Brits love tea, it's an ingrained part of our culture.
The world of teas is so vast, yet most tend to stick with the classics. Earl Grey, Green and English Breakfast are shelf staples, with the occasional mint, jasmine and ginger sachet offering an alternative aromatic or revitalising blend.
We also happen to be a particularly nervy nation. Whether fretting about the weather or the dubious state of the government, there’s always cause for concern within the collective English psyche. So the fact that tea, the second most consumed beverage after water, can combat anxiety is a total godsend for us brooding Brits.
Teas offer a milder sensory experience than their coffee counterparts. A gentle morning pick me up or a post-dinner wind-down, a cup of tea is a warming, gentler caffeine kiss that both soothes and stimulates.
It goes without saying that a hot flood of sweet milky goodness is wildly soothing in itself. However, the ingredients of tea can also be instrumental in helping to relieve the effects of anxiety. Calming components like chamomile aid sleep and relaxation, while ginger and peppermint tea can relieve stomach pains often caused by stress. Researchers have found that tea can lower cortisol levels, aka the stress hormone, which wreaks havoc on our mood.
Jo Webber, Head of Herbal Education at Pukka Herbs and Ayurvedic Practitioner says: "Herbal teas are a great alternative to caffeinated drinks which can often leave us feeling groggy, and there’s lots of different options to support you throughout the day. With the growing awareness of how herbs can help the body and mind, there’s never been a better time to try different tea blends".
She adds: "Herbal teas that use traditionally soothing herbs such as chamomile which is full of calming essential oils, or lavender which is known to uplift spirits, ease emotional worries and promote relaxation. There has been research around spearmint too which helps to soothe inner tension. One of my favourite herbs is ashwagandha because it invites positive energy, reinstates balance and helps you to relax."
Tea’s calming properties are hardly new intel. One of the earliest records of tea’s benefits dates back to a medical text written by Chinese physician Hua Tuoof in the third century AD. The beverage subsequently became a popular drink during the Tang Dynasty, with its influence stretching to India and finally Britain in the 17th century.
There’s no need to consult the history books to fact-check this. Simply switch on Netflix. From Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan awkwardly reconnecting over a soothing cup of tea in The Great Gatsby to Ramona Flowers serving up some ‘Sleepy Time’ tea to break the ice on her first date with Scott in Scott Pilgrim VS The World, tea is widely regarded as a mitigator of stress. And not forgetting Benedict Bridgerton knocking back a mysterious purple tea in Season 2 of the Regency drama while awaiting his fate as an artist, only to become accidentally narcotized by its potent effects.
Approximately 12 per cent of the British population suffers from anxiety and 60 per cent of the British population drinks tea. So the fact that tea can help to remedy the condition is a genius revelation.
However, it is important to note that researchers are cautious about overstating the effects of tea, especially for people who are clinically diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Certain teas help to calm but the effects on those with significant mental illness are yet to be confirmed. Anxiety is also closely linked with sleep deprivation, which can be caused by caffeine intake before bed. So, best avoid tea time after midday if caffeine affects your ability to drift off.
What teas help combat anxiety?
Teas known to improve mental health include chamomile, peppermint, lavender, and green tea. These flavours are believed to reduce cortisol levels, elevate mood and improve sleep patterns.
Will tea cure my anxiety?
It is not recommended that tea be used as the primary medication to treat anxiety. Calming teas offer a momentary stress release, which is not an adequate remedy for aiding medically diagnosed mental health conditions that may require medication. However, adding a few cups of tea into your daily routine won't hurt.
How many cups of tea can I drink in a day?
As the saying goes, everything in moderation. Drinking too much tea, more than four cups a day, may lead to side effects, including headaches, issues with digestion, and a disrupted sleep routine. It’s worth noting which teas contain higher levels of caffeine, such as green tea, which can keep you up at night.
Allow yourself a moment of peace and quiet by discovering the best teas to help soothe anxiety and promote calm below.
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Pukka Relax Organic Herbal Tea
Pukka’s relaxing herbal tea is an organic fusion of chamomile, fennel and marshmallow root. The tea’s essential oils settle the nerves and offer a moment of stillness and relaxation as you sip. Chamomile is celebrated for its calming effects and peaceful properties which promote healthy sleep cycles and overall ease.
