An upset stomach is something most of us have had to deal with our whole lives. From colicky babies to chronic adult digestive issues to that guy who doesn’t know when to stop eating the mega-hot chicken wings, we’ve all suffered from troublesome gut health. Fortunately, teas can help ease some tummy troubles like indigestion, acid reflux, gas, bloating, and more. (I know…such wonderful topics!)
Let’s look at which teas are good for digestion so the next time you have a troublesome tummy; you’ll know what teas to reach for to ease the pain.
1. Peppermint
Used as an herbal medicine for thousands of years, peppermint is well known for its ability to soothe an upset stomach and improve digestion. Even people with issues like IBS can find symptom relief by ingesting peppermint, thanks to menthol, a compound in peppermint that improves digestive problems. If your stomach issues are caused by stress, there’s something about a cup of peppermint tea that is calming, helping reduce anxiety and the physical ailments that can come along with it. Peppermint tea is one of the best teas for digestion.
Some peppermint teas:
- Peppermint Herbal
- Organic Peppermint
- Mint Verbena
- Chocolate Mint
- Organic Moroccan Mint
- Garden Therapy Herbal Tea (a trifecta of helpful digestive ingredients: peppermint, chamomile, and lemon)
- Tilleul Mint
- New York Blend (another winning threesome for your gut health with peppermint, chamomile, and ginger root)
- American Quilt
2. Ginger
A true superpower in the world of herbal and Ayurvedic medicine, ginger’s weapon against digestive issues is its anti-inflammatory properties. A cup of ginger tea is many a pregnant woman’s go-to for nausea and morning sickness, and it’s a friend to those who suffer from motion sickness as well.
Some ginger teas:
- Organic Ginger Lemon
- Peaches & Ginger
- Organic Ginger Turmeric
- Organic Hibiscus Ginger - Tune Up
- Green Tea with Coconut, Ginger and Vanilla
- Ginger’s Oolong
- Organic Ginger Powder
- Williamsburg Ginger Cake
- Gingerbread Festival
- Calm Turmeric Ginger
3. Chamomile
From helping you relax and sleep to helping calm a churning, burning stomach, chamomile is well known for its beneficial properties to both your physical and mental well-being.
Some chamomile teas:
- Chamomile
- Egyptian Chamomile
- Organic Lullaway
- Yellow & Blue
- Still Life
- Mother’s Day
- Chill (does double digestive duty with both chamomile and mint, plus the benefits of CBD)
- Jasmine from our Disney Collection
- Death on the Nile (another digestive powerhouse that also contains ginger, peppermint, cinnamon and fennel)
4. Cinnamon
In addition to its well-known anti-inflammatory properties and helping control blood sugar by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates, cinnamon can increase the secretion of digestive fluids. This process helps your body digest food, and the better your body digests food, the less chance you will experience gas and bloating (yes, those topics again!).
Some cinnamon teas:
- Hot Cinnamon Spice (our perennial best seller is also a good digestive tea!)
- Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice
- Green Hot Cinnamon Spice
- Hot Cinnamon Sunset (same as Hot Cinnamon Spice, just a different name)
- Decaf Hot Cinnamon Spice
- Apple Cinnamon
- Hot Apple Spice
- Holiday Heritage
- Porcelain Dragons
- Chai Hara (also contains ginger as well as fennel, another digestive friend)
5. Rooibos
Rooibos, an herb native to South Africa, contains antispasmodic properties that can aid in digestion and provide relief for stomach cramps and abdominal pain. It can also help with symptoms of IBS.
Some rooibos teas:
- Organic Rooibos
- Thai Rooibos (also contains cinnamon and ginger)
- Organic Rooibos Chai
- Berry Cobbler
- Holiday Herbal
- Paris Herbal
- African Autumn
- Pumpkin Spice
6. Lemon
It is said that the sour element in lemon is said to stir up your “agni,” which in Samskrita means “fire.” In Ayurvedic medicine, “agni” is the entity that is responsible for all digestive and metabolic processes in humans. In other words, lemon is the trigger for setting good things in motion! In addition to helping to keep you moving, you’ll boost your vitamin C levels with more lemon in your diet.
Some lemon teas:
7. Licorice Root
One of the variety of health benefits that licorice root is known for is promoting digestive health and easing the symptoms of digestive problems. Another good reason to drink it after dinner? Its sweet taste. We offer a Ginger Liquorice tea that has the one-two digestive punch of licorice root and ginger.
8. Pu-erh
The fermentation process that makes pu-erh a unique tea also imparts it with antimicrobial properties, which act much like yogurt cultures, serving as a probiotic to enhance digestive health. It’s a great idea to drink Pu-erh teas after having especially rich or fatty foods to help improve digestion.
Some Pu-erh teas:
- Pu-erh
- Golden Pu-erh
- Ripe Pu-erh Balls
- 2019 Shu Pu-erh
- Lao Ban Zhang Pu-erh
- 2015 Nuo Mi Pu-erh
- Pasha Pu-erh Old Tree Raw 2020
- Korean Pu-erh
9. Dandelion
That’s right. That “weed” growing in your yard is one of the most insanely nutritious plants around, on par with kale and spinach for nutrition density. Dandelions are packed with a host of minerals and vitamins, and all parts of a dandelion are edible. Just make sure to source your dandelions from areas that have not been treated with chemicals. This little yellow flower that could has been used for centuries in herbal medicine to improve digestion, fight colds and improve health in general. Next time you get out your weed whacker, think twice about how you treat those dandelions!
You can steep dandelions in hot water and strain to make a straight-up dandelion tea. Or, for more flavor, you can steep them in other teas that also have digestive benefits. In addition to the ones listed above, studies have shown that oolong teas aid in digestion. Green teas, already superstars in the health benefits category, can also help soothe a tummy ache. And finally, good ol’ black teas, which contain thearubigins and theaflavins – both of which act as antioxidants – provide additional digestive benefits such as helping prevent bloating, upset stomachs and could provide some protection against stomach ulcers.
