There are a bevy of loose-leaf tea blends that lend themselves perfectly to a good night’s (or afternoon’s) sleep.
Did you know that we celebrated National Napping Day on March 11? Aside from being one of our favorite pastimes (after drinking tea, of course), sleep is nature’s restoration, which is why it’s not only lovable, but also essential.
So many of us have trouble sleeping, with issues ranging from anxiety to physical ailments keeping us up at night, or even preventing us from taking a restorative power nap. A lot of sleep issues, of course, are related to our old frenemy: stress. Per the American Psychological Association:
“Survey findings show that stress may be getting in the way of quality sleep. American adults report sleeping an average of 6.7 hours a night—less than the minimum recommendation of seven to nine hours.6 In addition, 42 percent of adults report that their sleep quality is fair or poor and 43 percent report that stress has caused them to lie awake at night in the past month. Many report that their stress increases when the length and quality of their sleep decreases.”
That’s right—the more you sleep, the less you stress, says science. Unbeknownst to many tea drinkers, there is a whole world of herbal teas that inherently contain minimal or no caffeine, and that contain adaptogens, the plant-based active ingredients that help balance and regulate your body. Derived from plants and including ingredients from fruits, flowers, spices and more, these blends—especially the ones from Heavenly Tea Leaves—are as delicious and wholesome as they are soothing. From tea time to zzz time, here are our top three tried-and-true favorites for drifting off…
What’s in a name? Apparently, a whole lot. The unique and complex Organic Sleep blend combines stomach-settling peppermint and relaxing chamomile mixed with citrusy and floral bursts of lemongrass and hibiscus. Not only does this one prepare your mind for a good night’s rest—it also prepares your body (and your taste buds!), regulating your digestion, body temperature, mood, and more. This gourmet lover’s tea is the ultimate bedtime panacea.
This adaptogenic organic root delivers a uniquely earthy and woody taste that is a departure from typical tea botanicals. Although this wouldn't be our top pick for flavor alone, Ashwagandha is an ingredient famed for its natural stress-busting abilities. It’s also an immune system ally, boosting overall balance and vitality.
According to NewYork Presbyterian’s Health Matters:
“When chronically activated, the sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of stress hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. This abnormal release of stress hormones has many negative effects in our body over time, including increased inflammation and disruptions of our digestion and metabolism. Ashwagandha seems to counteract our sympathetic nervous system and decrease the excessive release of stress hormones, helping our bodies to cope with stress and come back into balance. Cortisol has a circadian rhythm, tending to go up in the early morning and decrease throughout the day. There’s research that shows that ashwagandha can help reset your circadian rhythm, getting you into a good sleep pattern, and slowly, over the course of weeks to months, rejuvenating your body.”
This zero-caffeine tea is commonly used to combat anxiety and mood issues, which of course lends itself perfectly to falling asleep without those mind-racing jitters. For a more balanced version of this flavor, try our Ashwagandha Mint.
The holy grail of sleepy-time teas is Heavenly Tea Leaves’ Chamomile Lavender blend. There is no shortage of research of the benefits of both chamomile and lavender when it comes to stress reduction and sleep aid. Chamomile has been used for centuries for its health-promoting properties, which include aiding sleep and relaxation, and helping with digestive issues. As for lavender? We’re no strangers; the scent alone gets us ready to float into another dimension. As we’ve mentioned before, a number of studies show that lavender is the ultimate mood-stabilizer, sedative, analgesic and more. Sip on this herbal infusion of two powerhouse mind-easers as a relaxing ritual at the end of a long day.
Honorable Mention: Jasmine Oolong
This tea is all about flavor, with its beneficial properties in a close second. A high-grown tea from Anxi County, China, this tea has been lightly oxidized and briefly baked to enhance its natural properties. Its emerald green, tightly rolled leaves are delicately scented with jasmine petals, bringing out unique hints of grassiness, apricot, and a lingering floral essence. With a medium amount of caffeine, this is a good daytime tea meant for balance and calmness leading up to pre-bedtime, with L-theanine helping round out any tension.
…Now, before we doze off, let’s wrap this up. We know by now that good sleep, and being able to sleep at will, is an essential part of wellness—and truly a gift. There are a bevy of loose-leaf tea blends that lend themselves perfectly to a good night’s (or afternoon’s) sleep. Getting in the habit of regularly consuming teas that help us fall asleep is the best way to train our bodies into that wind-down routine. That, and of course, the bubble bath.