Do you love how you feel after a good night's sleep?
Would you like some more of that, please?
You already know about good sleep hygiene habits for great sleep:
- observe a consistent bedtime
- avoid alcohol late at night
- engage in daily exercise
- avoid devices before bedtime
- splash out on a great mattress and pillow
- get the room temperature right (around 65°F/18°C)
But more importantly, what about tea?
Should you avoid it? Is a little ok?
Sadly, for great sleep, there are some teas you must avoid.
Fortunately, for great sleep, there are teas you can and should have.
Here's what you absolutely must have and must avoid for a good night's sleep:
1. Must Have: Valerian Root & Lavender
Two of the most incredible natural sleep-supporting substances on this earth.
Valerian root is known as "nature's Valium", it acts as a natural sedative and performs best after around two weeks of usage.
Lavender is commonly used for anxiety, stress, and insomnia. It also has sedating effects and might relax certain muscles.
When I discovered valerian root a few years ago when I decided I had to create a sleep tea I actually wanted to drink.
It worked a treat.
I took lavender, valerian root, and blended them with one of my favourite flowers - jasmine, plus a couple of other herbs.
I am now happily addicted to our sleep tea, Lavender Moon.
Without it, I sometimes lay awake for an hour or more wishing myself to go to sleep.
With it, I'm consistently off to snoozeville within around 10 minutes.
What you must have before sleep:
2. Must Avoid: Tea
Actual tea is usually terrible for sleep. We're talking about the leaves that come from the Camellia Sinensis plant. These leaves are processed to make white tea, green tea, oolong tea, black tea, puerh tea, yellow tea.
Actual tea is divinely created for happiness and clear thinking to be enjoyed from the early hours of the morning to the early afternoon.
It is best to avoid this tea before bed. It contains caffeine.
The caffeine in actual tea won't make you jittery, but you will be fully alert in bed as you regret every sip of that beautiful brew.
And tea should never be associated with regret.
What you must avoid before sleep:
- Black Tea
- Green Tea
- White Tea
What time should you stop drinking tea before bed?
The recommended cut-off time for caffeine consumption is six hours before bed, so if you plan to hit the sack around 10pm, make sure you don't drink any tea after 4pm.
If you're super sensitive to caffeine, increase this caffeine-free window to around 8 hours before bed.
3. Can Have: Herbs other than tea
Almost all herbs other than tea are naturally caffeine-free (there are a few exceptions like Yerba Mate) and are wonderfully supportive of sleep.
Even the mere act of sitting down calmly with a cup of brewed naturally caffeine-free herbs will start the slowing down process that leads to a beautiful sleep.