Drinking a cup of tea before bed can be beneficial in helping you wind down or become part of your nighttime routine. Lots of store-bought tea brands are actually not as healthy as you think. If you are buying non-organic tea, a lot of times the herbs and spices used to make the tea are sprayed with chemical pesticides which you are directly ingesting when you brew the tea. Additionally, natural flavors are often added to some of these teas which have the potential to be disguised as not-so-healthy ingredients. Aside from the ingredients, the packaging in which your tea is in can be having a negative impact. It has been found that some bags contain traces of chemicals and plastics. For more information on what's really in your tea, we like this article by the Food Babe where she cites Dr. Joseph Mercola and his perspective on the subject.
Since not all tea on the market is the most health-promoting, we put together a list of our favorite healthy, caffeine-free, before-bedtime teas to take as a guide. If you are at the store shopping for tea, we recommend reading the labels on your tea, buying organic and GMO-free, and if possible choosing looseleaf tea as opposed to bagged tea. Or, you can make your own and try our recipe for Sleepy Time Tea.
STASH Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is a great, caffeine-free option before bed. Peppermint tea can help relax your gastrointestinal tract, which in turn can help you wind down before bed. STASH uses only non-GMO ingredients, plastic-free bags, and unbleached, GMO-free cotton string.
NUMI Chamomile Lemon Tea
Chamomile tea is known to help you fall asleep and decrease stress and anxiety. It contains apigenin, which is an antioxidant that promotes sleep and aids in reducing insomnia. NUMI uses organic, traceable, pure-leaf, and GMO-free ingredients.
RISHI Lavender Mint Looseleaf Tea
Lavender is known as a very calming herb that promotes sleep. Lavender tea can help promote sleep and soothe anxiety. Combining that with the sleep and relaxation properties of peppermint tea, this RISHI tea is a great option for sleep. RISHI uses organic and direct trade ingredients to ensure a clean tea. They also have bagged tea if you prefer that over looseleaf.
Yogi Bedtime Tea
Bedtime tea is a blend of sleep-promoting chamomille and passionflower, which can help promote relaxation and improve sleep quality and mood. The tea also contains licorice, cardamom, and cinnamon for a spicy, warm taste. Yogi tea is certified organic using non-GMO, no artificial ingredients, and no contaminated ingredients in their tea.