Nothing beats snuggling into bed with fresh sheets and a warm blanket after having a nice cup of tea.  But, given the hundreds of flavors and varieties available, finding the right tea for sleep can be quite tough.

So to make things easier, we’ll be covering the best varieties of tea to drink before bed in order to get a good night’s sleep.  Throughout the guide, we’ll also be covering helpful resources pertaining to tea products, and other sleep-related items.

The Best Bedtime Tea Flavors

Valerian Root

Avid tea drinkers will know that this root has been traditionally used as a sleep and stress aid for many years.  This tea is reported to reduce stress, nervousness, headaches, and even heart palpitations.

Valerian root is able to accomplish this thanks to two naturally synthesized sedatives known as valepotriates and sesquiterpenes.  While it does facilitate better sleep, this root is said to have an earthy taste, which is why most drinkers will often pair it with honey or maple syrup

Chamomile

Originally derived from the dainty chamomile flower, this variety of tea is known to have a tranquilizing effect on those who drink it.  Most experts attribute this tea’s side effect to the chemical compound contained within it known as apigenin.

Brewed properly, chamomile tea tastes similar to a mixture of apples and mildly-sweet honey.  

But, if one adds too many chamomile leaves, the tea can end up tasting quite bitter… so it’s important to use the proper number of leaves and avoid steeping them for too long

Lavender

While lavender is commonly used in oil diffusers, and fragrances, it is also actually a wonderful sleep aid.  Lavender tea is said to improve sleep quality while also reducing sleep interruptions throughout the night.

This type of tea is light in taste with heavy floral notes.  Because of this, tea drinkers recommend mixing the lavender with honey or another mild sweetener to make it taste better overall.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, otherwise known as Melissa Officinalis, is a tea with minty, citrusy tones and a sweet taste overall.  This herb comes in both tea and essential oils, but both are said to carry antiviral and antibacterial properties.

In addition to this, lemon balm is also said to reduce the severity of insomnia as well as anxiety and depression.  Drinking this tea a few hours before bed can work to reduce restlessness and increase sleep quality.

Regardless of which tea you choose to consume, it’s important to remember that other factors can also play a role in how well you sleep.  Some folks may indulge in a massage before bed, or sleep in a warm, dimly-lit room, beneath a weighted blanket.

When it comes to fixing your sleep routine it’s worth a bit of experimentation to see what works best with your evening tea.  While you work on this, we’d recommend keeping this article handy so you’ll always have a reliable list of bedtime beverages to try as well.