This is the more serious herbal end of Dragonfly bedtime range, and again I will judge the cup rather than the promises. Where the Sleepy Mint blend is fresh and minty, Night Sky Calm goes deeper and earthier: honeybush and liquorice give a natural sugar free sweetness, chamomile and lavender bring a soft floral note, and valerian root and ashwagandha add a properly earthy, almost savoury bottom end. A touch of sage keeps the finish clean. That valerian note is the dividing line. Some people love its grounded muskiness, others find it a bit medicinal, so this is a try before you commit blend rather than a safe gift. If you want gentle and easy, the Sleepy Mint is the friendlier choice. If you like a herbal cup with real depth and do not mind a rooty edge, this delivers it without any added sugar. Steep a full five minutes.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £4.50 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g is the Soil Association certified evening blend built around honeybush, rooibos and chamomile, with valerian and ashwagandha for grounding. The full picture of how this caffeine free herbal infusion brews, what 20 cotton stitched bags actually buy, and why the bedtime ritual lives or dies on the quality of the leaf rather than the marketing on the box.
The blend is fully caffeine free, built on a honeybush + rooibos base with no real tea leaf in the cup. Honeybush brings the smooth honeyed sweetness that suppresses the earthy intensity of valerian root, while rooibos rounds the body. Spearmint and peppermint sit on top for a clean aromatic lift, and chamomile, passionflower, lemon balm, cinnamon and ashwagandha sit underneath for the wind down work.
The bags themselves are cotton stitched and home compostable, with no plastic glue and no metal staple, FSC carton outer, vegetable inks, carbon balanced packaging via World Land Trust. Brew at full just off boil for five to seven minutes for the adaptogen herbs to actually extract; quick three minute dunking only delivers the mint and chamomile and leaves the grounding herbal work behind in the bag.
Texture is the give away of an honest bedtime blend: thicker than camomile only, sweeter than chamomile mint, slightly resinous from the liquorice in the honeybush, and finishing with a clean herbal snap rather than a malty dairy weight. No dairy, no refined sugar, no synthetic flavouring, no caffeine, no chemical residue. The cup that travels well in a thermos for the long late evening commute home.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
The brew pours a deep ruby amber colour with a faint copper sheen from the rooibos and a soft cloudy quality from the honeybush oils. Aroma off the cup is dominated by the spearmint and peppermint first, sweet and cooling, with the honeybush honeyed depth sitting underneath and a faint floral chamomile lift from the steam. Held longer over the cup, the lavender comes through quietly and the ashwagandha earth shows up at the back of the nose.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly resinous, thicker than a pure chamomile infusion and noticeably sweeter than a chamomile mint blend without ever crossing into syrupy territory. The honeybush gives the cup a natural sweetness that means no honey or sugar is needed, and the liquorice root inside the honeybush traditionally contributes a gentle smoothness on the tongue.
Flavour progression moves through three clear phases. The opening is mint forward, clean and cooling. The mid palate hands over to honeybush and rooibos, sweet and earthy. The finish is where valerian and ashwagandha come through, grounded and slightly herbal bitter, balanced by a soft chamomile floral note that closes the cup. The longer the steep, the more the grounding finish dominates.
Aftertaste is clean and herbal rather than dairy heavy or sweet residual, which is the give away of a properly built bedtime blend rather than a flavoured bag novelty. The valerian leaves a mild herbal aftertaste that lingers for a few minutes; this is the active component doing its work and is the reason the blend earns its bedtime designation. No metallic edge, no soapy chamomile, no perfumey lavender, no chemical sweetener residue.
Storage tip: keep the carton sealed in a cool dry cupboard away from coffee, spices and direct sunlight. Cotton stitched bags will absorb ambient aromas faster than plastic glued bags, so the integrity of the storage really matters. Best within twelve months of the printed date, brewed straight from the bag rather than decanted into a caddy.
Four dimension profile
Honeyed Sweetness4/5
Smooth honeybush and liquorice base, naturally sugar free, suppresses the earthy valerian.
