As the winds pick up, temperatures drop and rain drags on through the winter, we crave warm and comforting drinks to keep our immune systems strong. Detox tea and herbal teas have many great health benefits, but what are they actually good for, and what does each one do? We tell you all you need to know.
On top of generally being really comforting, because you can't beat snuggling up with a cuppa, herbal teas feature great nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
What are the uses of herbal teas?
Each herbal tea has different properties and health benefits, we break down the most popular herbal teas and share our hand-selected favourites for you to shop.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is an all-around, multitasking tea. Its strong aroma may not be to everyone’s liking, but it can help with an array of health ailments. Its main property is to soothe the body, be it bloating and digestive problems, or helping to ease nausea.
Peppermint tea is suggested as a remedy for people who suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and can even relieve muscle pain, mild asthma and stress.
SHOP: The Best Peppermint Tea
www.t2tea.com
A peppermint tisane with a strong, uplifting mint profile that is super fresh and sweet.
Award-winning peppermint tea bags made using whole leaves.
Perfect for after meals, feel comfortable naturally with the Pukka organic Peppermint & Licorice tea.
Green tea
Green tea is great for your health. It is full of antioxidants, and according to The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, it has been affiliated to the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer, includes anti-ageing properties, and has been known to relieve stress.
But what are antioxidants? In short, antioxidants help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, which are produced naturally within the body.
SHOP: The Best Green Tea
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Double Dragon Organic Green Tea is a high-quality pure green tea that has been prepared with minimum processing.
www.hollandandbarrett.com
A refreshing blend to help maintain the body's natural balance as part of a healthy diet. With an added tropical twist of organic coconut, this is fine, organic green tea with a difference.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is popular because of its soothing and relaxing quality. It's the perfect beverage to drink before bed to help you wind down, and is used by those who suffer from insomnia.
Like peppermint, it also soothes the stomach and aids digestion and bloating.
SHOP: The Best Chamomile Tea
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Heath & Heather Organic chamomile with Manuka Honey Tea is naturally caffeine-free and combines a blend of organic camomile and manuka honey flavour.
Rooibos tea
Rooibos tea (also known as red bush tea) is often consumed the same way as black tea - with milk and sugar - but it is caffeine-free. Excessive consumption of caffeine can cause health issues such as headaches, anxiety and difficulty sleeping, so rooibos tea is a healthier alternative.
Rooibos tea contains antioxidants and is also believed to help those at risk of heart disease.
SHOP: The Best Rooibos Tea
A bright red coloured tea, with a punchy fragrance. This delightful South African classic blend has a sweet, nutty, fruity and smoky finish.
twinings.co.uk
Blended with full-bodied, rich rooibos and the flavours of sweet, slightly floral, honey and warming spiced fig for an indulgent, toasty infusion.
Ginger tea
Ginger is great for easing and preventing nausea because it soothes the digestive system and helps with the absorption of food. Ginger is also anti-inflammatory and wards of colds and flu.
For a great way to detox, mix ginger with lemon to create the ultimate immunity-building tea.
SHOP: The Best Ginger Tea
www.bodykind.com
Yogi Tea Lemon Ginger Tea is based on a traditional formula that provides a refreshing herbal pick-me-up. The sourness of lemon provides the perfect counterpoint to the piquant-sweet taste of ginger.
Made with organic slow-dried lemons and ginger root, combined with manuka honey, this tea can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night - good news for soothing your spirit.
Nettle tea
Nettles, as in the pesky stinging plants that we were warned to keep away from as children, can be consumed in tea-form, and act as a great natural remedy for a lot of health issues, including colds, anemia, high blood pressure, and kidney and bladder problems.
SHOP: The Best Nettle Tea
A light, distinctive and refreshing infusion which provides a clean flavour with subtle grassy notes.
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Mellow notes of nettle delivering a delicious drink that is naturally caffeine-free.
What is a detox tea?
The purpose of detox tea is to cleanse the body from within by acting as a laxative or a diuretic. Detox teas tend to contain herbs such as black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and turmeric, which help boost the body’s immune system and improve metabolism.
Herbal teas such as green tea, peppermint tea and chamomile tea can also cleanse the body, and each has a multitude of benefits.
Do detox teas really work?
There has been substantial evidence to support that herbal and detox teas contain medicinal properties and that there are health benefits to drinking them.
SHOP: The Best Detox Teas
Best detox tea for bloating
This relieving blend of natural diuretics helps facilitate digestion, clear the urinary tract and detoxify the body of excess water retention to help overcome stomach bloating and support kidney health.
Best detox tea for acne
uk.iherb.com
Yogi Skin DeTox was purposefully formulated to support a healthy skincare regimen. Fragrant rose petal and hibiscus, used in Ayurveda to cool and soothe the skin, entice the senses with a fresh, floral scent. Then Yogi adds organic green tea that supplies antioxidants to promote a sense of rejuvenation while burdock and yellow dock-traditionally used to support the liver-combine with red clover to promote cleansing.
Best detox tea for purifying skin
Dr Stuarts Skin Purify Tea is a beautifying herbal infusion that includes red clover, nettle and dandelion leaves which are believed to be antibacterial and helpful in achieving healthy and radiant skin.
Best detox tea for before bed
This tea contains an infusion of oat flower, lavender and lime flower, which can ready the body for a good quality sleep. Expertly blended by herbal experts and nutritionists using the highest quality ingredients, the Night Time tea combines the latest scientific research with traditional herbal wisdom.
Angelica Daujotas is Grazia's former commercial content writer covering topics from hair dyes to trainers.