There’s nothing like a warm, soothing cup of tea to help you unwind and relax. As yogis, we value the importance of mindfulness, calmness, and relaxation, especially when we’re feeling stressed, trying to fall asleep, or getting home after a hectic day.

Enter herbal tea. With so many calming herbs provided by nature, we love relaxing with an herbal tea blend before bed or after our yoga practice. It makes for a wonderful ritual and is a simple, easy form of self-care.

If you need a bit more “me time”, tea can do the trick! Read on for our favorite herbal tea blends that promote relaxation.

What are the most relaxing herbal tea blends?

It’s truly amazing how natural remedies like herbal teas can help us feel calmer and more at ease. For centuries, herbs have been used for medicinal purposes, but it feels like the Western world has only just started to discover them!

Chamomile, for example, contains an antioxidant called apigenin. It binds to receptors in the brain that help us feel sleepy and decreases stress levels, so there’s plenty of medical evidence that backs the effectiveness of calming herbs.

So what herbs are good for calming? Some of the best include chamomile, lemon, passionflower, valerian, ginger, peppermint, and lavender. Even better, you can create your own blends (or buy them from a specialty tea shop).

Some of the best herbal tea blends that promote relaxation include…

1. Chamomile and lavender

One of the best combinations of herbs has to be chamomile and lavender. Both are known for promoting relaxation and helping with insomnia, so they go well together – plus, how wonderful is that sweet smell?

A chamomile and lavender tea blend can help relieve stress, but it’s also known for its benefits to your digestive system. It can help when you’re feeling bloated or nauseous, so it’s an all-around winner in our books!

Image by John Diez on Pexels: A warm cup of tea always seems to make everything better.

2. Cinnamon, licorice, and skullcap

You might not know much about skullcap, but this unusually named herb is part of the mint family. Its roots and leaves have long been used in both Native American and Chinese medicine to help with stress relief and even chronic pain. Despite being related to mint, it actually has more of an earthy taste than a minty one.

If you prefer a sweeter tea, you can enjoy skullcap on its own with some honey. Alternatively, a great way to blend it is with cinnamon and licorice. You’ll get that lovely, soothing taste of cinnamon and licorice, plus all of the benefits of skullcap.

3. Peppermint and ginger

What tea is good for bedtime? If you need to ease into your evening routine and chill out before bed, you really can’t go wrong with peppermint! It’s known to be useful for both relaxation and digestion, so consider reaching for it when your stomach is in knots over stress and you need to completely calm down. Mindfulness and slow breathing techniques can also be really helpful in these situations.

4. Lavender, lemon, and honey

We can never turn down a warm cup of lavender tea! This fantastic flowering plant not only looks (and smells) great in our gardens, but also goes well in our teacups. Lavender is known for its calming properties and also for easing inflammation and aiding digestion – what’s not to like?

To make it extra special, add some lemon and honey. Honey goes well with most herbal teas, since it’s a natural sweetener. It has its own array of benefits too – honey can soothe a sore throat, it’s antibacterial, and it’s rich in antioxidants.

5. Passionflower and spearmint

Do you struggle with winding down at the end of the day? Creating an evening routine (and ditching the screen time!) can make a big difference, especially when paired with a relaxing tea like passionflower. This herb helps with insomnia and anxiety, so it’s a great choice to have in the evenings. Because passionflower itself has an earthy taste, try combining it with spearmint or peppermint to make it more flavorful.

Slow, measured breathing can also help with insomnia, so try it out after your cup of tea for some extra assistance in catching those Zs.

Image by Mareefe on Pexels: We love the calming aroma of lavender tea.

How can a daily tea ritual help with relaxation?

We know what you’re thinking: I’m a yogi, so what does that have to do with tea?! Many of us turn to yoga because we want to feel a deeper connection with the world, our bodies, and our minds. In a busy world where we’re constantly running from one thing to another, it’s super hard to make enough time for yourself – this is why we often feel stressed and run-down. A daily yoga practice can help with this, but so can little acts like a daily tea ritual.

If you can carve out a few minutes before or after your daily yoga, why not spend this time preparing and enjoying a soothing cup of tea? It’s a good reminder to help us slow down, appreciate the small things, and calm our minds. Feel the warmth of the mug in your hands, breathe in the beautiful aroma of the tea, then savor each sip, appreciating the flavor and taste notes.

A tea ritual is a powerful way to remind yourself that you’re important, worthy, and of value. Your teatime can be a type of mindfulness, helping you slow down and appreciate yourself. After an exhausting day in the office, it’s something we can all use!

All you really need to get started is a kettle, a tea strainer, and some loose tea that you can blend, all of which are easy to find in shops or online. What are the most relaxing herbs to use? Any of the above blends are great to try out, but feel free to experiment with different herbs, flavors, and tea recipes – you’re sure to find one you absolutely love!

Featured image by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash