What is inflammation?
Inflammation is one of the ways that the body protects itself against harm. You might be familiar with acute inflammation, which occurs when you sustain a minor injury, cut, or bruise. Acute inflammation is marked by redness, soreness, and swelling at the site of the injury as the body works to repair itself and fight off any potential infections.
In addition to acute inflammation, however, some people also suffer from chronic inflammation, which persists in the body over time. Chronic inflammation can sometimes be the result of illness or lifestyle factors such as stress, smoking, or being overweight. Chronic inflammation is often responsible for heart attacks and strokes. Inflammation can also contribute to other chronic illnesses, including arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
If you’re looking to reduce chronic inflammation, there are a variety of teas and tisanes with beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. Tea can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle when it comes to warding off inflammation and preventing chronic illness.
The best teas for inflammation
Teas with ingredients like ginger, turmeric, chamomile, rosehips, and more are all good choices for soothing inflammation.
1. Ginger teas
Ginger is a popular ingredient in many herbal and caffeinated teas, and is well-known for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Ginger imparts a sweet, spicy flavor to tea, and has many medicinal benefits. In particular, ginger teas can be used to reduce muscle pain, arthritis, and other inflammation-related illnesses.
Our pick: Ginger Tea Trio
Our Ginger Tea Trio includes three of our most popular ginger teas, full of flavor and featuring the beneficial properties of ginger root:
- Atomic Gold is a bold, flavorful herbal blend with ginger, turmeric, licorice, and lemongrass.
- Ginger Peach is a delicious black tea with ginger, peach, and blackberry leaves, and also doubles as a great iced tea.
- Linda's Lemon Ginger is a green tea embodying the simple, classic combo of ginger and lemon for a refreshing, soothing blend.
2. Turmeric teas
A member of the ginger family, turmeric has been used in herbal and ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its many medicinal properties. Turmeric contains a compound known as curcumin, which has been shown to reduce inflammation and promote health and wellness. Turmeric tea brews up a vibrant-orange gold color, and has recently seen a surge in popularity as more people become aware of its many health benefits.
Our pick: Turmeric Mango Green Tea
Turmeric Mango blends green tea with turmeric, ginger, mango, pineapple for a luscious and fruity tea with spicy and earthy notes. Light, bright, and full of flavor!
3. Chamomile teas
Chamomile is a soothing, floral herbal tea that has been used as a remedy for colds, coughs, muscle pain, and other illnesses for centuries. Chamomile has been shown to reduce symptoms of inflammation, and can also help to give the immune system a boost and help improve overall health. Chamomile tea can be enjoyed on its own, with a dollop of honey, or blended with other herbs and spices.
Our pick: Chamomile Tea Trio
Our Chamomile Tea Trio features three of our most popular chamomile blends:
- Egyptian Chamomile features large, fragrant chamomile flower heads with a mellow natural sweetness and notes of straw, honey, and apples.
- Lavender Lullaby blends chamomile with lavender, roses, sweet orange peel, and calendula petals for a peaceful, soothing infusion.
- Honeybush Hot Cider combines chamomile with rooibos, apple, cinnamon, orange peel, and licorice root for a sweet, spiced herbal blend.
4. Rose petal and rosehip teas
Tea made from rose petals and rosehips has a wide variety of benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, rosehip has been shown to be effective in treating illnesses including arthritis and other diseases related to inflammation. There are a variety of teas that contain rosehips and rose petals, including both herbal and caffeinated blends.
Our pick: Rose Tea Trio
Our Rose Tea Trio features three of our most popular rose teas:
- Midnight Rose is a smooth, floral, aromatic blend featuring Chinese black tea and rose petals.
- Cherry Rose combines green tea, rose petals, and cherry flavor for a tea reminiscent of springtime cherry blossoms.
- Rose Petal Raspberry features rose petals, raspberry, hibiscus, lemon peel, rosehips, and apple for a silky, aromatic tea that's fruity, tart, and refreshing.
5. Cinnamon teas
Cinnamon is a warm, woody spice that’s used to flavor many spiced tea blends. Cinnamon teas also contain anti-inflammatory properties. Whether you’re suffering from temporary inflammation due to injuries or exercise, or dealing with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, a cup of cinnamon tea can help to soothe pain.
Our pick: Cinnamon Pu-erh Tea
Cinnamon Pu-erh combines dark, aged pu-erh tea leaves with cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel for a warming, restorative blend. Pu-erh is dark and full-bodied, but low in tannins and smoother than black tea.
6. Clove teas
Cloves are another ingredient often used in chai tea blends. Not only do cloves contain anti-inflammatory properties, but studies show that they also have anti-cancer properties thanks to a component called eugenol. Cloves are intensely aromatic with a subtle sweetness and spice, making them a wonderful addition to spiced tea blends.
Our pick: Masala Chai Black Tea
This traditional chai blend includes cinnamon, cardamom, ginger root, and cloves blended with premium Ceylon tea. You can add milk and honey for a classic sweet, milky chai, or try it alone for a spicier cup.
7. Lemongrass teas
While studies concerning lemongrass are still ongoing, research suggests that it could play a role in treating inflammation. It may also help to lower blood pressure and even help prevent infections. Lemongrass imparts a light, slightly tart flavor to tea blends.