Floral Calm4/5
Soft chamomile and lavender aromatics that soothe the senses and encourage tranquillity.
Earthy Grounding3/5
Valerian root and ashwagandha adaptogen anchor that provide functional herbal depth.
Herbal Snap2/5
Spearmint and peppermint clean finish that revitalises the palate without stimulation.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About DragonflyEST. 1988
Dragonfly was one of the first brands to put properly organic herbal tea on a mainstream British shelf, and it has stayed unflashy about it for over three decades. Established in England in 1988, it built its name on single ingredient and very simple herbal infusions to Soil Association organic certification, when organic herbal tea was still a niche concern. The philosophy has never changed: a genuinely good rooibos or peppermint does not need dressing up, and if the botanical is grown well and not adulterated, the cup speaks for itself. That restraint is unusual in a category that competes on packaging and wellness claims, and it is why Dragonfly became the quiet benchmark for what single origin organic herbal tea should taste like.
The range is the essentials done properly, pure rooibos, pure peppermint, camomile, green tea and a small set of clean blends, all certified organic, no artificial flavourings, no filler leaf. For our shelf Dragonfly is the British retail benchmark for honest single ingredient organic herbal tea. The rooibos is the afternoon cup to drink when you want something caffeine free that still tastes of something, and the pure peppermint outperforms flashier, pricier rivals because there is nothing in the bag but leaf. It carries less brand polish than Pukka and a deliberately narrower range, and that is the trade. What you get back is purity and consistency, a brand that has spent thirty years proving the simplest version, done properly and certified rather than merely claimed, is usually the best one on the shelf.
What the brand is actually doing
Dragonfly is a pioneer in genuinely sustainable UK herbal tea, with organic and ethical credentials that pre date the supermarket eco shelf by decades rather than being bolted on as a marketing afterthought. Every product is Soil Association certified organic, the tea bags are folded and stitched with cotton thread rather than sealed with plastic glue, and the cardboard outer cartons are FSC certified from responsibly managed forests and printed with vegetable based inks. The brand was an early participant in the World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Publication scheme and works directly with smallholder growers in South Africa, India and China rather than buying through anonymous commodity channels.
Curator says, Lee on Dragonfly
"This is the more serious herbal end of Dragonfly bedtime range, and again I will judge the cup rather than the promises. Where the Sleepy Mint blend is fresh and minty, Night Sky Calm goes deeper and earthier: honeybush and liquorice give a natural sugar free sweetness, chamomile and lavender bring a soft floral note, and valerian root and ashwagandha add a properly earthy, almost savoury bottom end. A touch of sage keeps the finish clean. That valerian note is the dividing line. Some people love its grounded muskiness, others find it a bit medicinal, so this is a try before you commit blend rather than a safe gift. If you want gentle and easy, the Sleepy Mint is the friendlier choice. If you like a herbal cup with real depth and do not mind a rooty edge, this delivers it without any added sugar. Steep a full five minutes."
BBruce GinsbergFounder, master tea blender · 1988“I grew up watching my grandfather work the Rooibos bush in the Cederberg and I saw what real estate direct tea looked like, leaf you could trace back to the plot. When I launched Dragonfly in London in 1988 the supermarket herbal shelf was flavoured bag novelty and nothing more. I wanted to build a brand that did the boring work, full organic certification, single ingredient honesty, and cotton stitched bags with no plastic glue, because that is what good tea actually looks like.”
GThe Ginsberg FamilyFamily stewards, tea heritage since the early 1900s · Today“The family has been in tea and Rooibos for over a century. Dragonfly is a UK brand but the heritage is South African, the philosophy is slow, and the standard is set by what we would happily drink at home rather than what tests well in supermarket focus groups. Every box leaves our warehouse audited organic, cotton stitched, carbon balanced, with the leaf inside the leaf we would pick ourselves.”
Timeline
1904Hall family pioneers RooibosH.L. Hall (Bruce Ginsberg's maternal grandfather) plants one of the first commercial Rooibos estates in the Cederberg region of South Africa.
