Herbal Teas: 15 Types That Are Healthy for You to Drink

Herbal tea is any tea made from dried flowers, leaves, fruits, or other aromatics found in nature. Types of herbal tea that are healthy to drink include chamomile, peppermint, lavender, and other types of tea.

Herbal tea is any tea made from dried flowers, leaves, fruits, or other aromatics found in nature. Because herbal teas don't share a common base like black or green teas, there are many to choose from. And each has its own added health benefits.

When considering herbal teas to try, it may be helpful to narrow down your choice by looking at the specific health benefits each tea can provide.

1. Chamomile

Possibly one of the most popular herbal teas, chamomile is made from dried flowers and provides a sweet, floral flavor.

Besides its mild and comforting taste, it also boasts a wide variety of added health benefits. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties and can therefore help ease symptoms of: 

• The common cold
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Heart issues
• Diabetes
• Cancer

Additionally, chamomile’s ability to help you relax makes it a great sleep-time aid and anxiety reducer.

However, if you're pregnant, it’s best to stay away from this tea. Chamomile is a uterine relaxant that can cause early or preterm labor.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint is a common flavor found in many foods, so many opt for this familiar taste when trying out a new tea. Also found in toothpaste and gum, peppermint is a great natural breath freshener. But its abilities don’t stop at surface level.

Peppermint also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help promote a healthy mouth environment. It can lower your chances of developing dental issues like gum disease.

Drinking peppermint tea regularly may help your overall dental health by minimizing cavities and gum issues.

3. Lavender

Many are familiar with lavender as a popular scent and color, but it makes an excellent tea as well. Drinking lavender tea can help lower anxiety and stress levels in your body. Lavender tea can be a great beverage for relaxing at the end of a hard day, but it may not help with intense levels of anxiety.

Lavender has antibacterial properties, especially against bacteria known to cause blood infections, including pneumonia. It’s important not to rely solely on tea to help treat bacterial infections, but it can help give your immune system a boost if needed.

4. Ginger

Ginger can be found in many shapes and forms — ground, candied, dried, and pickled, to name a few — making it not only a delicious tea flavor but also a beloved food and flavor.

When combating nausea or morning sickness, many people turn to ginger tea for relief. Ginger has many gastrointestinal benefits and can even help keep your blood pressure stable.

In addition to being an anti-nausea solution, ginger also can help with health issues related to aging. And, as an antioxidant, ginger can help relieve stress-induced inflammation and may prevent cancer-related DNA damage.

5. Rose hips

Rose hip tea is made from the pseudo-fruits of wild roses. Its flavor can be described as tart and cranberry-like, which matches its red color. Rose hip tea aids in the therapeutic healing of several diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This tea may help prevent tumor growth in patients with cancer and could help reduce inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The antioxidant qualities of rose hips could also help to reduce bone damage related to osteoporosis.

Daily intake of rose hips has been linked to obesity prevention and skin damage protection.

6. Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a beautiful flower found in many tropical areas. When made into a tea, most describe its flavor as tart — but floral, fruity hints can be brought out with a little sweetener.

Besides being a unique flavor, hibiscus tea could help lower risks associated with overall cardiovascular health. It has also been shown to help with insulin production and blood glucose levels. Though no known dosage amounts have been instituted, drinking a cup of hibiscus tea a day may be a beneficial choice for those diagnosed with diabetes.

7. Echinacea

Echinacea is a flavor often found in cough drops, so many are aware of its ability to help fight throat inflammation caused by the common cold. But echinacea seems to have many benefits beyond this.

One recent study has shown the extent of health benefits from echinacea in individuals recovering from COVID-19. Echinacea has been shown to help trigger immune responses, fight viral lung infections, and protect the functions of vital organs. These benefits have only been shown alongside standard medical treatment for COVID-19 but are unmistakable.

