all over social media offering unique blends.
With the help of Evopure, we've listed some of the best herbal teas in the UK, in an attempt to make navigating the supermarket shelves a little easier!
But first, let's start with the basics...
What is herbal tea?
It may be surprising to hear this, but herbal tea isn't strictly tea.
Classic black teas such as English Breakfast tea, and even green and white teas, all come from the same plants and are considered 'true teas'.
'Herbal tea' is a term used to refer to other teas that come from other plants. They could be made from the leaves, roots, stem, or the fruit of a plant. Commonly known herbal teas include lavender tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea and more.
For centuries, these hot drinks have been enjoyed in close to the same way. However, in recent years this has begun to change. Many tea companies offer unique herbal blends in order to offer unique flavours or health benefits. Newly trending health ingredients such as CBD, turmeric, or lion's mane mushrooms have been added to teas in an attempt to improve the associated benefits.
All of this has served to make the tea industry even more confusing than it was before.
Not to worry, because we've broken down some of the best herbal teas available in the UK, so you don't have to!
Best herbal teas to try
Just so you know, while we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections. Why trust us?
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is a classic drink for relaxation and is extremely popular among herbal tea connoisseurs. It is enjoyed for its relaxing effects and anxiety-calming properties, making it an excellent choice for just before bedtime, or just before an important meeting!
As well as being a great sleep aid and stress reliever, chamomile tea has been found to reduce blood pressure and helps to manage blood sugar levels.
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Any high-quality chamomile tea is a great option but Evopure's Relax blend takes this to another level - each cup comes with a hearty dose of CBD, which comes directly from the organic, EU-grown hemp present in every tea bag. This means you aren't just getting a dose of CBD, but all the other beneficial ingredients in hemp too such as a full range of vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids.
Since the evidence suggests that hemp and CBD can help to support sleep, reduce blood pressure, and aid relaxation, this high-quality hemp is only going to increase the sense of relaxation you get from your evening cuppa.
Combine this with the lovely, natural, earthy taste of chamomile and hemp leaves, and this tea is a winner. Not only that, but each tea bag can make up to 4 cups meaning a pack can go a long way and you can easily throw one in a pot to share with friends.
Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a game-changer. For those that enjoy the naturally fiery flavour of ginger, there can be no substitute. Ginger can also be added to regular teas, for example, to add a deeper flavour to a standard black tea.
It's no slouch in the health arena either as ginger has been found to act as a powerful anti-inflammatory to help improve digestive function, reduce pregnancy-related nausea and more.
Ginger tea is made by slicing and drying ginger root, and the result is a highly potent hot drink packed full of beneficial organic compounds and minerals. However, ginger itself can be an acquired taste with many tea drinkers, if not most, preferring to sweeten it with a touch of honey or sugar.
TeaPigs take care of this with their naturally sweet blend of ginger, cinnamon, and liquorice root which helps to sweeten the natural ginger flavour while allowing the herbal tea to remain calorie and sugar-free.
The delicious, naturally invigorating infusion of lemon ginger make this tea a must-try for anybody looking to push the boat out with their regular tea-drinking options, even those who are usually hesitant to go for ginger flavoured products.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is a global favourite that has been drunk for centuries. Popularised in Morocco and Turkey, mint tea is often used for tea ceremonies or social gatherings and is famed for its natural cooling effect which makes it highly popular in hot, dry countries.
Mint itself has also been found to be a natural remedy for the digestive tract, relieving indigestion, nausea, stomach pain, and preventing acid reflux and cramps.
Pukka's Three Mint Tea takes these benefits to a new level by combining peppermint with spearmint and field mint for a verdant blend rich in mint flavour.
If you're looking for a quick hot mint tea to help calm a sore stomach, any high-quality organic peppermint tea will work wonders. But if you're looking to be wowed by a rich and varied flavour profile at the same time, the VAHDAM pure mint tea is our top pick and loved by people from over 100 countries!
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Soothe stomach pains or cramps with this beautifully crafted blend of peppermint, liquorice root and fennel. A minty cup of this tummy-loving tisane will feel like a warm hug from the inside. As this tea contains liquorice, people suffering from hypertension should avoid excessive consumption.
Lemon balm tea
Lemon balm tea is, unsurprisingly, made entirely from the lemon balm plant. It combines a natural herbal flavour with the citrus-y kick from which it gets its name.
Lemon balm has been found to help increase skin elasticity and help to prevent heart disease, as well as improving memory and having mood-enhancing properties. It is also thought to help with detoxifying the body due to its high concentration of antioxidants.
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Traditional Medicinals' 100 per cent organic, natural lemon balm tea offers all of these benefits with zero additives and comes in bleach-free tea bags from sustainable sources, making it one of the most trustworthy and sustainable sources of lemon balm tea. You can really taste the difference too, making it one of our favourite herbal teas in the UK.
The Clipper Snore & Peace Infusion bags are blends of chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender for a soothing infusion. This comforting, caffeine-free, and fragrant tea has a delicious floral taste from the chamomile and lavender with refreshing notes from the lemon balm. It is the perfect tea to wind down with.
Related: The best herbal teas for sleep
Echinacea tea
Echinacea can be made with the purple flowers of the echinacea plant, the roots, the leaves, or a blend of all three.
Its flavour profile is bright, tasty, and slightly sharp with hints of winter pine. Echinacea has been found to both help the body fight off viruses and reduce congestion in order to help manage the symptoms of cold and flu. It is also popular with asthma sufferers for similar reasons and has been suggested to help support the immune system.
Yogi Teas offer a rich, sweet, and tart-tasting echinacea tea that can be enjoyed during or after a meal to aid in the development of a strong immune system.
Pukka Teas offer an echinacea tea that comes with the additional benefit of including elderberry too - another natural herb that can help fight viruses and colds.
Echinacea is somewhat of an acquired taste due to its sharpness but for those who enjoy it, this tea is a beautiful, natural tasting blend that helps to promote wellness and improve your immune system at the same time - a benefit that can't be overstated in 2021!
In partnership by Evopure