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The holidays are upon us; there's nothing like enjoying the festivities with a bit of bubbly!
However, jingle bells are meant to be a melody only. You don't want to hear them ringing when you wake up the following day with a pounding head, dry mouth, and queasy stomach.
It would be best to relieve quickly when you wake up still reeling from the night before.
Instead of suffering until it wears off, it's wise to know the best tea for hangover symptoms so you can warm up a mug and start feeling better right away.
Which ones to reach for? That's why we're here. Today, we're sharing our go-to tea varieties for those mornings when you need more than a cup of Joe to help you reset.
Ready to learn more? Let's get started!
Is Tea Good for Hangovers?
Tea can be good for hangovers by rehydrating the body, calming nausea, and reducing headache symptoms. Herbal teas like ginger, chamomile, and peppermint are especially effective due to their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Green or black tea can also provide antioxidants and mild caffeine to combat fatigue.
THE BEST TEA FOR COMBATING HANGOVER SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of a hangover can range from headaches and lethargy to muscle aches and excessive thirst. There are myriad reasons why our bodies feel the way they do after a night of indulgent drinking. These include:
1) Tissue inflammation
2) Water loss and dehydration
3) Sleep disturbance
These add to an unwelcome trifecta that can be a pain to shake away. When you need to get going the following day, not just any concoction will do. Pour up a cup of any of the below hangover teas and start healing with every sip.
GINGER TEA
Rich in antioxidants and full of rich spice, ginger tea is a beloved option at any time of day, whether you've been drinking or not.
Thanks to its active ingredient, gingerol, it's also excellent at combating nausea! This ingredient is one reason why pregnant women suffering from morning sickness often nibble on ginger snaps or hard ginger candy to help keep their bellies calm. (1)
The best part? It couldn't be easier to make.
Chop up a little raw ginger and add the pieces to hot water. Voila! You've got a warm mug of healing goodness using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
Consider combining ginger with turmeric in your tea for an even more potent remedy. Ginger's anti-nausea effects and turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties will help you feel better faster.
GREEN TEA
Green tea has long been touted for its many health benefits. You'll soon see why when you prepare a cup during a hangover.
Loaded with antioxidants, it's a go-to beverage for a quick wellness boost. At the same time, some researchers believe that a specific amino acid found in green tea, L-Theanine, can help calm your brain by increasing the number of alpha waves it creates. (2)
This is welcome news if you wake up with a spinning head that feels like it has a hammer through it! Green tea can be found at any supermarket and is often one of the most affordable varieties on the shelf. Remember that full-bodied versions can have a good amount of caffeine, so until your hangover passes, stick to decaf varieties only.
If you're looking for an alternative, consider matcha, a form of green tea containing L-theanine known for its liver-protective qualities. This can be particularly beneficial after a night of drinking, as your liver works to detoxify your body.
TURMERIC TEA
Used in many different dishes across India, turmeric is a spice enjoying newfound popularity in the United States as researchers uncover more details about its perceived health benefits.
They're taking special note of its concentration of curcumin. In addition to giving turmeric its distinctive yellow color, this compound is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. For that reason, it's a common ingredient in health supplements and a mainstay at the beauty counter. (3)
These anti-inflammatory benefits reduce hangover-induced headaches and promote detoxification, making turmeric tea a strong choice when under the weather.
You can also find turmeric tea at the grocery store, often with ginger added in for an extra boost! While the tea bag is steeping, whip up a turmeric face mask. Your mouth might taste like cotton, but your complexion can still be radiant!
If you're ambitious, this simple three-ingredient turmeric tea recipe is easy to recreate at home. Grated turmeric, ginger, and one whole lemon combine for a powerful tonic you'll want to keep on hand. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you want some heat or a teaspoon of maple syrup if you prefer yours on the sweet side.
