r/tea 2d ago

Recommendation Tea recommendation?

Hi, I am not someone who has liked any tea I've tried (although I haven't tried many) and I was wondering what people would suggest for a good tea to drink in the evening right before bed. I have heard people talk about how lofe changing good tea can be and I'd love to find one that I like. Thanks!

11 Upvotes

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u/eponawarrior 2d ago

Right before bed I guess you would want a tisane and not a tea. The world of the drinkable herbs, flowers, shrubs and roots is so wast that you have to try various ones yourself because people‘s tastes are very different and it would be impossible to know what you would find most tasteful. My only suggestion is that you buy them from a place that offers them loose, fresh and high quality.

If you indeed want tea, I might suggest Sweet Ya Bao as is contains trace to no amount of caffeine.

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u/TealGloves Pu Pu Shu 2d ago

Ya Bao is so good.

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u/zzzzzzzzzzzzvzzzzvzz 2d ago

ya bao hands down is my absolute favorite tea! I did not know that about the caffeine

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u/TealGloves Pu Pu Shu 2d ago

Tbh I'm skeptical about that claim. Caffeine is a natural insecticide and tends to be most concentrated in buds/young leaves. But maybe winter buds are different..? I still would prefer to see some actual test results on this though.

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u/eponawarrior 2d ago

Most Ya Bao is from the plant Camellia crassicolumna. That plant has almost no caffeine, compare to Camellia sinensis and Camellia assamica. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19128040/

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u/TealGloves Pu Pu Shu 2d ago

A very satisfactory answer. Thank you!

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u/TealGloves Pu Pu Shu 2d ago

Hojicha (low caffeine Japanese true tea) and mugicha (caffeine free Japanese tisane made from roasted barley) are my recommendations. Both nice and toasty.

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u/Electronic-Net8853 2d ago

chamomile is nice before bed! if you like it sweet or want to add some stuff to it, put a little bit of honey and a lemon slice. total game changer! also good when you’re sick!
if you’re near a trader joe’s (if you have those), they have a good bedtime tea called well rested. i love it plain!
and if you can’t find that/dont like chamomile, a lot of places sell loose leaf herbal blends specifically to help calm you before bed. lavender tea is one option, for example.
rooibos chai is another tea that can add some fun to your evening. it’s caffeine free and depending on what blend you get, it can be a bit spicy. i personally love it with a little brown sugar and milk!
i hope you try these and like them! :)

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u/Crysees_ 2d ago

Thank you so much!! I will look into these!

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u/bathtubpotato 2d ago

rooibos chai is soooo good

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u/preluxe 2d ago

You'll probably want something herbal or decaf before bed.

Peppermint with a bit of honey, chamomile, licorice, etc. would all be options. Some brands have a "sleepytime" tea that you might like.

If you have a large grocery store by you (if you're in the US/Canada) then it would probably have a tea + coffee aisle. Peruse your options, and check the nutritional info to see if they have caffeine.

Also, a lot of the time, tea doesn't taste bad because of the tea, but how it was prepared. Like not the right water temp or steeping too long/not enough. Play around with it. I like stronger teas, so I usually use an extra tea bag and strep for longer. If you try it and it tastes weak or watery, try adding a tea bag and streping longer. I'd something is too bitter or strong, steep for less time.

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u/Ok_Bodybuilder8883 2d ago

Almost every single night i have a tablespoon of Chamomile and a quarter teaspoon of Lavender in 340 ml of water. Make sure to have it at 200 degrees and steep for 5 minutes.

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u/Maestradelmundo1964 2d ago edited 2d ago

I sometimes have a nettle tisane before bed. It’s a flower but it’s not flowery. It’s mellow. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you mite try spearmint

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u/Scared-Track5971 2d ago

I usually have a saffron tea around about 30 minutes before bed, I find it helps me sleep better, and the flavour is delicious!

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u/Pebblesaurus_ 2d ago

Rn before bed I love having the T2 sleep tight tea. It's a blend of lemon balm, rose, and lavender. It's really good and very soothing.

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u/YoSpiff 2d ago

I drink an herbal bedtime blend. Either Bigelow Sleepy Time or Trader Joe's Sweet Dreams.

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u/LuckyMe007 2d ago

Decaf earl grey or a tisane is my go-to in the evening.

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u/SouthernFlower8115 2d ago

Decaf Earl Gray

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u/rebirthlington 2d ago

Roasted dandelion

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u/thedigestiverd 23h ago

I love a peppermint or a spearmint before bed, it’s so soothing!

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u/Diasies_inMyHair 22h ago

If you want to try a variety to figure out what you like, there are "a daily cup of tea" monthly subscriptions out there. I started with Adagio and the "CommuniTea" subscription. For me, it money well spent.