Sleepy Tea for a Better Night’s Rest: The Best Teas for Sleep
Winding down after a long day of work or play can be difficult for many people. This is especially true when added stressors are present, or you are struggling with anxiety, illness, or depression. Of course, always discuss with a healthcare professional your concerns with any sort of mental or physical problems if they are ongoing and last for any length of time. But there are steps you can take to get more comfortable and work towards a better night’s rest.
Herbal teas are a safe, effective, and gentle solution when used before bedtime to help you relax, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Take a look at some of our favorite top picks below and find one that can provide the soothing effects you crave each night.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  Bigelow Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea Bags
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| #2 |  Herbal Tea Sleep Aid w/ Chamomile
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| #3 |  Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Relaxation Tea
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| #4 |  TAZO Herbal Tea Bags Soothing Dream
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| #5 |  Numi Organic Tea Sweet Slumber
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| #6 |  Celestial Seasonings TeaWell Herbal Tea
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| #7 |  The Republic of Tea Beautifying Botanicals Beauty Sleep
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| #8 |  Yogi Tea – Bedtime
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You might be interested in: 15 Quick and Easy Tea Recipes For Better Sleep
Table Of Contents
- Can Tea Help You Sleep?
- What About Caffeine?
- Types of Teas to Consider Before Sleep
- Top Tea Picks For a Better Night’s Sleep
- 1. Bigelow Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea Bags
- 2. Herbal Tea Sleep Aid w/ Chamomile , Valerian Root & Lemon Balm in Tea Bags
- 3. Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Relaxation Tea
- 4. TAZO Herbal Tea Bags Soothing Dream
- 5. Numi Organic Tea Sweet Slumber
- 6. Celestial Seasonings TeaWell Herbal Tea
- 7. The Republic of Tea Beautifying Botanicals Beauty Sleep
- 8. Yogi Tea – Bedtime
- Conclusion
Can Tea Help You Sleep?
Yes, tea absolutely can help you sleep, but you have to consider the type of tea you are using. Teas have long been used medicinally due to the art of seeping natural herbs and other ingredients that release oils, fragrances, and healthy substances for your body. Choosing a tea for sleep requires you to have a good idea of what ingredients stimulate relaxation and provide a soothing effect.
Even the art of preparing tea and sipping on a warm drink can help with stress relief and allows you to slow down after a long day. Many of the ingredients in teas blended for sleep aid include ingredients that work specifically with your body hormonal releases and brain activity to provide the end of day relief you seek.
What About Caffeine?
Obviously tea may bring to question the caffeine content that may be present. Some people can tolerate caffeine at any time of day, but since it is a stimulant, it often works against your body’s ability to relax and is popularly used for wakefulness instead. Luckily, the main ingredients of most teas designed for the end of the day are caffeine free, and even if caffeine is found on the ingredient list, it is generally diluted and has much less than a cup of coffee.
You might want to read: 15 Quick and Easy Tea Recipes For Better Sleep
Types of Teas to Consider Before Sleep
There are some excellent types of teas to consider as a choice before bed. These options are almost always labeled as a nighttime or sleepy option, but if you love loose teas it is important to know which to look for. Plus, these are the common ingredients to help you feel less stress, aid in relaxation, and may influence a deep night’s rest.
— Chamomile
Naturally caffeine free, chamomile is known for its use as a relaxation aide, anxiety suppressor, and upset stomach soother.
— Peppermint
Peppermint is a soothing option that not only calms the senses, but also has active ingredients to soothe an upset stomach.
— Lavender
Lavender has long been used as a healing agent, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial solution. It is calming and triggers areas in the brain for mental soothing. It is good for both aromatherapeutic and physical benefits.
— Valerian Root
Valerian root is commonly used to help reduce stress and anxiety. At times it is even prescribed by medical personnel, and is an effective ingredient when combined with other options.
— Passion Flower
Passion flower is not only beautiful, it also offers a calming effect when the wasted flower buds are seeped into a tea. This addition is aromatic and supports a deeper sleep.
— Green Tea
Green tea often is caffeinated, but only slightly, and many nighttime options are diluted or considered caffeine- free. It contains the chemical L-theanine that works to focus and relax you.
— Melatonin
Including melatonin in a tea as a sleep aid helps increase the natural melatonin levels in your body. This is the hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy, and this addition can help settle you down for the night. Be sure that you aren’t sensitive to the ingredient, however, as some people find it disrupts their quality of sleep.
— Other Ingredients
You may see other supportive ingredients, such as hops, licorice, cinnamon, and St. John’s Wort. Alone these are not the most effective, but when combined with any of the above ingredients work towards a better flavor profile and also support relaxation.
