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  • 10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed 1
  • 10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed 2
  • 10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed 3
  • 10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed 4
  • 10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed 5

10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed

Britain is known for its love of tea, but also unfortunately for its cold and rainy winters. As the seasons change and many of us get struck with the dreaded symptoms of a cold and flu, such as sore throats, sinus congestion, head colds and coughing, we often look toward a good hot cup of tea to help us feel better. 

Luckily there are many types of teas for colds on the market, whether you are a traditional herbal loose-leaf lover or prefer the convenience of a bag. In this article, we will take the guesswork out and share our top picks for teas to help you fight the common cold available to purchase from Amazon, Waitrose, and ASDA. Moreover, we have partnered with Nutritionist Tara Corbett for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information to our users.
Last updated 31/01/2025

Quick List - Top Teas for Colds

1

Yogi Organic

Throat Comfort Tea 17 Bags
Throat Comfort Tea

The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu

2

Tea Pigs

Licorice and Peppermint Tea 15 Bags
Licorice and Peppermint Tea

Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

3

Triple Leaf Tea

Cold and Flu Time 20 Bags
Cold and Flu Time

A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs

4

The Natural Health Market

Organic Echinacea Loose Tea 50g
Organic Echinacea Loose Tea

Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention

5

Qarshi Johar Jashanda

Herbal Tea 30 Bags
Herbal Tea

A Greek Sweet Treat for Colds and Flu With an Aromatic, Sweet Taste

Tara Corbett
Expert
Nutritionist
Tara Corbett

mybest UK specialist Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through their nutrition. Tara specialises in helping busy parents specifically improve their eating with ease and without overwhelm, and get back on track so the whole family can benefit.

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Table of Contents

Fact-Checked & Approved by Nutritionist Tara Corbett

Fact-Checked & Approved by Nutritionist Tara Corbett

Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients to lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through better nutrition. She specialises in helping busy parents improve their diets without overwhelming them with information, and get them back on track so that the whole family can benefit.

How to Choose Teas for Colds in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Select Suitable Ingredients According to Your Symptoms
  2. Opt For Immunity-Boosting Teas to Prevent Future Ailments
1

Choose the Right Ingredients Depending on the Symptoms You’re Trying to Treat

Choose the Right Ingredients Depending on the Symptoms You’re Trying to Treat

Pick Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Ingredients to Provide Moisture and Cool a Sore Throat

Peppermint is a powerful leaf that is wonderful at alleviating sore and raspy throats. It also boasts antibacterial and antiviral qualities, so can be sipped as a preventative measure when you feel a scratchy throat coming on. 

Additionally, peppermint is widely used to calm stomach upsets, and also known for its ability to clear blocked and stuffy noses due to its high menthol content. Try this tea if you are suffering with some of these conditions that often go hand in hand with colds. Lemon balm is related not to lemon but a member of the mint family, and is a leaf to look out for that boasts potent antiviral qualities and aids digestion.


While you're here, check out the best supplements for women!

Look For Sinus-Clearing Root Ingredients to Care for Coughs and Congestion

As well as it’s deliciously sweet flavour, licorice root is an anti-inflammatory so will help to reduce any painful swelling in the throat. It is often found in cough medicines, but drinking licorice in tea is a great natural alternative. It is also great at moistening dry throats, and helps to expel mucus from the body. However, if you have hypertension, consult your doctor first as it has been known to exacerbate conditions. 


If you have a persistent cough, or excess phlegm and congestion, try calming turmeric and stimulating ginger to alleviate your symptoms. For mucus or phlegm build up, turmeric will help to dissolve it and leave your chest feeling less heavy by killing the bacteria that cause these build-ups and is even more beneficial in hot liquid form.


If you have a stuffy head from congestion, you can also look toward aromatic ginger to blast it away. Studies have shown that it’s compound gingerol helps to suppress mucus production from the get go, so start drinking when you feel your cold beginning. Spicy ginger in tea can calm coughs and clear the sinuses too, helping to prevent those frustrating sniffles throughout the day.


Having a shot of ginger in the morning is a great way to kickstart the day - browse our selection of ginger shots here!

Drink Chamomile Tea to Help Your Body Relax So You Can Get Some Restful Sleep

Chamomile tea has been used for centuries to alleviate anxiety, calm the mind and act as a natural sedative. It contains a high amount of an antioxidant called apigenin, which binds to specific brain receptors and initiates sleep. We all know a good nights sleep is crucial to healing the body from illness, so if your cold is keeping you from slumber, try boiling up a blend including this precious flower.
2

Prevent Future Colds by Buying Teas Made of Immunity-Boosting Ingredients

Prevent Future Colds by Buying Teas Made of Immunity-Boosting Ingredients
  • Green tea: Green tea and Matcha are favourites amongst health fanatics for their high vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content. Matcha is known to be much more concentrated so contains an even higher amount of antioxidants – allegedly up to 137 times more! However, keep in mind that it does contain caffeine which is known to dehydrate the body so its best enjoyed in small amounts.

