The 10 Best Herbal Tea Brands in 2023

Things to Consider Before Buying Herbal Tea

Herbal tea can only officially be a tea if it is made with leaves from the Camellia sinensis, or tea plant. Perhaps the more appropriate name should be tisane, or infusion, but today, herbal tea is the most common name to describe teas which are not actually teas!

Herbal teas have been drunk for thousands of years and there are documents form Ancient China and Ancient Egypt detailing herbal teas and their medicinal benefits. Usually a herbal tea is a blend of flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and any other form of botanical. Some of these teas can be complex with various ‘active’ ingredients, while others such as peppermint or nettle, are simple and just made with one ingredient.

Some Key Herbal Tea Ingredients

Most herbal teas are free from caffeine, although some may have low amounts of naturally occurring caffeine, depending on what ingredients are in the herbal tea. Many herbal tea ingredients are linked with health; here are just some ingredients which may offer benefits to health and wellbeing:

Blueberry

An antioxidant rich fruit, there have been some early links between blueberry and reducing the risk of and treating type 2 diabetes. Blueberry may also function as an anti-inflammatory and blueberry tea has shown potential to help improve learning, thinking and memory in people of different ages.

Chicory

Chicory is rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene (which converts to vitamin A in the body). It has been linked with disorders such as osteoarthritis and hypertension, although at present, there remains insufficient evidence for chicory as being effective for these and other disorders. Chicory can work as a mild laxative and may decrease swelling in the body.

Cinnamon

There are two types of cinnamon – Cassia (or regular) and Ceylon (or true) which has a less bitter and lighter taste. Cinnamon contains many antioxidants and it may be able to work as a potent anti-inflammatory. It has also been shown to improve some of the risk factors for heart disease.

Cinnamon can also affect blood sugar levels and act as an anti-diabetic. There have also been some laboratory studies which have shown promising results of cinnamon being able to reduce cancer cell growth.

Dandelion

Dandelion is rich in several antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Some of these may help reduce inflammation-related diseases, although as yet, there is no clear medical link. Dandelion may also help reduce higher levels of lipids and it can work as a natural diuretic. There is a risk of some people being allergic to dandelion, especially if they have an allergy to similar plants such as daisies or marigolds.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus may help lower blood pressure. One study showed that after six weeks of drinking hibiscus tea, study participants had a decrease in systolic blood pressure. Hibiscus may also be able to help lower levels of fat in the blood.

Rooibos

Rooibos (or red bush) comes from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub which grows in South Africa. When the leaves become oxidated during processing they turn a burnt-red color, and this gives rooibos its sweet aroma. Rooibos is high in antioxidants - molecules known to be pro-active against heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many other disorders.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Used in Ayurvedic medicine, Tulsi, grows in various countries including India. Although Tulsi has been linked with many conditions, there remains a lack of evidence to support its effects. There has been some early studies showing some success with Tulsi seed oil to slow the progression of certain cancers in some animals and also improve their survival rates. There have also been some positive early findings around blood sugar levels in diabetics and decreasing some of the symptoms of stress.

Side Effects of Herbal Teas

The FDA does not regulate herbal teas, their ingredients or any other types of herbal supplements. This means that any side effects or potential interactions with prescription medications may be unknown. Some herbals can increase the side effects of some medicines, stop them from breaking down in the body properly or even stop the drug from working as it should do.

If you take prescription medications, you should let your medical professional know which herbal teas you drink or want to start drinking; just to be sure that the herbal tea will not interfere with your medications.

Herbal Teas and Pregnancy

Although herbal teas can be an extra source of nutrients such as calcium, the FDA recommends caution when drinking herbal teas during pregnancy.

The American Pregnancy Association reports that reasonable amounts of commercial herbal teas are thought to be safe and some manufacturers only use herbs and botanicals from FDA published guidelines. Herbal teas which may be unsafe are those with excessive amounts of particular herbs, any herbs known to be toxic and teas which have not been made commercially.

Some teas are sold as pregnancy teas, often containing red raspberry leaf this may help prevent some complications during pregnancy. Peppermint or ginger can help relieve some stomach discomfort and lemon balm may have a calming effect.

Although nettle can often be in blends, it is rated as ‘likely unsafe’ in the natural medicines database, although some sources state that nettles can be beneficial during pregnancy.

Penny royal, licorice root, slippery elm bark and chicory root should always be avoided. Chamomile should be used with caution or not at all if you have allergies to plants such as chrysanthemums which are in the same plant family. Yellow dock and alfalfa are ‘possibly unsafe’ also.

It is always worth checking with your medical professional before consuming any types of herbal tea during pregnancy.

Storing Herbal Teas

Herbal teas are sensitive to light, heat and humidity. They are best stored where humidity is 55% or lower. If you do live in a humid area and do not use continuous A/C or have a storage area with a dehumidifier, you may want to buy smaller amounts of teas more often to prevent them degrading.

The ideal temperature for storage is between 65°F and 75°F, avoiding any fluctuations from this range.

Herbal tea is best stored in an air-tight container such as a tin to protect it from light and contain its odors. If you prefer to use a glass container, then darker glass is better as this will help protect against light.

Conclusion

In this article we have looked at some of the potential benefits from drinking a range of herbal teas. We have also looked in a little detail around how safe herbal teas are during pregnancy and why it is important to let your medical professional know if you drink herbal teas when on any medications.

Some of the best herbal tea brands may well contribute to health and wellbeing; at the very least they offer a caffeine free and low or no-acid alternative to a cup of coffee or black tea. They can also be zero calorie, making them popular for many dietary or lifestyle needs. We hope that you have enjoyed this article and you now feel confident to try a herbal tea; or if you are a regular herbal tea drinker, then we hope that we have offered you some options of a different herbal taste.