Top Tea Picks For a Better Night’s Sleep
We’ve listed some of the best selling sleep tea options below to help you narrow down your choices based on ingredients and nighttime effects. These are popular choices based on consumer reviews across a variety of platforms and are best sellers for a reason. The use of quality ingredients and benefits they offer are hard to beat.
1. Bigelow Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea Bags
Key Features
- Active Ingredients: Chamomile, mint
- Flavor: minty sweet
- Size: 120 tea bags
Label: Editor’s Top Pick
Around since 1945, Bigelow teas have always set a standard for home tea brewing and offer an excellent selection of quality ingredients and flavor profiles. Teh Sweet Dreams blend is designed for a soothing experience and offers a sweet chamomile and mint to help you relax. Other ingredients include orange, hibiscus, and spices. This is a gluten free and Kosher certified option as well.
2. Herbal Tea Sleep Aid w/ Chamomile , Valerian Root & Lemon Balm in Tea Bags
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: Chamomile, Valerian Root, Passion Flower
- Flavor: Sweet tangerine
- Size: 20 servings
Label: Editor’s Runner Up
Chamomile provides a sweet, soothing taste to help alleviate anxiety and stress while winding down each night. Made with other ingredients, such as orange peel, lemon balm, passion flower and valerian, this is the perfect blend to doze off to sleep with. With a great sweet tangerine taste, it is sweetened with all natural stevia and is exactly what you are looking for to help you relax.
3. Traditional Medicinals Organic Nighty Night Relaxation Tea
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: Chamomile, passion flower
- Flavor: minty sweet
- Size: 96 tea bags
Label: Best Organic Relaxation Tea
Promote a good night’s sleep with this organic blend that is a non-GMO verified source of ingredients and provides organic certification, is kosher, and also caffeine free. With a minty, sweet taste, notes of citrus and spice come through to help you relax and unwind after a long day. Active ingredients of chamomile and passion flower help make an aromatic, and calming blend.
4. TAZO Herbal Tea Bags Soothing Dream
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: lavender, chamomile, Valerian
- Flavor: sweet almond
- Size: 120 tea bags
Label: Best Flavor Blend Sleepy Tea
This is a great flavored tea that combines multiple ingredients, lavender, valerian, and chamomile to help sooth your entire body and help you relax and drift off to sleep. With an underlying sweetness of almonds, the entire aromatic and flavor profile is one of the best out there to take advantage of.
5. Numi Organic Tea Sweet Slumber
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: Chamomile, valerian root, passion flower
- Flavor: slightly sweet, floral
- Size: 48 tea bags
Label: Best Non-Groggy Sleepy Tea Blend
Full of health benefits, the Numi Organic tea blends only use premium natural ingredients to create functional teas for everyday life. Their Sweet Slumber option includes effective ingredients, such as chamomile, valerian root, passion flower, and lemon balms to encourage a sedative effect without leaving you feeling groggy. Naturally caffeine free, it offers a slightly sweet scent and wonderful aromatics.
6. Celestial Seasonings TeaWell Herbal Tea
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: Melatonin, chamomile, mint
- Flavor: sweet mint
- Size: 72 tea bags
Label: Best Melatonin Blend Nighttime Tea
Celestial Seasonings is another brand that has been a staple for tea lovers for decades. Their TeaWell line is made specifically for your needs through the day, and the sleep option has some of the best ingredients to aid problematic sleepers. The blend of melatonin, chamomile, and mint is soothing and triggers your body’s sleep response to help you drift off quickly, and stay asleep.
7. The Republic of Tea Beautifying Botanicals Beauty Sleep
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients:chamomile, rose
- Flavor: sweet floral
- Size: 36 tea bags
Label: Best Night Time Tea for Skin Support
Looking for the best beauty sleep support as well as a way to wind down each evening? The Republic of Tea Beautifying Botanicals uses premium ingredients to help support your body and mind through your day and night. The Beauty sleep formula utilizes chamomile and rose, along with a proprietary blend of botanicals that support both a soothing experience and your skin’s complexion from the inside out.
8. Yogi Tea – Bedtime
Key Feature
- Active Ingredients: Chamomile, passion flower
- Flavor: spicy sweet
- Size: 96 tea bags
Label: Best Spicy Sweet Flavor Profile for a Nighttime Tea
Chamomile combines with passion flower, cardamom, licorice, and cinnamon to provide a sweet tea with spicy undertones that is both soothing to your stomach and body, as it is your senses. USDA certified organic, this is a caffeine free option blended specifically for unwinding before bedtime, or anytime you feel the need to destress and relieve anxiety.
Conclusion
Just the act of making tea and physically winding down for the night is a great way to begin leaving the stress of a day behind. Plus, when you use a tea blended with premium ingredients designed for sleep and comfort, you have a perfect situation to support a better night’s rest.
Take a closer look at these night time tea options and pick and choose your favorite flavor profiles for both evening relief, as well as anytime you feel the need to relax.
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