7 Herbal Teas That Make You Feel Zen

If you want to dip your toe into herbal teas or just need to chill out, then check out my list of top 7 herbal teas.

10 min readJun 1, 2023

I am a tea fanatic.

My cupboard is a problem. You open it, and packets of peppermint, orange blossom, and chamomile just fall onto the floor.

There are lots of people who want to like herbal teas but think it tastes of lukewarm, slightly flavoured water. When I talk to those people, the conversation usually goes like this:

Non-herbal tea lover: ‘Oh yeah, I tried green tea once and thought it was really gross.’

Me: ‘Did you try a good quality tea brand or loose-leaf?’

Non-herbal tea lover: ‘No…I just bought a pack of 50 from my local supermarket.’

Me: *Buries head in hands* Go… just, go.

If you’re interested in herbal tea or you’ve given it a go, but didn’t like it, then read on.

This is my top list of teas you can drink to feel like a super zen wellness goddess, plus pros, cons and some recommendations! (scroll to the bottom for my full recommendation list).

All right you tea slurpers, let’s brew that cuppa.

Energizing Herbal Teas

Energizing teas aren’t zen? Are they?!

Yes, my friend, yes, they are. Do you want to know why? Because the ritual of preparing any tea is incredibly soothing and comforting.

Taking a moment to slow down and care for yourself is an act of self-love. Plus, once you add in a cute teapot and cup, it makes you so happy.

Green Tea

Green tea can be gross.

I completely agree.

I used to wrinkle my nose at it. But, I had only tried a 20-pack of those ready-made green teas in a bleached white teabag (yes, some companies bleach their tea bags).

It made me feel nauseous, and I put it down to one of those things you force down to be healthy. Turns out I was wrong.

A few years later, my auntie gave me a beautiful, golden embossed tin of Chinese green tea. My world changed. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was.

No scratchy, nasty left-over taste at the back of my throat. No retching because it made me feel sick afterwards. Instead, it was a smooth, genuinely serene experience.

But I couldn’t get my hands on that same tea again. That was until I came across…

Tea Pigs.

They’re one of the few and far between companies that create delicious loose-leaf green tea in tea bags.

My world changed.

Yes, they are a little luxurious, but when you use the bags twice or get a pack of loose leaves, you’re laughing.

I’ve linked the Tea Pigs’ green tea here.

Pros of green tea

Energising without the jitters
Smooth and gentle taste (as long as you get the good stuff)
Anti-oxidant
Anti-inflammatory

Cons of green tea

Can take some getting used to
Regular green tea from supermarkets doesn’t taste good
Can make you nauseous if you drink on an empty stomach

Matcha Green Tea

Matcha green tea isn’t for the faint-hearted. But it’s ideal if you’re used to green tea and want something that’s as strong as coffee. Because this baby — packs a punch.

It's ground down tea leaves, and because it uses the whole tea leaf, it’s very concentrated.

Matcha is an incredible anti-oxidant, so it flushes out your system and fights toxins. It’s also really good for inflammation. That means if you’ve got a funky gut, it will help calm it. Or if you sit down a lot, then it really increases your blood flow.

What’s special about matcha is the ritual of preparing it. You get a little whisk and then sip it out of a cute cup. I definitely feel at peace when I prepare my matcha.

I strongly recommend using a very small amount when you first start. I also like to add slices of lemon to balance the strong flavour.

You can get my favourite matcha tea here.

Pros of matcha

Powerful anti-oxidant
Same amount of caffeine as coffee
Detox hero
Anti-inflammatory

Cons of matcha

Strong taste, so take it easy
Can make you nauseous if you drink on an empty stomach
Doesn’t come in ready-to-use tea bags

Calming Herbal Teas

I am prone to anxiety and often struggle to chill out or fall asleep. That’s why I love sitting down with a soothing tea that tells my body to slow down and take a breath.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a chill-out classic. What’s better after a stressful day than lying back in a serene bubble bath with a cup of chamomile tea? (Don’t knock a bath with a hot drink until you’ve tried it!).

Chamomile has a very gentle taste, but it can feel a bit plain, so I often add honey. It’s also great to mix with lavender (more on that in a minute).

I find loose chamomile flowers are the best, but I also love Tea Pigs chamomile tea bags.

If you’re using loose leaf, pop a teaspoon into a tea strainer, leave it to brew for a few minutes, and you’re on your way.

Pros of chamomile tea

Soothing and calming
Anti-inflammatory
Good for bloating
Mild and natural sedative

Cons of chamomile tea

Can taste a little plain
Only tastes good as loose-leaf (in teabags or on its own), not the ground up stuff
The powdery bits sometimes escape the tea strainer

Lavender Tea

Photo by Merve Sehirli Nasir on Unsplash

Lavender is the wellness goddess of all flowers and herbs. I love using lavender essential oil in my cleaning products, in baths, for relaxation, you name it. But the dried flower is also incredible as a tea.

