Best Tea for a Sore Throat

While it only takes time to cure a sore throat, drinking a hot mug of tea with honey and lemon can make it feel better instantly! Learn all about what kind of hot teas help a sore throat feel better so you’re prepared the next time you feel a scratchy or sore throat coming on. Plus, most of these teas also work double-time to boost your immune system and relieve body aches, inflammation, and headaches

Sips by is the #1 rated tea club. Made by tea lovers for tea lovers, our personalized tea discovery box matches you with 4 new premium teas chosen from thousands of top-rated teas based on your unique taste preferences. Learn more about our tea of the month club.

Chamomile

Chamomile tea is one of the most relaxing herbal teas in the world. Smooth and comforting, chamomile is a popular nighttime tea to drink to unwind before bed - but it is also one of the best teas to drink when you have a sore throat. Chamomile tea can help remedy an irritated or sore throat by reducing inflammation and naturally coating the throat. Plus, chamomile naturally increases serotonin and melatonin levels in your body, helping you get much needed rest when you are sick.

Want to try chamomile tea? Here are a few of our favorites:

Echinacea

Often a staple for when you feel a cold coming on, echinacea (pronounced eh·kuh·nay·shuh) is available as a capsule, tincture, and, of course, tea. Many compounds in echinacea tea are antimicrobial, which is why it's often used in herbal medicine to soothe sore throats, fight off colds, flu, and other illnesses. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of echinacea not only soothe and ease pain, but it may also accelerate healing. Echinacea tea has a slightly floral and tongue-tingling taste, plus it pairs well with ginger, peppermint, and lemongrass - other great herbal teas for a sore throat.

Try one of our favorite echinacea teas for your immune system:

Peppermint

Peppermint tea is a fan favorite herbal hot tea for a sore throat. It relaxes muscles, relieves pain, and provides a cooling sensation that is refreshing and beneficial. This is due to the naturally high levels of menthol that help clear congestion while soothing a scratchy or painful sore throat. Peppermint tea is hailed as an antibacterial and acts as a natural antispasmodic and sedative to help relax both your mind and body, leaving you calm and balanced. Further, peppermint tea can settle an upset stomach and help prevent nausea and vomiting, aid in reducing fever, and relieve stress while the natural menthol soothes any pesky cough or loosens congestion. Check out these premium peppermint teas from some of the best loose leaf tea brands below!

Want to try peppermint tea? Here are a few of our favorites:

Ginger

The spicy, tangy flavor of ginger tea is an invigorating wellness powerhouse and one of the best teas for a cough and sore throat. Ginger root is a signature supplement often used in the form of essential oil, tea, or lozenges to treat ailments ranging from joint and back pain to migraines, cold symptoms, or an upset stomach. Ginger naturally contains chemical compounds that increase serotonin, act as an anti-inflammatory, and are antibacterial. Drinking a hot cup of ginger tea with a dash of cinnamon or honey can help alleviate a sore throat, headaches, nausea, or an upset stomach.

Want to try ginger tea? Here are a few of our favorites:

Green Tea

Light and easy to sip when you’re not feeling well, green tea is a popular tea flavor that is incredibly healthy and helps a sore throat, too! As an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral, green tea provides a healthy tea base for added honey, lemon, or ginger to make a powerful natural sore throat concoction. A cup of green tea is best for the morning or early afternoon as it does contain some natural caffeine levels, it is balanced with l-theanine to foster a tranquil energy that clears the mind and provides stable focus.

Want to try tea with clove? Here are a few of our favorites:

Licorice Root

Licorice root tea was served as a fortifying drink to ancient pharaohs, its benefits were recorded in Egyptian hieroglyphics, and it’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries. With a strong background supporting its healing properties, licorice root is one of the most important ingredients in a cup of restorative tea. Similar to chamomile, licorice root tea has a naturally sweet character and coats the throat, which helps ease inflammation and makes this type one of the best teas for a sore throat. Further, it has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that may be especially effective for preventing or soothing infection-caused sore throats from strep throat or helping heal respiratory infections. If you have a sore throat, we recommend drinking a warm cup of Organic India’s Balance tea, a soothing Sips by box exclusive tea that also contains ginger, Tulsi, peppermint, and cinnamon.

Want to try licorice root tea? Here are a few of our favorites:

Turmeric

Turmeric is a healthy golden-hued spice derived from the Curcuma longa root. Turmeric contains potent antioxidants, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and is a natural antiseptic that may help fight infections. These properties may not only be good for relieving a sore throat, but potentially help it heal faster, too. If you feel a sore throat coming on and want to get ahead of the effects, we recommend drinking a warm cup of Pukka’s Turmeric Active tea, a healthy Sips by Box exclusive tea that also contains ginger and licorice.

Want to try turmeric tea? Here are a few of our favorites:

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm is one of the most powerful herbal remedies for a sore throat. Its medicinal benefits are found in the inner bark of North American Ulmus rubra, or slippery elm tree. When ingested, slippery elm tea triggers mucus production which naturally coats the throat and digestive tract to relieve coughs, soothe sore throats, and calm an upset stomach. When applied topically, slippery elm may be effective in healing skin wounds, cuts, or burns.

Tea and Honey

Honey is a rich natural source of powerful antimicrobial properties that fight some bacteria and viruses. It contains several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are linked to increased heart health over time and help someone recover more quickly from sicknesses like the cold and flu. As a delicious natural sweetener, honey also soothes an irritated throat and relieves a cough when paired with hot tea.

Drinking warm liquids like tea when you’re sick is hydrating, warming, and soothing which helps relax the patient and loosen any congestion. You can drink hot tea with honey anytime when you have a sore throat, but drinking a cup before bed increases quality of sleep and helps you get important restorative rest.

Sore Throat Tea Tonic

This sore throat tea tonic recipe is easy to make when you or your loved one is feeling under the weather. Honey and hot tea with a bit of lemon works wonders to soothe a sore throat, relieve congestion, and suppress a cough. Brew a cup in the morning for a healthy start to your day or drink at night to usher in sweet, peaceful dreams.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Interested in trying these teas and others? Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription box or explore the loose leaf tea shop.

About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate.