Sleep Tea

The best loose leaf tea for sleep and relaxation does not contain caffeine. All true tea (Camellia sinensis) contains caffeine. At Rare Tea we don't sell decaf tea because it contains a host of chemicals that are needed to extract the caffeine. They also remove a lot of flavour and beneficial amino acids. Instead, we offer a selection of caffeine free herbal infusions.

Our herbal tea collection is all pure loose leaf herbs and flowers. Free from flavourings, additives, pesticides, herbicides and single-use teabags.

Does tea help you sleep?

We are tea experts and not health experts so we cannot make any wild claims about miracle sleep teas. Herbal teas can make wonderful sleep aids and help with relaxation but they do not contain any chemical compounds that cause you to fall asleep. For some people a warm cup of tea can be soothing in the evening, helping you unwind and sleep better, but there is no guarantee it will send you to sleep.

Which tea is best for sleep?

There are many herbs that you can drink in the evening to avoid caffeine including Wild Rooibos, Himalayan Ginger & Lemongrass or Cinnamon Basil. Our favourite 'sleepy tea' is Soothe-Me tea, blended from herbs specifically to calm and aid a restful night's sleep. This blend is also good for moments of stress when you need a sip of delicious solace.

Is this tea caffeine free?

Our Soothe-Me tea is a pure herbal blend and does not contain caffeine.

Are any sleepy teas caffeinated?

For a loose leaf nighttime tea you might want to try a blend that only contains a little tea with herbs like our Recovery Tea.

If it has to be pure tea - we recommend trying a later infusion. As you reinfuse the best loose leaf tea, you not only reveal hidden subtleties of flavour but also dissolve some of the caffeine. So the second, third or even sixth infusion has less caffeine left in the loose leaf making a better sleep tea. A Gyokuro or Tie Guan Yin oolong is ideal for this. So save your favourite tea that you've been drinking throughout the day to have the last infusion at night.

Can tea help with insomnia?

Unwinding with a relaxing cup of tea can help improve your quality of sleep but cannot be considered to be a cure for insomnia or other sleep difficulties.

What is the strongest herb for sleep?

There is no one herb that will send you to sleep, but gentle, sweet and soothing Chamomile Flowers are widely considered to be an excellent loose leaf tea for sleep.

How long does it take for sleep tea to kick in?

Because there are no active ingredients in herbal infusions there is no guarantee of how long it will take you to drift off after a cup. But the longer you are away from your screens and social media, the quicker it is to switch off.

Does chamomile help you sleep?

Chamomile tea has widely been used as a sleep aid for centuries around the world. No active ingredients have been identified, but anecdotally and in our experience, it can help you feel calm and relaxed which may help you snooze off or improve your quality of sleep. Our Whole Chamomile Flowers come loose and lovely to avoid any chemicals, bleaches, glues, nano-plastics or single-use paper that are often used in tea bags - all those chemicals can hardly be described as a detox.

Does peppermint help you sleep?

Because peppermint tea doesn't contain caffeine it is a good option to drink at night-time. Peppermint can also help soothe your digestive system, which is beneficial for a good night's sleep. Spearmint may be an even better option for bedtime tea because it's lower in stimulating menthol oils than peppermint.