Echinacea’s antioxidant properties help to make this tea a top choice for fighting winter colds. But you should avoid it if you're pregnant — it can affect fetal development and cause early termination of pregnancy.

8. Rooibos

Rooibos tea, also known as red tea, is made from the leaves of a shrub grown in South Africa. Although the color is quite bold, the flavor of the tea is mild and enjoyed by many.

Another defensive tea against COVID-19, rooibos carries many anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent choice for encouraging an immune response. Rooibos also helps protect vital organs — especially the heart — that are targeted and often damaged as a result of more severe COVID-19 infections.

Rooibos can help to regulate glucose levels in the blood, making it another beneficial tea option for people with diabetes.

9. Sage

Sage tea is made from sage leaves, a common herb found in many spice mixes. Sage is in the mint family, so many compare the taste of sage tea to that of mint tea.

One study found that sage tea could significantly relieve symptoms of PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Additionally, sage has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce glucose levels, stress, and cardiovascular issues.

10. Lemon balm

Lemon balm tea is made from the leaves of the lemon balm plant. Also a part of the mint family, lemon balm has a similar flavor but with a more citrusy and refreshing twist.

Lemon balm tea can be consumed on its own or used to create kombucha, which is fermented tea.

Compared with standard black tea kombucha, lemon balm kombucha has higher levels of antioxidants and antimicrobial activity. Due to these properties, it can help lower anxiety and stress and promote better sleep.

11. Passionflower

Passionflower tea is made from the passionflower vine, which has long, strong branches and beautiful flowers.

This tea has several antioxidant properties that are known to aid in relaxation. This means it may help you get more restful sleep. Passionflower could also help to minimize neurotic disorder symptoms, including common symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Passionflower tea is a great choice for someone looking for a unique herbal tea to enjoy at the end of a long day.

12. Butterfly pea flower

Butterfly pea flower, also known as blue pea flower, is known for its blue hue in tea. Its exciting and unique color makes it a favorite of many tea drinkers.

Butterfly pea flower is a medicinal plant used in East Asian countries to: 

• Treat infection
• Make medicines
• Cure headaches

As a tea, you may find that butterfly pea flower helps reduce inflammation and stabilize your blood sugar. This can be especially helpful when combating diabetes or common inflammatory diseases.

13. Lemongrass

True to its name, lemongrass tea is bursting with citrus flavor. It's made from lemongrass stalks, which look almost like green onions and can be used to flavor sauces and soups.

Lemongrass tea boasts antibacterial and antiviral properties and may help to weaken both bacterial and viral diseases and keep them from spreading further. Like other herbal teas, it also has many antioxidant properties and can help fight cancer and complications related to aging.

Additionally, lemongrass tea can help reduce stress and anxiety as well as congestion and coughing, making it a good option if you're fighting a cold.

14. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus tea is made from the eucalyptus tree native to Australia and the Pacific region. Its taste is similar to that of black tea but is still remarkably herbal and reminiscent of the tree it comes from.

Ingestion of eucalyptus has shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, meaning this tea is excellent at triggering your body’s natural immune system. Many reach for this tea when they're fighting off the flu or the common cold.

Eucalyptus tea is also able to help fight more infectious diseases and can even curb cancer growth.

15. Cinnamon

Cinnamon tea is another favorite flavor found in tea. Made by steeping cinnamon sticks, many tea drinkers enjoy cinnamon tea for its warm, comforting aromas.

Found in most kitchen pantries around the world, cinnamon also has a handful of health benefits. Like many other herbal teas, cinnamon tea has many antioxidant, anticancer, and antifungal properties. It can help combat Alzheimer’s disease by reducing changes in the brain through glucose utilization.

Additionally, cinnamon can help combat heart disease due to its anti-inflammatory properties, which work to protect vital organs.

However, if you have a liver disorder, it may be best to limit your cinnamon intake. Because there's no recommended daily intake quantity of cinnamon tea, researchers are unsure what negative effects would result from an overdose.