Our pick: Lively Lemony Mate
Lively Lemony Mate is a refreshing blend of green yerba mate and lemongrass. This stimulating drink is a traditional beverage of many parts of Latin America. While mate is an herbal infusion, unlike most herbal teas, it does contain caffeine.
8. Licorice teas
Licorice root is naturally sweet, which makes it a popular addition to herbal tea blends. Licorice also helps to balance out strong flavors like ginger and turmeric, adding a subtle sweetness to these teas. Studies have shown that licorice root tea may help to reduce inflammation. Just be careful to consume licorice root moderately - too much of this tasty herb can elevate your blood pressure.
Our pick: Sing Your Song Herbal Tea
One of Santa Fe's local opera singers began drinking this tea to help keep her voice in perfect condition, so we've named the blend "Sing Your Song" in her honor. Soothing and nourishing, this blend is great for soothing scratchy throats.
9. Cardamom teas
A soothing cup of cardamom tea can help with inflammation. Studies suggest that cardamom tea contains anti-inflammatory properties. Cardamom is a spice in the same family as ginger and turmeric. When used in tea, blends usually contain either whole cardamom pods or cardamom seeds, both of which have a spicy, warm flavor.
Our pick: Green Tea Chai
This chai blend has a green tea base instead of black tea. Spicy-sweet and with a touch of citrus, Green Tea Chai blends green tea leaves with lemongrass, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, cumin, and cardamom for a flavorful twist on a traditional chai.
10. Black teas
If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, a cup of black tea can set you on the right track. Black tea contains theaflavin, a polyphenol that is responsible for reducing inflammation and promoting overall health. Black tea can be enjoyed on its own, or taken with milk and sweetener for a traditional, English-style cup.
Our pick: Nepalese Gold Black Tea
Grown in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal, Nepalese Gold is a rich and mellow black tea with notes of honey and stone fruit, mild astringency, and a clean finish. This award-winning tea is a lovely reddish-golden hue and brews up into a flavorful and well-balanced cup.
11. Green teas
Green tea has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea is especially high in antioxidants, which can help to reduce free radicals and combat oxidative stress. In addition to fighting inflammation, green tea has a wealth of other health benefits, including antiarthritic, antibacterial, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties.
Our pick: Gyokuro Green Tea
A shade-grown tea produced from the leaves of the first harvest, Gyokuro is one of the most prized teas in Japan, and is famed for its savory umami character. Gyokuro tea plants are shaded for at least three weeks prior to harvest, which increases the chlorophyll content in the plants and results in a dark, blue-green tea leaf with a rich, oceanic flavor and a subtle sweetness. This process also increases the caffeine and theanine content of the tea. Gyokuro is Japanese for “jade dew,” which refers to the bright green color of the brewed tea. Our Gyokuro is sourced from Fukuoka Prefecture.
12. White teas
Like black and green tea, white tea has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. White tea also tends to be lower in caffeine than both black and green tea, making it a great option for those looking to lower their caffeine intake while still reaping the many inflammation-fighting benefits of true tea.
Our pick: Himalayan Spring White Tea
The first leaves of the spring season are hand-plucked in the foothills of Nepal to produce this refreshing organic white tea. Himalayan Spring brews up into a pale, peachy straw color, and embodies the characteristic lightness and brightness of a spring harvest white tea. This tea is smooth and buttery, with no hint of bitterness.
13. Rooibos teas
Rooibos is an herbal tea primarily grown in South Africa. Sometimes called red tea or red bush tea, Rooibos has a full body similar to that of black tea and has a pleasant natural sweetness. This herbal tea is also caffeine-free, making it a great alternative for tea drinkers looking to cut down on caffeine. Rooibos contains a type of antioxidant known as flavanoids, which have been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Our pick: Organic Rooibos Herbal Tea
Grown in South Africa, Rooibos has the full body of a black tea but is naturally caffeine-free with a mellow natural sweetness. Rooibos is also sometimes known as “red bush” tea.
Using tea to treat inflammation
Whether you’re dealing with the temporary inflammation of sore muscles and swelling, or are suffering from symptoms of chronic inflammation, teas can be a great way to help reduce inflammation and provide relief from the symptoms of related illnesses. In addition, reducing inflammation can help to prevent illnesses such as strokes and heart attacks. While you should always consult with a medical professional when dealing with serious illness, tea can be a tasty way to reduce symptoms of inflammation on a daily basis. And with so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find one that strikes your fancy!
FAQS about anti-inflammatory teas
Does matcha reduce inflammation?
Like green tea, matcha contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation and soothe pain. Because matcha is made from powdered green tea leaves, it contains even more concentrated amounts of the beneficial properties present in green tea.
Is ginger turmeric tea good for inflammation?
Ginger and turmeric are both potent anti-inflammatory herbs, so they’re often included together in herbal tea blends. Our Atomic Gold Herbal Tea features anti-inflammatory ingredients like ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, and licorice root.
Are herbal teas anti-inflammatory?
While not all herbal teas help to reduce inflammation, many herbal teas contain anti-inflammatory herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, rosehips, chamomile, and more.
