The holidays are upon us, and there’s nothing like enjoying the festivities with a little bubbly!

However, jingle bells are meant to be a carol, only. You don’t want to hear them ringing in your ears when you wake up the next morning, along with a pounding head, dry mouth, and queasy stomach.

When you wake up still reeling from the night before, you need quick relief.

Instead of suffering until it wears off, it’s smart to know the best tea for hangover symptoms, so you can warm up a mug and start feeling better right away.

Not sure 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!

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

All of these add up to an unwelcome trifecta that can be a pain to shake away. When you need to get going the next morning, not just any concoction will do. Pour up a cup of any of the below hangover teas and start healing with every sip.

1) Ginger Tea

Ginger tea for hangover


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.

It’s also great at combating nausea, thanks to its active ingredient, gingerol! 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.

Simply 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.

2) Green Tea

Green tea for hangover


Green tea has long been touted for its many health benefits. When you prepare a cup in the throes of a hangover, you’ll soon see why.

Loaded with antioxidants, it’s a go-to beverage any time you want a quick boost of wellness. 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)

If you wake up with a spinning head that feels like it has a hammer through it, this is welcome news! You can find green tea at any supermarket, and it’s often one of the most affordable varieties on the shelf. Keep in mind that full-bodied versions can have a good amount of caffeine, so until your hangover passes, stick to decaf varieties only.

3) Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea for hangover


Used across India in many different dishes, turmeric is a spice that’s 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)

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, go ahead and whip up a turmeric face mask. Your mouth might taste like cotton, but your complexion can still be radiant!

If you’re feeling ambitious, this simple three-ingredient turmeric tea recipe is easy to recreate at home. Grated turmeric, grated ginger, and one whole lemon come together for a powerful tonic that you’ll want to keep on hand. You can also 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.

4) Peppermint Tea

pepperming tea for hangover


Who says peppermint flavor only belongs to candy canes? While it might be a mostly seasonal treat, you can enjoy peppermint tea at any time of year. 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? Similar to ginger, it’s believed to have stomach-calming qualities that can 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)

Got a peppermint plant on your windowsill? If so, it’s easy to make this tea fresh at home.

Simply boil a cup of water and submerge seven to 10 rinsed peppermint leaves in it. 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’ve got a full and comforted belly, along with a mouth that smells infinitely better than it did a few minutes ago.

5) Chamomile Tea

chamomile tea for hangover


Another great hangover tea choice is chamomile tea. You’ll probably have some hidden in the kitchen and it’s a fantastic feel-good tea.

It’s been used traditionally for centuries to settle upset nerves and is an easy-to-drink tea when hungover.

The active ingredient in chamomile is apigenin which has been studied for its stress-relieving properties.(5)

Teas to Avoid With a Hangover

Black tea for hangover


If the above teas are great for a hangover, are there are any that you should avoid?

Probably!

You may want to steer clear of any teas that have a high amount of 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 already reeling, your head is already spinning and you already feel dizzy, you don’t need another jolt. You definitely don’t need another stimulant, especially if you suffer from hangover shakes.

In addition, caffeine is a diuretic, which makes your kidneys flush out more water from your body. This is a time when you need to be hydrating, not losing water, so stick to the teas that help restore a healthy balance.

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 there are many legitimate detox tea brands on the market, there’s an equal number of poor-quality ones full of fillers that could wind up causing 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 for the most part, time is the biggest healer. Your body needs time to rehydrate itself and while these teas can help it do so, none is a true “cure in a cup”.

Still, it’s smart to pour a cup when you wake up, if for no other reason than the medicinal properties that ingredients like ginger and peppermint possess.

Want to wake up feeling like the boxer instead of the 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 you’re making your way out of the next-day 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.