1988Bruce Ginsberg founds DragonflyBruce launches Dragonfly Tea in London, one of the first UK brands fully committed to Soil Association organic certification.
2010Slow Tea philosophyDragonfly formalises its Slow Tea philosophy: single ingredient blends, cotton stitched bags, no plastic glue.
2020Family owned, organic throughoutFamily owned with direct relationships to smallholder growers across South Africa, India and China.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Dragonfly brand information, please cite teas.co.uk.
What you're tasting
The outer layer is aromatic: a caffeine free rooibos infusion with dragonfly night sky calm. These volatile compounds sit on the surface of the dried leaf and are the first thing released when hot water hits the bag, reaching the nose before the liquid ever touches the tongue. That is why a freshly poured cup always reads strongest on the aroma, and why a cup left to stand smells flatter even though the liquid itself keeps its strength.
The flavour spike arrives mid palate, where the headline components carry the weight. The lead notes release their character first while any supporting notes fill in underneath, which is why the cup tastes layered rather than one dimensional. This is best drunk clear; the botanicals carry their own natural sweetness and milk tends to mute the brighter top notes. It is the densest, most concentrated stretch of the cup and the part a longer steep develops most.
The base structure is the lingering finish: a clean, gently rounded note that resets the palate and invites the next sip. This deliberate three layer balance is the hallmark of a properly built blend, and it is what stops a single note tea from tasting thin halfway down the mug. A well made cup should still be interesting on the final mouthful, not just the first.
Getting it right in the cup. Use one bag per 200 to 250ml and steep for 4 to 6 minutes in water straight off the boil; under steeping is the most common reason this blend tastes weaker than it should, because the heavier aromatic compounds are the slowest to leave the leaf. Keep the cup covered for the first minute to trap the volatile oils in the liquid rather than losing them to the steam. Cold brewed in the fridge for six to eight hours the same blend mellows noticeably: less aromatic lift, a rounder, sweeter body and a longer, gentler finish. Stored sealed somewhere cool and dark the character holds well beyond a year, fading slowly in aroma long before it ever turns stale.
How water and temperature change it. The same bag gives a measurably different cup depending on how you treat the water. Hotter water and a longer steep pull more of the heavier, deeper compounds for a fuller, rounder, slightly more astringent result; cooler water or a shorter steep keeps the brighter top notes forward and the body lighter. Hard tap water mutes delicate florals and flattens citrus, so in a hard water area a slightly longer steep restores the balance, while soft water lets the top notes ring clearer and needs a touch less time. None of this is a fault in the blend, it is the same leaf responding to the cup you build around it, and once you know which way you like it the result is repeatable every time.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Camomile
present
Organic floral base used for its soft flavour and naturally calming properties.
Honeybush
present
Organic South African herb providing a honeyed depth and gentle sweetness.
Lemon Balm
present
Organic herb included for its relaxing citrus notes and aromatic lift.
Valerian Root
present
Organic earthy anchor traditionally used for targeted sleep support.
Pack: Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g; caffeine free infusion. Certified organic. Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Globally sourced, blended and packed to brand specification.
Sourcing & blend. Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g is put together by Dragonfly, the organic infusion specialist. Every component is held to a fixed quality and purity specification, then blended and taste tested multiple times per batch so the cup stays consistent box to box. The bags are plant based and industrially compostable in a fully recyclable carton.
What's in Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g, and what isn't:
In: a caffeine free rooibos infusion with dragonfly night sky calm, with nothing in the bag but the listed components and any infusion base.
No artificial colours, preservatives or added sugar: any sweetness is natural to the blend.
Plastic free bag: plant fibre, industrially compostable, no plastic sealant.
Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Nutrition per cup
Nutrient
Per cup
% RI
Energy
4 kJ / 1 kcal
<1%
Fat
0g
0%
Carbohydrate
0.2g
<1%
of which sugars
0g
0%
Protein
0.2g
<1%
Salt
0g
0%
Caffeine
Caffeine free
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm,
0mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: Caffeine free per 200ml cup.