I typically use loose-leaf lavender and decant it into a mason jar. It looks very chic and gives the impression I’m the kind of person with a French manicure and a fancy diary.

It’s a little tricky to get it in tea bags, but I found these Cotswold lavender tea bags, and there’s no way these can’t be good.

If you’re not from the UK, the Cotswolds is a cluster of English countryside and idyllic villages. Definitely a recommendation if you're looking for the ultimate English experience.

I like to mix half a teaspoon of loose-leaf lavender with half a teaspoon of chamomile and a dollop of honey for relaxation in a cup.

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Pros of lavender tea

Beautiful aroma
Reminds me of spring
Gentle flavour
Mild and natural sedative

Cons of lavender tea

Taste can be a little too floral for some people
Doesn’t always come in tea bags
Might remind you of your nan

Rose Tea

Rose is one of my all-time favourites. Honestly, it feels like such a luxury every time I drink it. I use dried rose petals or rose buds to make a soothing detox and beauty tea.

I tend to make one in the morning to remind myself of self-love and self-care.

It doesn’t brew pink (I know, gutted) but a pale yellow, a little like chamomile. I love that the smell is gentle and always settles my stomach.

The great thing about rose tea is you can use the dried petals and buds as decoration. I like to sprinkle some on top of a dirty rose chai latte (bougie AF) or chuck some in my bath. Do this, and you’ve instantly upgraded your life.

I use loose-leaf rose petal tea. I haven’t found any straight-up rose tea bags I like yet, but let me know if you do!

Pros of rose tea

Delicate flavour
Helps digestion
Great detox
Looks and feels romantic
Beauty benefits (hair and skin)

Cons of rose tea

Tastes too floral for some people
Doesn’t come in tea bags

Comforting Herbal Teas

Teas are best known for their comforting qualities. I remember when I was upset that I got a bad mark on an essay, and the first thing my friend said was, ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’

I sniffled and nodded my head. Five minutes later, my tears had stopped, and I was curled up on the sofa with a steaming, hot mug of tea.

Here are my favourite comforting herbal teas.

Blackcurrant Tea

Blackcurrant tea is wonderful. It reminds me of autumn, apple pie, warm hugs, and chilly afternoons.

It’s the ideal comfort drink when you want to wind down on a summer evening, when you need warming up on on a blustery day, or after dinner when you want to Netflix and Chill.

My go-to is Pukka’s blackcurrant tea.

Pros of blackcurrant tea

Comforting and soothing
Smells delicious
Has a really great taste
Comes in ready-made tea bags

Cons of blackcurrant tea

Less anti-inflammatory than other teas
Doesn’t have energising or sedative properties

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint is like green tea. It’s a herbal tea staple, and you can find it in most cafes and even pubs.

Peppermint is best known for its digestion qualities. If you have your evening meal, go for a light walk and then drink a cup of peppermint tea, your digestion is going to be mwah *chef’s kiss*.

Most peppermint teas are great, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad one. But the one I beeline towards is always Clipper’s peppermint tea. I just love their cardboard boxes and unbleached tea bags.

However, I’m one of those people who seems to get pukey easily, and peppermint tea sometimes has that effect. But fresh mint tea…oh baby, now you’re talking. It gives your gut the ultimate spa treatment.

I often buy mint and grow it in my garden. Get a few stems of that, give it a good wash, then put it in a mug, add water, and you’re away. Make sure your water isn’t scalding before you put it in because it’ll burn the leaves. But otherwise, it’s super simple.

Pros of mint tea

Incredible for bloating and indigestion
Smells uplifting
Can drink any time of the day

Cons of mint tea

Doesn’t have energising or sedative properties
Can make some people feel nauseous

Lemon and Ginger Tea

Last but not least, lemon and ginger tea has to be my number one classic. Does it count as a herbal tea? Who knows, but I love it.

Whether it’s morning, evening, when you’re stressed, whether you’re bloated or if you’ve got a cold, this tea is your saviour.

I like to chop up chunks of ginger and a handful of lemon slices and steep them in a cup for a couple of minutes. Add in a teaspoon of honey, and this is the one tea I sip and say ‘mmmm’ every time.

Photo by sentot setyasiswanto on Unsplash

The great thing about this tea is you can change its strength. I absolutely adore ginger, but it can be too full-on for other people.

You can add less ginger, or if you want to blow your head off, then steep the tea in a saucepan. That stuff is powerful.

If you like a milder flavour and you cba to chop up fresh ingredients (I hear you), then Tea Pigs Lemon and Ginger tea bags are perfect.

Pros of lemon and ginger tea

Incredible for bloating and indigestion
Great anti-inflammatory
Good detoxifier
Perfect for when you’re ill, sad, or chilly!

Cons of lemon and ginger tea

Making it fresh is best, but that takes effort
Flavour can be a little zingy for some people

Which Herbal Tea Will You Try?

I could go on and on about teas. Believe me, this has just scraped the surface. But if you’re a herbal tea novice, then I hope you have a starting point to begin your herbal tea journey. Go live that zen-tea life!