  • Black tea: Whichever brand of black tea you’re loyal to, the humble British favourite also packs in the antioxidants and contains interferon, a protein that defends us against infection. Of course, these also contain caffeine which can cause dehydration leading to headaches and restlessness so its best enjoyed during the morning or in small quantities. 

  • Citrus teas: Vitamin C and tea go hand in hand. Keeping vitamin C levels topped up improves our absorption of iron, which prevents lethargy and gives us energy. Teas with lemon and orange means you’re also getting a dose of potassium, which is a mineral important in kidney function – the organ responsible for flushing unwanted toxins. 

  • Cinnamon: Popular in Chinese medicine, cinnamon is another antioxidant-packed powerhouse to look for when perusing the ingredients list on your tea. This warming spice has been known to reduce inflammatory diseases, fight bacteria, and is a source of fibre, iron and calcium.

  • Echinacea: This is a flower common in cold medicines and syrups, but is also found in many cold busting teas. It is a good choice to boil up throughout the winter season to build up immunity and resistance to viruses, but it also does a great job of speeding up recovery when illness has already caught up with you.

Prefer sipping on cold teas? Here are the best cold infusion teabags in the UK!

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Teas for Colds in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Yogi Organic

Throat Comfort Tea 17 Bags

Yogi Organic Throat Comfort Tea  1

The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu

2

Tea Pigs

Licorice and Peppermint Tea 15 Bags

Tea Pigs Licorice and Peppermint Tea  1

Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

3

Triple Leaf Tea

Cold and Flu Time 20 Bags

Triple Leaf Tea  Cold and Flu Time  1

A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs

4

The Natural Health Market

Organic Echinacea Loose Tea 50g

The Natural Health Market  Organic Echinacea Loose Tea  1

Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention

5

Qarshi Johar Jashanda

Herbal Tea 30 Bags

Qarshi Johar Jashanda  Herbal Tea  1

A Greek Sweet Treat for Colds and Flu With an Aromatic, Sweet Taste

6

Mighty Matcha

Organic Green Tea Powder30g

Mighty Matcha Organic Green Tea Powder 1

Packed with Antioxidants and Perfect for an Energy Boost

7

Dr Stuart’s

Throat Relief Tea 15 Bags

Dr Stuart’s  Throat Relief Tea  1

A Soothing Infusion for Scratchy Throats Made With Top-Quality Ingredients

8

Pukka

Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey Tea 20 Bags

Pukka Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey Tea  1

Full of Spicy-Sweet Ginger Flavour for Sore Throats and Congestion

9

Clipper

Organic Sleep Easy Tea 20 Bags

Clipper Organic Sleep Easy Tea  1

A Calming Favourite Made With Lemon Balm and Valerian for Sleepless Nights

10

Salus Floradix

Organic Lemon Balm Tea15 Bags

Salus Floradix  Organic Lemon Balm Tea 1

Simple, Good-Value Tea with Antiviral Properties, Made With 100% Organic Ingredients

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Yogi Organic
Throat Comfort Tea 17 Bags

Throat Comfort Tea  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£4.76
Mid
Reference price
£4.76
Mid

The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu

This Ayurvedic blend of organic herbs has everything you need to bring yourself back to life from a cold, as well as a gorgeous sweet-spicy taste that has won awards! Formulated without any caffeine, you can comfortably sip this throughout the day to alleviate your symptoms. 

It is marketed mainly for its throat moistening and healing liquorice and fennel but contains vitamin-rich and immune-boosting cinnamon, orange, and citrus extract too. It even has cloves, ginger and turmeric, which we know can help with everything from stomach problems to congestion.
Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

Tea Pigs
Licorice and Peppermint Tea 15 Bags

Reference price
£3.00
Low Mid

Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

These gorgeous tasting “tea temples” (a biodegradable bag that encourages even better brewing) are fabulous quality and made from whole leaves and roots for punchy flavour and all the benefits of loose tea in the convenience of a bag. 

They are a higher price but well worth it, with drinkers reporting they can use the bag for a second mug for a treat just as sweet. With all the throat coating and anti-inflammatory benefits of liquorice and peppermint, this award-winning tea will clear mucus, ease your stomach and speed up recovery.

No.3

Triple Leaf Tea
Cold and Flu Time 20 Bags

Cold and Flu Time  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£8.20
High Mid
Reference price
£8.20
High Mid

A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs

This tea blend of 14 herbs has drinkers raving about its congestion clearing and throat soothing qualities, with some saying it even helps their allergies and asthma. It is warming, detoxifying, and also great for digestive upsets as it includes ginger and mint.

Boil a mug up to twice a day at the first sign of cold symptoms and appreciate the healing wonders of Chinese medicine. It is worth noting that it is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers.
No.4

The Natural Health Market
Organic Echinacea Loose Tea 50g

Organic Echinacea Loose Tea  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£4.99
Mid
Reference price
£4.99
Mid

Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention

Used by Native Americans for centuries as a tonic for well-being, echinacea’s potent antioxidants and assistance in producing white blood cells both help to fight off infection. This product is a loose-leaf, which is said to be more effective than tea in bags, and will appeal to the traditionalists.

