Skip to content
AlternativeMed

Explore Herbal Teas

An A to Z directory of herbal teas with scientific names, plant part, caffeine notes, the main caution the sources flag, and a link to each tea's own guide.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herbal tea and extract safety before you use anything on this page.

Use this table to find a tea by its common name, see which plant and plant part it comes from, and jump to its guide. It is a directory, not a ranking and not advice. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before using any tea if you take medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a liver or kidney condition, or are due for surgery; see how interactions work.

Scientific names are accepted names in GBIF unless noted. [1] Many plant parts below come from European Medicines Agency (EMA) herbal committee pages, which define herbal substances by plant part and botanical name. [2] The "caution" column shows only what a source we read flagged; "See guide" means the guide covers it or nothing was flagged in the page we read, which is not proof of safety.

A to Z directory

TeaScientific namePlant partCaffeineMain caution flagged
Butterfly pea flower teaClitoria ternatea L.Flower [3]Not stated (note)See guide
California poppy and skullcap teasEschscholzia californica Cham.; Scutellaria lateriflora L.See guideNot stated (note)Two different plants are called skullcap: S. lateriflora and Chinese skullcap (S. baicalensis) [4]
Chamomile teaMatricaria chamomilla L. (EMA lists Matricaria recutita L., a synonym)Flower heads [5]Not stated (note)Allergy to daisy-family plants [5][6]
Chrysanthemum and jasmine flower teasChrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat. ex Hemsl.; Jasminum sambac (L.) AitonFlowers [7][8]Depends: some jasmine teas are green tea scented with flowers [9]Chrysanthemum is in the daisy family (Asteraceae) [10]; see guide
Cinnamon teaCinnamomum verum J.Presl (EMA name); one review lists C. zeylanicum [11][12]Bark [12]Not stated (note)Sources use different Cinnamomum names: check which species a product uses
Corn silk tea and barley teaZea mays L.; Hordeum vulgare L.Corn silk is the styles and stigmas of maize [13]; barley: roasted grain [14]Not stated (note)Corn silk is also sold as a slimming tea [15]; acrylamide in roasted barley grain and the drink made from it has been studied [14]
Dandelion teaTaraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.Leaf (EMA) [16]; flowers, leaves and root have traditional use in Mexican and other North American medicine [17]Not stated (note)Theoretical interactions with antidiabetes, anticoagulant, antiplatelet and water pill drugs [17]
Marshmallow, mallow and slippery elm teasAlthaea officinalis L.; Malva sylvestris L.; Ulmus rubra Muhl.Marshmallow: root [18]; mallow: flower [19]; slippery elm: inner bark [20]Not stated (note)See guide
Echinacea teaEchinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (other species exist)Flowering aerial parts [21]Not stated (note)Serious allergic reactions reported, especially in atopic people [21]
Elderflower tea and elderberry versus elderflowerSambucus nigra L.Flowers [22]; elderberry is a different part, the fruit [23]Not stated (note)Flower and berry are not interchangeable: read the berry guide
Fennel tea and gas and bloating blendsFoeniculum vulgare Mill.Fruit (sweet fennel) [24]Not stated (note)Allergic reactions of skin or respiratory system [24]
Ginger tea and lemon-ginger-honey teaZingiber officinale RoscoeRhizome (underground part) [25]Not stated (note)By mouth: abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, mouth and throat irritation [26]
Hawthorn teaCrataegus species (EMA lists several)Leaf and flower [27]Not stated (note)See guide
Hibiscus teaHibiscus sabdariffa L.Dried calyces [28]Not stated (note)Lowered blood pressure in trials [29][30]; ask a pharmacist if you take blood pressure medicine
Hops teaHumulus lupulus L.Flowers (strobile) [31]Not stated (note)See guide
Lavender teaLavandula angustifolia Mill.Flower (the EMA substance name is Lavandulae flos) [32]Not stated (note)Theoretical interaction with sedatives; matters before surgery [33]
Lemon balm teaMelissa officinalis L.Leaf [34]Not stated (note)EMA: only for adults and children over 12 years [34]
Lemon verbena teaAloysia citrodora PaláuAerial parts and leaves [35]Not stated (note)See guide
Lemongrass teaCymbopogon citratus (DC.) StapfLeaves [36]Not stated (note)See guide
Licorice root tea and licorice hidden in blendsGlycyrrhiza glabra L. (EMA also covers G. inflata and G. uralensis)Root [37]Not stated (note)Glycyrrhizin can cause serious adverse effects [38]
Milk thistle teaSilybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.Fruit [39]Not stated (note)Not for people allergic to milk thistle or other Asteraceae plants [39]
Moringa teaMoringa oleifera Lam.Leaf (a trial used dry leaf powder in capsules) [40]Not stated (note)See guide
Nettle teaUrtica dioica L. (EMA also covers Urtica urens L.)Leaf [41]Not stated (note)See guide
Passionflower teaPassiflora incarnata L.Above-ground parts [42]Not stated (note)See guide
Peppermint teaMentha × piperita L.Leaf [43]Not stated (note)Can worsen reflux and heartburn; caution with gallstones [43]
Red clover teaTrifolium pratense L.See guideNot stated (note)See guide
Red raspberry leaf teaRubus idaeus L.Leaf [44]Not stated (note)Pregnancy questions: see guide
Rooibos teaAspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.DahlgrenLeaves [45]Described as caffeine free [46]See guide
Rosehip teaRosa canina L.Rose hip [47]Not stated (note)See guide
Senna and laxative teasSenna alexandrina Mill.Leaf [48]Not stated (note)Long-term use may unbalance water and salt in the body [48]; see also the laxative and detox tea claim check
Comfrey and coltsfoot teasSymphytum officinale L.; Tussilago farfara L.Comfrey: root [49]; coltsfoot: see guideNot stated (note)Comfrey root contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic to the liver when taken by mouth [49]
Spearmint teaMentha spicata L.Aerial parts [35]Not stated (note)See guide
Tulsi (holy basil) teaOcimum tenuiflorum L. (synonym Ocimum sanctum L.)Leaves [50]Not stated (note)See guide; the plant is also profiled in Adaptogens
Turmeric teaCurcuma longa L.Rhizome (below-ground stem) [51]Not stated (note)Dry mouth, flatulence and stomach irritation [51]; liver cautions in guide
Valerian teaValeriana officinalis L.Root (underground part) [52]Not stated (note)Not with alcohol or sedatives [53]
Yerba mateIlex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.Leaves and twigs [54]Yes, measured in infusions [54]Very hot drinks above 65 °C are probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC) [55]

