What tea is better for sore throat

There are many possible reasons behind a sore throat, but one thing is for sure—they’re never a good time. Between the painful swallowing, dry coughs, and scratchy throat, sometimes all you want is an easy, natural remedy you can reach for quickly to make your symptoms go away. Enter: the best tea for sore throat.

FYI, sore throats are typically a result of bacterial or viral infections (think: a cold and the flu) affecting the tissue in our throat, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain, says Robert Glatter, MD, an attending emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. (Fun fact: The medical term for sore throat is pharyngitis.) Though allergies and strep throat could also be to blame, according to the CDC.

Thankfully, tea can help relieve the discomfort no matter what the underlying cause is. You probably already know that these leaves offer many potential health benefits, from boosting your immune system to warding off heart disease. Turns out teas can do wonders when you're down with a sore throat too.

“Liquids that we take by mouth do not reach the vocal folds directly, but rather go around them into the esophagus,” says Paul Kwak, MD, an otolaryngologist at the NYU Langone Voice Center's Department of Otolaryngology. “So the way that hot or warm liquids, such as tea, can be helpful is by soothing the mucous membranes of the throat, and sometimes with the warmth or heat, increasing blood flow to the tissue.”

Adding honey to your cup will make your brew more delicious and calming for your throbbing throat because the sweetener will coat the mucous membranes in your throat and soothe your soreness while minimizing coughing, says Dr. Glatter.

There aren't any risks to using tea to quell the inflammation in your throat, but keep in mind that teas should not be used as a substitute for medications. If you have a sore throat and your symptoms persist, it’s best to get it checked out.

For a mild case of sore throat, try one of these expert-recommended teas to ease your symptoms.

1

Bigelow Classic Green Tea

Green Tea

2

Harney & Sons English Breakfast Tea

Black Tea

3

Traditional Medicinals Organic Peppermint Tea

Peppermint Tea

4

ALVITA Licorice Root Tea

Licorice Root Herbal Tea

5

Twinings Pure Camomile Tea

Chamomile Tea

6

Rokit Organic Marshmallow Tea

Marshmallow Leaf Tea

7

Yogi Ginger Tea

Ginger Tea

8

Bigelow I Love Lemon Herbal Tea

Lemon Tea

9

TAZO Turmeric Bliss Tea

Turmeric Tea

10

Organic India Tulsi Original Tea

Tulsi Tea

11

Traditional Medicinals Organic Rose Hips With Hibiscus

Rose Hips Tea

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When you feel the dreaded scratchiness of a sore throat and cough coming on, your first instinct is probably to drink something hot, like a big cup of tea.

And your instincts are right: “Warm tea or other drinks can help soothe the inflammation, clear nasal passages, and reduce the amount of mucus coming from the nasal passages that might further irritate the throat,” says Stephen Parodi, M.D., infectious disease expert and national physician leader at Kaiser Permanente. “Some provide topical relief of pain, and some may assist with mucus production.”

However, Dr. Parodi says research hasn’t confirmed that one type of tea is more beneficial than the rest for classic cold and flu symptoms. “There are no specific studies about which specific tea or combination of ingredients for a home remedy is best, and each person responds to different approaches,” he says.

Lisa McDonald, tea sommelier and owner of TeaHaus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has spent her career learning about the properties of tea, from its molecular structure to which blends feel soothing, echoes Dr. Parodi sentiments. “It’s important to me that people understand that white, green, oolong, yellow, and black teas are all the same plant and therefore are all healthy,” she says, referring to the Camellia sinensis plant from which they’re all derived. “I strongly encourage people to drink the tea they enjoy since quantity is important for staying hydrated and reaping the benefits of tea.”

That means if you’re struggling to drink one cup of green tea when you can easily glug down a few cups of black just because you think it’s healthier, you may actually be missing out on all that your drink has to offer during cold and flu season. So, give the following teas a try, add a spoonful of honey, and sip on the one you like the most—we promise they’ll soothe your sore throat in no time.

1

Pack of 2 (16 Tea Bags Each)

Traditional Medicinals

Licorice Root Tea

2

24 Tea Bags

Celebration Herbals

Marshmallow Root Tea

3

20 Tea Bags

Harney & Sons

Chamomile Tea

4

Pack of 6 (16 Tea Bags Each)

Yogi

Ginger Tea

5

Pack of 2 (30 Tea Bags Each)

VAHDAM

Turmeric Tea

6

50 Tea Bags

Taylors of Harrogate

Peppermint Tea

7

Pack of 6 (16 Tea Bags Each)

Traditional Medicinals

Slippery Elm Tea

8

Pack of 6 (40 Tea Bags Each)

Bigelow Tea

Green Tea

Anisa Arsenault Contributor Anisa Arsenault is a New York City-based writer and editor covering health, lifestyle, and parenting news.