Incorporating Tea Into Your Daily Routine To Help Manage Stress
The simple act of slowing down and taking a moment to brew a cup of tea can work wonders during a hectic day. Drinking a cup of tea as part of a daily ritual of self-care gives you a chance to unwind, breathe and refocus, which makes it a worthwhile strategy to consider to help manage stress. Just breathing in the warm aromas of the tea can help provide a sense of calm.
Tea is a quick, easy, affordable, and deeply enjoyable way to relax, but with so many options available it can be difficult to choose the blend for helping you calm your mind. Below, we'll explain exactly why and how a hot cup of tea is so relaxing and give you some tips for choosing a blend that works well for your needs — and your tastebuds!
Does Tea Really Help to Manage Stress?
Like you, tea is a multi-tasker. It can help you slow down and unwind, and it can recharge and uplift you. The heat from a hot cup of tea can bring us a sensation of rest, calm, and serenity. Our bodies usually follow a daily cycle of rising blood pressure in the morning, peaking midday and dropping in the evening. If you find yourself still feeling active in the evening, a hot cup of caffeine-free tea may help you aid your body’s natural processes to help you relax and slow down. If a hectic day is stressing you out, warm tea is a great way to give yourself a break.
Sometimes, when we think of black and green tea from camellia sinensis, we think about it being a caffeinated tea. While black and green tea do contain caffeine, they also have other compounds that can help balance the stimulating effects.
“Plants are complex and have many different constituents that give them their effects,” explains Bevin Clare, Twinings’ Herbal Advisor. “It’s rare that a plant would have a singular effect on the body. Rather it is a combination of influences that can often support the body’s unique and complicated needs.”
For example, in black and green tea, to balance the stimulating effects of caffeine, there is L-theanine, an amino acid that can have a relaxing effect. Although levels differ because of many different factors, teas may contain a variety of beneficial ingredients. Keep reading to learn more about specific ingredients and the relaxing benefits they can provide.
Which Teas Are Good For Helping To Manage Stress?
Looking to incorporate tea to help manage stress into your daily relaxation ritual? Check out the most commonly used caffeine-free herbal ingredients to help you unwind:
Camomile
When you think of herbal tea, camomile may be the first to come to mind. One of the most popular and well-known teas, camomile is naturally caffeine-free, making
it ideal to sip during any part of the day. Camomile is known to aid in relaxation without drowsiness, so you can have a cup and stay alert. Most commonly, camomile is believed to promote restful sleep.
"Camomile might seem like a common and gentle tea, but it can be a powerful and effective herb for supporting nervous system health and encouraging sleep,” says Clare.
You can find camomile in several Twinings blends, like Twinings Pure Camomile, Twinings Camomile Honey & Vanilla, Twinings Nightly Calm (also available as a decaffeinated green tea blend), Twinings Winter Spice and Twinings Sleep+ with Melatonin.
Peppermint
Whether you brew it hot or cold, peppermint is refreshing and delicious. The smell of peppermint is especially soothing, and peppermint can also be helpful for aiding in digestion. Twinings® Probiotics Peppermint & Fennel tea pairs peppermint and spearmint with the sweet bite of fennel seed—a traditional component of Middle Eastern and East Asian medicine—which can help with certain uncomfortable symptoms, including providing digestive support.
“As well as tasting great,” says Sophia Forrester, Herbal Advisor at Twinings, “these herbs are rich in essential oils and are great at helping to soothe the gut, ease cramping and spasms, reduce bloating and support digestion.”
Peppermint is known for being calming yet uplifting, and is a great way to re-energize. Twinings offers a variety of peppermint blends, including Twinings Pure Peppermint, Twinings Peppermint Cheer, Twinings Organic Peppermint, Twinings Buttermint, and Twinings Green Tea with Mint (also available as a cold brew.)
Lemon Balm
Lemon is another soothing yet energising scent. Even the word “balm” refers to something comforting and restorative. Like peppermint, it may also support digestion and is often paired with probiotics. Gut health matters for managing stress. The trillions of bacteria in the digestive system can help to regulate sleep, digestion and general well-being—and keeping them in balance is one of the secrets to living well.
Lemon balm may be sweet and gentle, but it may also be a meaningful addition to support your wellbeing as shown in a small 2014 study of twenty-five participants. A beverage containing lemon balm extract was found to be “generally associated with improvements in mood and/or cognitive performance.” So, grab your cup of tea and try it out!
If you’re interested in adding lemon balm to your low-stress routine, try Twinings Superblends Cold Water Infusions Probiotics with Pineapple & Coconut or Twinings Superblends Immune Support+ Zinc.
Lavender
Lavender is a popular go-to scent for relaxation. Night-time lotions and potions of all kinds often include lavender as the primary scent to help you unwind and de-stress before bed. Lavender tea is made from the dried buds of the lavender plant, so it is often highly-scented. 
“There are many studies exploring how the oil of lavender can help support sleep and a healthy stress response,” says Clare. “While herbal tea is different from aromatherapy, the essential oils of lavender are exactly what you are breathing in when you drink a cup of tea with lavender, giving you a little aromatherapy experience in the form of an herbal tea.” Taking in a deep breath of lavender tea, like Twinings Earl Grey Lavender, is a great way to help promote a sense of peacefulness and calm.
Passionflower
Passionflower is not only beautiful, it’s delicious. The mild flavour is great for those trying herbal teas for the first time. Passionflower is a good source of phytochemicals and alkaloids, which can help reduce stress chemicals, and has long been used as a botanical remedy. Some studies show it may modulate Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathways believed to help control stress — try Twinings Unwinding Passionflower.
Rosehips
Rosehips are loaded with Vitamin C, which is helpful for immune support. Twinings has blended rosehips into a variety of teas, including Twinings Berry Fusion, Twinings Pomegranate & Raspberry, Twinings Wild Berries, much of the Twinings Cold Infuse line, Twinings Immune Support+ Vitamin C, and Twinings Adaptogens Focus.
Take A Step Toward More Balanced Life With Twinings Teas
With our Master Blenders’ and Expert Herbalists’ combined 250 years of experience, Twinings teas incorporate only fine, high-quality ingredients that have been trusted for centuries to help you relax and unwind. We also offer the most enticing flavours, so you never have to sacrifice great taste for benefits. Don’t forget to add your email address below to join our email newsletter so you’ll be the first to know when we post new recipes and more.