Curl up at home with a steamy brew or carry onboard your next flight to relieve anxiety at all times.
Buy now £5.00, Waitrose
Neal's Yard Quiet Time Tea 18 Tea Bags
Create the perfect moment of tranquillity with a warming cup of Quiet Time by Neal’s Yard. The beloved wellness brand incorporates fragrant pink rose buds, sweet lime flowers and delicate chamomile into its floral brew, which will whisk you away to a quiet corner for a moment of mindfulness.
Buy now £5.00, Neal's Yard
Bird & Blend Tea Co. Dozy Girl Chamomile Tea
Hot girl summer walked so dozy girl winter could run. Esteemed tea connoisseur Bird & Blend say we need to take a break with its Dozy Girl concoction. Allow the sedative properties of the chamomile to take hold and relax into the rest of the day ahead.
Buy now £6.75, Bird & Blend Tea Co.
WELLECO Sleep Welle Calming Tea Caddy
Wind down with Elle Macpherson’s label WELLECO’s potent combination of herbs specifically chosen for their ability to calm and encourage deep and restful shut-eye. The tea bags contain an elevated cocktail of hops, insomnia-busting valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap and mango, all known for their anti-stressing properties. The combination offers a fragrant and exotic taste on the palate.
Buy now £48.00, Selfridges
Pukka Night Time Tea 20 Tea Bags
Pukka is a household name for a reason. The brand excels in its unusual but also always winning flavour combinations and this specialised Night Time tea is no different.
This caffeine-free tea combines the mild, delicate but distinctive taste of oat flower, lavender and lime flower. The soothing blend has zesty undertones and a hint of liquorice, and leaves you with a pleasantly drowsy feeling as you sip away.
The ingredients have been organically grown and ethically sourced, while the bag itself is free from any plastic.
Buy now £4.75, Holland & Barrett
Waitrose Duchy Organic Camomile Infusion 25 Tea Bags
Ensure your shelves are always stocked with Waitrose’s chamomile tea infusion. Inexpensive and irresistible in equal measure, the sweet floral brew welcomes peace into the busy day with just a few sips. Not only is the product caffeine-free, but it was also ethically grown and produced.
Buy now £2.00, Waitrose
Twinings Superblends Sleep 20 Tea Bags
Switch off your devices, put your feet up and enjoy a warming brew from British tea stalwart Twinings. Standing out from the crowd of sleep teas, this option has spiced apple and vanilla as two of the key flavours, which give it an almost festive feel. This is combined with camomile as well as added vitamins and minerals that will encourage you to rest easy long into the night.
Buy now £2.99, Holland & Barrett
Bird & Blend Tea Co. Moondrop Dreams Tea
As per the name of this tea, Bird & Blend’s Moondrop Dreams promotes the ultimate relaxation. Lemon, lavender and floral notes collide to create gentle bursts of soothing flavour, perfect for enjoying during days working from home or while curled up by a roaring fire.
Buy now £4.75, Bird & Blend Tea Co.
Waitrose Camomile, Limeflower, Lavender Infusion 20 Tea Bags
Melt away with a steaming chamomile, limeflower and lavender infusion in your hand. Both chamomile and lavender boast soothing properties to beat out anxiety, while the citrus undertones add a zesty kick for added freshness.
Buy now £0.95, Waitrose
Traditional Medicinals Organic Lemon Balm, Caffeine Free
Calm the nervous system and support digestion with a citrus blend. Diffuse Traditional Medicianl’s lemon balm tea bags for a reinvigorating aromatic experience, which will restore calm and quiet during any moment of tension.
Buy now £4.74, iherb
Origreens Organic Passion Flower Tea
For those who are yet to be introduced to passiflora, we advise you to listen up. The organic ingredient is the core substance of this tea and is known to calm the nervous system. The climbing plant is originally from Mexico and was used by the Aztecs for its many beneficial qualities such as mood elevation and enforcing healthy sleeping patterns.
Buy now £8.99, Origreens