Note on "Not stated": the sources we read gave no caffeine figure for this tea. A review says herbal teas do not contain caffeine, [12] but blends can include true tea and a few plants, such as yerba mate, do contain it. Read caffeine in herbal teas.

Teas to treat with extra care

Licorice, senna and other laxative teas, and comfrey or coltsfoot (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) have the most serious cautions in this table. Start with safety essentials. Sedating teas such as valerian are covered in herbal tea and medicine interactions.

What is not in the table

Frequently asked questions

Why is the chamomile name different from the EMA name?

GBIF treats Matricaria chamomilla L. as the accepted name and Matricaria recutita L. as a synonym, while the EMA page uses Matricaria recutita L. [1][5]

What does "Not stated" mean for caffeine?

It means the sources we read gave no caffeine figure for that tea. A review says herbal teas do not contain caffeine, but yerba mate has measured caffeine. [12][54]

Does being listed mean a tea is safe?

No. Listing is not a safety rating. Each guide separates traditional use from research, and the cautions column shows only what a source flagged. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about your own medicines and conditions. [53]

Why do some teas list several plants?

Some common names cover more than one plant. For example, two plants are called skullcap, and sources use different Cinnamomum names for cinnamon. [4][11][12] Check the scientific name and plant part on the label.

Where are tinctures and extracts?

They are covered separately in extracts and tinctures.

