# Tea for Sleep

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**Source:** teas.co.uk, UK tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

## Summary

Chamomile, valerian, lavender and lemon balm are the classic caffeine-free bedtime herbs; the wind-down ritual and cutting evening caffeine do most of the work.

## Description

Tea for sleep, in short: chamomile, valerian, lavender and lemon balm are the classic bedtime herbs, gentle and caffeine-free. The wind-down ritual and cutting evening caffeine do most of the work. No tea is a true sedative.

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Tea for Sleep. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/best-tea-for-sleep/
Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in May 2026.
A warm, caffeine-free cup is a lovely way to tell your body the day is over. Chamomile and valerian add a mild calming nudge, but the real sleep wins are the routine itself and keeping caffeine out of your evening. The classic bedtime herbs

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Chamomile. The traditional bedtime cup, mildly calming with some evidence for sleep quality. See Wikipedia: chamomile.
Valerian. Used for sleep for centuries, with mixed but real evidence; effects are gentle. See Wikipedia: valerian.
Lavender and lemon balm. Calming aroma and a soft, soothing character.
 Ritual and caffeine matter most
A consistent wind-down, dim lights, screens away, a warm drink, signals sleep more reliably than any single herb. Just as important: stop caffeinated tea and coffee several hours before bed. The NHS guide to insomnia covers the habits that genuinely help. Be realistic
No tea will knock you out like a sleeping tablet, and that is a good thing. Treat a bedtime cup as a gentle, pleasant cue rather than a medicine. At a glance 
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Tea for Sleep. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/best-tea-for-sleep/
TeaFor sleep
ChamomileClassic, mildly calming
ValerianTraditional sleep herb; gentle
Lavender / lemon balmCalming aroma and character
Any caffeinated tea (evening)Avoid; disrupts sleep
 FAQ
Best tea for sleep? Chamomile, or a chamomile-valerian bedtime blend, caffeine-free.
How long before bed? Around an hour, as part of winding down.
Does it really work? The ritual and caffeine-cut do most of it; the herbs add a gentle nudge.
Can it replace treatment for insomnia? No. Persistent insomnia is worth raising with a GP. This is general information, not medical advice. Ongoing insomnia should be discussed with a GP. From the curatorteas · Free UK delivery starts at £35, which is two or three good bags. Build a small order rather than a single splurge. Sources

NHS: insomnia
Wikipedia: chamomile
Wikipedia: valerian
 Part of: Tea for Sleep & Calm

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Tea for sleep and calm (overview)
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Related reading

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Chamomile tea
Caffeine-free teas
Herbal tea overview

Shop bedtime teas: chamomile, sleep blends, the herbal & fruit range, or the full tea shop (free UK postage over £35). From the news

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Tea and sleep: full evidence-based reading list
Caffeine half-life by tea type: the new deep-dive
Loyd Bedtime range discontinued by Mokate
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Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Tea for Sleep. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/best-tea-for-sleep/

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