This natural, organic and additive-free tea can be enjoyed throughout the cold and flu season to strengthen immunity and has a lovely fragrant taste. Although it is caffeine free, this tea has revitalising effects. It is also suitable for vegans!
No.5

Qarshi Johar Jashanda
Herbal Tea 30 Bags

Herbal Tea  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£7.99
High Mid
Reference price
£7.99
High Mid

A Greek Sweet Treat for Colds and Flu With an Aromatic, Sweet Taste

This Greek-Arab tea is a traditional medicinal formula containing liquorice, peppermint and eucalyptus for sore throats and clearing the airways. Users love the aromatic and sweet taste, but it does contain sugar which may be something to bear in mind if you are having several cups a day. 

Even when symptoms are only beginning to creep up, this tea can serve as a great preventative measure before the worse sets in. It's worth nothing that it contains black tea for a light energy boost and those all-important antioxidants and tannins, but this does mean it is not caffeine-free.

No.6

Mighty Matcha
Organic Green Tea Powder30g

Reference price
£6.99
High Mid

Packed with Antioxidants and Perfect for an Energy Boost

Neither a bag nor a leaf, this ground Matcha green tea comes in a very fine powder so can be mixed with hot water to make a tea, but also with milk for a green tea latte. It is apparently 15 times more potent than green tea leaves, so will give you a heady dose of antioxidants to bring you back to life – or prevent colds occurring in the first place.

It is best enjoyed in the morning or daytime as it does contain caffeine, albeit a natural source that claims to not give you the jitters after a few sips. The price is fairly high but it is organic and high quality, and you will only need a small amount of the powder for one cup.
No.7

Dr Stuart’s
Throat Relief Tea 15 Bags

Throat Relief Tea  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£6.26
High Mid
Reference price
£6.26
High Mid

A Soothing Infusion for Scratchy Throats Made With Top-Quality Ingredients

Using only the highest quality ingredients, this tea is packed with liquorice and cinnamon for coating sore throats and marshmallow root for its ability to clear up respiratory problems. It also contains cloves, which are known for their numbing effect in the mouth and throat.

This tea aims to help you alleviate all the unpleasant symptoms. However, it is a little pricey for only 15 bags, but can also be purchased in multi-packs if you want to save a few pennies.
No.8

Pukka
Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey Tea 20 Bags

Reference price
£3.45
Low Mid

Full of Spicy-Sweet Ginger Flavour for Sore Throats and Congestion

This yummy tea is ethically sourced and organic certified, and certainly packs in the cold-fighting ingredients. With a third of the mixture containing ginger root, as well as liquorice and turmeric, this tincture should clear up congestion and soothe sore throats in no time.

We also like the addition of whole lemon and lemon essential oil, meaning you don’t even have to bother adding in a slice to reap the rewards. Unfortunately, the advertised Manuka honey is only listed as a “flavour”, so may not be as beneficial as we would have liked.
No.9

Clipper
Organic Sleep Easy Tea 20 Bags

Organic Sleep Easy Tea  1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£2.00
Low
Reference price
£2.00
Low

A Calming Favourite Made With Lemon Balm and Valerian for Sleepless Nights

Mainly marketed as a sleeping aid, this tea provides calming chamomile, lemon balm and valerian for when your cold is preventing you from dozing off. It does, however, contain cinnamon and orange, so will help to add a boost of antioxidants and vitamins.

These additions also help to give the tea a nice flavour, for those who find chamomile somewhat bitter. It is predominantly for sleeping, so the more severe cold sufferers may want to supplement with other teas during the day.
No.10

Salus Floradix
Organic Lemon Balm Tea15 Bags

Organic Lemon Balm Tea 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£4.53
Mid
Reference price
£4.53
Mid

Simple, Good-Value Tea with Antiviral Properties, Made With 100% Organic Ingredients

This is a good value tea and contains 100% organic lemon balm, in unbleached bags. Lemon balm is well known for its ability to alleviate cold and flu symptoms, by acting as an antiviral remedy. It is also very calming so lovely for sipping at bedtime.

The product is not as strong as some would like, and to really feel the effects many users state having to use two bags at once. A fairly pleasant taste but would benefit from some added ingredients for flavour and effectiveness, such as lemon or mint.

Written and Researched by Natasha Dziubajlo

About Specialist Fact-Checked Articles

Tara Corbett
Nutritionist
Tara Corbett

We partner with specialists across various fields to proof-read our buying guides to deliver accurate and reliable information. Our specialists do not endorse any products that we recommend.


- mybest UK

Top 5 Teas for Colds

No. 1: Yogi OrganicThroat Comfort Tea 17 Bags

No. 2: Tea PigsLicorice and Peppermint Tea 15 Bags

No. 3: Triple Leaf Tea Cold and Flu Time 20 Bags

No. 4: The Natural Health Market Organic Echinacea Loose Tea 50g

No. 5: Qarshi Johar Jashanda Herbal Tea 30 Bags

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The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.

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