SaVanna Shoemaker, RD Contributing Writer
There's no better way to wind down in the evenings and prepare for a restful slumber than a warm, cozy cup of tea. The best teas for sleep — chamomile, lavender, valerian and their blends — "are packed with natural compounds to help relax your body and calm your mind, making it easier to drift off," says Gina Jones, RDN, a functional and integrative dietitian and founder of Gina Jones Nutrition.
These teas are a perfect way to kick off your nightly routine. On top of the relaxation-inducing ingredients, the ritual of preparing tea itself can be a way to down-shift after a long day. I often have tea in the evenings to unwind, and I enjoy both the calming warmth and flavors and the act of filling the kettle, waiting for it to boil, steeping my tea and slowly sipping it once my household quiets down. As a registered dietitian and avid tea drinker, I've often been curious about the best teas for sleep. Usually, I choose whatever tea sounds most inviting, regardless of flavors, caffeine content or ingredients. However, I recently tried over a dozen teas for sleep to narrow down the top options.
Based on expert input from Jones and Markus Ploesser, MD, a psychiatrist and integrative medicine physician and chief innovation officer at Open Mind Health, I chose herbal teas that were caffeine-free and made with evidence-based ingredients for sleep and relaxation. I then rated them based on ingredients, quality, ease of preparation, taste, side effects and benefits. Here, I share the results.
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