PEPPERMINT TEA
Who says peppermint flavor only belongs to candy canes? While it might be a primarily seasonal treat, you can enjoy peppermint tea anytime. It's especially beneficial when you feel those familiar hangover symptoms creeping in.
Did your grandmother ever hand you a peppermint to suck on when your belly hurt as a child? Like ginger, it's believed to have stomach-calming qualities that help ease your discomfort during stomach aches. If you tend to get abdominal pain after a night of drinking, keep this in the pantry for quick retrieval. (4)
Do you have a peppermint plant on your windowsill? If so, you can easily make this tea fresh at home.
Boil a cup of water and submerge seven to 10 rinsed peppermint leaves. Allow it to steep for about five minutes, and you're done! You can leave the leaves in the water while you drink it, so you can nibble them when you're done! Now, you have a complete and comforted belly and a mouth that smells infinitely better than a few minutes ago.
CHAMOMILE TEA
Chamomile tea can help alleviate hangover symptoms by promoting relaxation, reducing nausea, and improving sleep. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also soothe headaches and an upset stomach. Drink chamomile tea as a gentle remedy during recovery from a hangover.
Chamomile tea has long been used to calm nerves and ease discomfort, making it a great hangover remedy. Its key compound, apigenin, has been studied for its stress-relieving properties, promoting relaxation and reducing nausea. (5)
Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory effects can also help soothe headaches and muscle aches, while its sleep-promoting qualities aid recovery by improving rest.
TEAS TO AVOID WITH A HANGOVER
If the above teas are great for a hangover, are there any that you should avoid?
Probably!
You may want to avoid teas with high caffeine, such as black tea.
Why does this matter? If you brew a cup of black tea strong enough, it could contain as much caffeine as a cup of instant coffee! If your stomach is reeling, your head is spinning, and you feel dizzy, you don't need another jolt. You don't need another stimulant, especially if you suffer from hangover shakes.
In addition, caffeine is a diuretic, which causes your kidneys to flush out more water from your body. This is when you need to hydrate, not lose water, so stick to teas that help restore a healthy balance.
On the other hand, black tea contains prebiotic-like polyphenols, which can support your overall gut health. While the caffeine content might be a concern, the gut health benefits could make black tea a viable option. It depends on your body's unique response.
Along the same lines, avoid any teas labeled "detox teas." At first glance, these might seem ideal for your situation, as they're designed to "flush toxins" from your body.
The only problem? While many legitimate detox tea brands are on the market, an equal number of poor-quality ones full of fillers could cause more harm than good. There's nothing wrong with pouring a cup, but make sure the manufacturer is a trusted and reputable brand and that the ingredients are all-natural, herbal, and safe.
AVOIDING A HANGOVER IN THE FIRST PLACE
When you're in the middle of a hangover, you're desperate for any solution that might help reverse your situation.
However, keep in mind that time is the biggest healer. Your body needs time to rehydrate itself, and while these teas can help it, none is a true "cure in a cup."
That said, staying hydrated with caffeine-free teas like ginger and chamomile can be especially helpful in counteracting the dehydration caused by alcohol, which is a primary cause of hangover symptoms.
Still, pouring a cup when you wake up is wise, if only for the medicinal properties of ingredients like ginger and peppermint.
Want to wake up feeling like a boxer instead of a punching bag? A few of the ways to avoid a hangover in the first place include:
- Not drinking as much the night before
- Choosing a lighter-colored drink
- Eating a meal with plenty of carbs, protein, and fat before going out
- Skipping the cigarettes
- Drinking plenty of water to rehydrate
BEST HANGOVER TEA: FEEL BETTER, ONE SIP AT A TIME
It might not make you bounce back immediately, but the best tea for hangover symptoms can help you feel more relaxed, calm, and warm while navigating the next day's haze.
As long as you stick to the ones mentioned on our list, you'll be well on your way to tackling that icky feeling and getting on with the rest of your day. Then, before you hit the sack, make one more cup for good measure and sleep more soundly than you did the night before.