References
  1. GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match service (api.gbif.org/v1/species/match). Names checked 2026-10-23.
  2. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Patient Leaflet template concerning advice on the preparation of herbal teas as (traditional) herbal medicinal products by end-users, EMA/HMPC/30603/2012, adopted 20 September 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
  3. Naimi W, et al. Teaching Acid-Base Fundamentals and Introducing pH using Butterfly Pea Flower Tea. Journal of chemical education. 2024. PubMed 38516052. Read 2026-10-23.
  4. Makino T, et al. Comparison of the major flavonoid content of S. baicalensis, S. lateriflora, and their commercial products. Journal of natural medicines. 2008. PubMed 18404307. Read 2026-10-23.
  5. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Matricariae flos (matricaria flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  6. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  7. Liu Y, et al. Widely Targeted Metabolomic Analysis of Two Chinese Traditional Herbal Imperial Chrysanthemum Teas and In Vitro Evaluation of Their Hyperglycemia and Inflammation Enzyme Inhibitory Activities. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2025. PubMed 40941259. Read 2026-10-23.
  8. Xu M, et al. A novel genome sequence of Jasminum sambac helps uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of jasmonates. Journal of experimental botany. 2023. PubMed 36433929. Read 2026-10-23.
  9. Hou Z, et al. Comparison of Volatile Compounds in Jingshan Green Tea Scented with Different Flowers Using GC-IMS and GC-MS Analyses. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2024. PubMed 39272418. Read 2026-10-23.
  10. Chen L, et al. Construction of efficient virus removal and micropropagation system for 'Yu Tai Yi Hao' chrysanthemum. Scientific reports. 2025. PubMed 41214077. Read 2026-10-23.
  11. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Cinnamomi cortex (cinnamon) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  12. Huda HS, Majid NBA, Chen Y, et al. Exploring the ancient roots and modern global brews of tea and herbal beverages: A comprehensive review. Food Sci Nutr. 2024. PubMed 39479640. Read 2026-10-23.
  13. Wang JY, et al. Flavonoids with antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity from corn silk (Stigma maydis). Natural product research. 2023. PubMed 35736954. Read 2026-10-23.
  14. Mizukami Y, et al. Acrylamide elution from roasted barley grains into mugicha and its formation during roasting. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. 2016. PubMed 26678848. Read 2026-10-23.
  15. Ikpeazu VO, et al. Evaluation of the safety of oral intake of aqueous extract of Stigma maydis (corn silk) in rats. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria. 2018. PubMed 30558395. Read 2026-10-23.
  16. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Taraxaci folium (dandelion leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  17. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Dandelion: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  18. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Althaeae radix (marshmallow root) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  19. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Malvae sylvestris flos (mallow flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  20. Zick SM, et al. Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2006. PubMed 17212569. Read 2026-10-23.
  21. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Echinaceae purpureae herba (purple coneflower herb) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  22. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Sambuci flos (elder flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  23. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Sambuci fructus (elderberry) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  24. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Foeniculi dulcis fructus (sweet fennel fruit) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  25. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Zingiberis rhizoma (ginger rhizome) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  26. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Ginger: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  27. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Crataegi folium cum flore (hawthorn leaf and flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  28. Eslaminejad T, et al. Morphological characteristics and pathogenicity of fungi associated with Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) diseases in Penang, Malaysia. Microbial pathogenesis. 2011. PubMed 21839160. Read 2026-10-23.
  29. McKay DL, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. The Journal of nutrition. 2010. PubMed 20018807. Read 2026-10-23.
  30. Norouzzadeh M, et al. Efficacy and safety of Hibiscus sabdariffa in cardiometabolic health: An overview of reviews and updated dose-response meta-analysis. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2025. PubMed 39870328. Read 2026-10-23.
  31. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Lupuli flos (hop strobile) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  32. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Lavandulae flos (lavender flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  33. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Lavender: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  34. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Melissae folium (melissa leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  35. Guimarães R, et al. Effects of oral dosage form and storage period on the antioxidant properties of four species used in traditional herbal medicine. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2011. PubMed 20740475. Read 2026-10-23.
  36. Lorenzetti BB, et al. Myrcene mimics the peripheral analgesic activity of lemongrass tea. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 1991. PubMed 1753786. Read 2026-10-23.
  37. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Liquiritiae radix (liquorice root) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  38. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  39. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Silybi mariani fructus (milkthistle fruit) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  40. Gómez-Martínez S, et al. Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplementation as a Glycemic Control Strategy in Subjects with Prediabetes. Nutrients. 2021. PubMed 35010932. Read 2026-10-23.
  41. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Urticae folium (nettle leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  42. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Passiflorae herba (passion flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  43. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Menthae piperitae folium (peppermint leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  44. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Rubi idaei folium (raspberry leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  45. Pyrzanowska J, et al. Aspalathus linearis infusion affects hole-board test behaviour and amino acid concentration in the brain. Neuroscience letters. 2021. PubMed 33529651. Read 2026-10-23.
  46. Pretorius L, et al. Translation of preclinical ethnomedicine data in LMICs: the example of rooibos. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2023. PubMed 38174224. Read 2026-10-23.
  47. İlbay Z, et al. Investigation of Polyhenolic Content of Rose Hip (Rosa canina L.) Tea Extracts: A Comparative Study. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2013. PubMed 28239095. Read 2026-10-23.
  48. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Sennae folium (senna leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  49. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Symphyti radix (comfrey root) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  50. Nomura K, et al. Benefits of basil tea for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer during radioiodine therapy: A randomized controlled trial. Heliyon. 2023. PubMed 37829808. Read 2026-10-23.
  51. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Curcumae longae rhizoma (turmeric) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  52. European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Valerianae radix (valerian root) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
  53. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Valerian: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
  54. Najman K, et al. Changes in the Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties of Yerba Mate Depending on the Brewing Conditions. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2024. PubMed 38893465. Read 2026-10-23.
  55. International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO). IARC Monographs evaluate drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages. Press release no. 244, 15 June 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.