10 Best Teas for Colds | UK Nutritionist Reviewed
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.
Quick List - Top Teas for Colds
Yogi Organic
The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu
Tea Pigs
Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Triple Leaf Tea
A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs
The Natural Health Market
Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention
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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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
- Select Suitable Ingredients According to Your Symptoms
- Opt For Immunity-Boosting Teas to Prevent Future Ailments
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
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
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
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!
10 Best Teas for Colds in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yogi Organic Throat Comfort Tea ｜17 Bags | | The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu | |
2 | Tea Pigs Licorice and Peppermint Tea ｜15 Bags | | Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits | |
3 | Triple Leaf Tea Cold and Flu Time ｜20 Bags | | A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs | |
4 | The Natural Health Market Organic Echinacea Loose Tea ｜50g | | Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention | |
5 | Qarshi Johar Jashanda Herbal Tea ｜30 Bags | | A Greek Sweet Treat for Colds and Flu With an Aromatic, Sweet Taste | |
6 | Mighty Matcha Organic Green Tea Powder｜30g | | Packed with Antioxidants and Perfect for an Energy Boost | |
7 | Dr Stuart’s Throat Relief Tea ｜15 Bags | | A Soothing Infusion for Scratchy Throats Made With Top-Quality Ingredients | |
8 | Pukka Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey Tea ｜20 Bags | | Full of Spicy-Sweet Ginger Flavour for Sore Throats and Congestion | |
9 | Clipper Organic Sleep Easy Tea ｜20 Bags | | A Calming Favourite Made With Lemon Balm and Valerian for Sleepless Nights | |
10 | Salus Floradix Organic Lemon Balm Tea｜15 Bags | | Simple, Good-Value Tea with Antiviral Properties, Made With 100% Organic Ingredients |
The Ultimate Blend of Organic Herbs for Easing Colds and Flu
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.
Top Quality and Punchy Flavour With Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
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.
A Herbal Alternative to Medicine for Respiratory Issues Including 14 Herbs
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.
The Natural Health Market Organic Echinacea Loose Tea ｜ 50g
Full of Antioxidants and Perfect for Strengthening Immunity and Cold Prevention
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!
A Greek Sweet Treat for Colds and Flu With an Aromatic, Sweet Taste
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.
Packed with Antioxidants and Perfect for an Energy Boost
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.
A Soothing Infusion for Scratchy Throats Made With Top-Quality Ingredients
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.
Full of Spicy-Sweet Ginger Flavour for Sore Throats and Congestion
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.
A Calming Favourite Made With Lemon Balm and Valerian for Sleepless Nights
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.
Simple, Good-Value Tea with Antiviral Properties, Made With 100% Organic Ingredients
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
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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 Organic｜Throat Comfort Tea ｜17 Bags
No. 2: Tea Pigs｜Licorice 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
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.