Pleasures · Sleep
Tea for Sleep
The cups that put the night to bed.
The short answer
For sleep, skip caffeine entirely and reach for an herbal tisane. Yogi Bedtime leans on valerian for real sedative pull; Celestial Sleepytime is the gentler chamomile-forward nightcap. Brew either 6–7 minutes, about 45 minutes before bed, and let it do the work.
No caffeine, no negotiation. These are the blends we reach for when the night isn't being reasonable — ordered from hardest-working to easiest to look forward to.
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01 The workhorse Paper bagsYogi Bedtime Herbal Tea
Valerian and skullcap do actual sedative work. The cup for nights that aren't negotiating.
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02 Easy favorite Paper bagsCelestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea
Chamomile-forward, sweeter, gentler. The one you look forward to even when you'd sleep fine anyway.
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03 Purest Loose leafFrontier Co-op Organic German Chamomile Flowers
Whole flower heads, not dust. Soft yellow, apple-noted — chamomile the way it's meant to taste.
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04 Caffeine-free alt Paper bagsTwinings Pure Peppermint Herbal Tea (100 ct)
Not a sedative, but it settles a heavy stomach so it doesn't keep you up after a late dinner.
House rule
We rank what we'd actually pour. The order is ours; the order you buy in is yours.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Does bedtime tea actually help you sleep? +
Herbal blends with valerian, chamomile, or passionflower have mild sedative effects, and the ritual of a warm caffeine-free cup cues your body to wind down. Drink it about 45 minutes before sleep for the best effect.
Is there caffeine in sleep tea? +
Properly formulated sleep teas are herbal tisanes with no caffeine and no actual tea leaf. Check that the blend is chamomile-, valerian-, or rooibos-based rather than a green or black tea.
How long should I steep bedtime tea? +
Longer than regular tea — 6 to 7 minutes. Herbal blends don't turn bitter the way green or black tea does, and the extra time pulls more of the active compounds into the cup.