Caffeine in tea is buffered by L theanine, an amino acid that slows its release and smooths the lift, which is why a strong cup of tea rarely jolts the way an equivalent coffee does. The figures above are per 200ml cup: a larger mug or a longer steep raises the dose, while adding milk does not change it. Decaffeinated and naturally caffeine free herbal blends sit at the bottom of this scale and can be enjoyed late in the evening without affecting sleep.
Allergens, dietary & safety
🌱VeganNo animal derived ingredients.🌾Gluten freeNaturally gluten free.😴Caffeine freeSafe at any hour.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenServe cooled; caregiver judgement applies.
Manufactured in a facility that handles multiple tea types. Manufacturer information on pack takes precedence for allergen specifics.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the ingredients, nutrition and science of Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g
The questions buyers ask most. If yours isn't here, ask us directly. We reply within 4 hours, Monday to Friday.
Curated from real customer messages
🌱
Is Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm caffeine free? Most asked+
Yes, this is a 100% naturally caffeine free herbal infusion. Built on a honeybush and rooibos base, the blend contains no real tea leaves and no stimulants. It is the cleanest possible category of evening cup and is safe to drink right up to bedtime.
🌱
What are the main ingredients? +
The blend is a Soil Association certified organic matrix of Honeybush (19%), Spearmint (15%), Peppermint (15%), Rooibos, Passionflower, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Ashwagandha root, Valerian root, Lavender and Sage. Every component is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers.
🌱
How do I brew it for the best result? +
Pour fresh just off boil water (95-100°C) over one bag in a 250ml mug and steep five to seven minutes. The longer steep is necessary for the adaptogen herbs (valerian, ashwagandha) to actually extract; a quick three minute dunk only delivers the mint and the chamomile and leaves the grounding work behind in the bag.
🌱
When should I drink Night Sky Calm? +
Thirty to sixty minutes before bed is the standard window. The cup gives the body time to register the wind down without leaving the bladder too full to settle. Also useful in the kid free hour after the children are down, the last forty minutes of a long haul flight east, or any genuinely stressful evening.
🌱
Is the tea bag plastic free? +
Yes. Every Dragonfly bag is folded and stitched with organic cotton thread rather than sealed with plastic glue. No metal staple either. The bag itself is fully home compostable and can go straight onto the garden bed once the leaf is spent.
🌱
Is the carton recyclable? +
The outer carton is FSC certified from responsibly managed forests, printed with vegetable based inks, and fully kerbside recyclable in the UK. Dragonfly also offsets the printing and packaging footprint via the World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Publication scheme.
🌱
Is the blend organic? +
Yes, Soil Association certified organic across every ingredient. The Soil Association is the UK's leading organic certifier and audits the producer annually for synthetic input use, traceability and chain of custody.
🌱
Will it actually help me sleep? +
Night Sky Calm is a wind down ritual, not a sedative. Valerian root and ashwagandha have a long traditional use for evening relaxation, and the warm fluid plus the screen free fifteen minutes spent brewing and drinking the cup is the part that signals the body it is time to settle. Don't expect it to override caffeine consumed earlier in the day.
🌱
How does it compare to Pukka Night Time? +
Pukka Night Time is lavender led with oat flower and limeflower, lighter and more floral in body. Dragonfly Night Sky Calm is honeybush led, sweeter, with more substantial adaptogen grounding from valerian and ashwagandha. Both are caffeine free organic; Dragonfly sits slightly more towards the herbal functional end of the shelf.
🌱
How does it compare to Yogi Bedtime? +
Yogi Bedtime is Ayurvedic blended around liquorice root, cardamom and cinnamon, with a sweeter and spicier profile. Dragonfly is more mint forward, less spice, less liquorice medicinal, and the cotton stitched bag is a noticeable structural upgrade over Yogi's standard string and tag bag.
🌱
Where is the blend packed? +
Dragonfly Tea Limited blends and packs in the United Kingdom from Soil Association certified organic botanicals sourced from named smallholders in South Africa, India and Eastern Europe. The brand is family owned and has been UK operating since 1988.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Dragonfly Organic Night Sky Calm, 20 Tea Bags 30g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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