Best Tea for a Sore Throat

When you’re suffering from a sore throat,  a hot mug of tea can both calm down your inflamed throat and loosen up all that junk in your lungs, too. But what tea is best for a sore throat? We researched the best teas for sore throats based on a mix of home remedies and scientific data. We also provided our ranked lists of the best of each type of teas, so you can find the best option to coat your throat. Hope you feel better soon! 

Herbal Tea (With Lemon and Honey)

One of the best-known sore throat remedies is just a nice, hot herbal tea with some lemon and honey. In this case, the focus isn’t so much on any healing aspects of the tea, but just the mixture of heat and moisture, which can cut down phlegm and soothe irritation. And while that can apply to any kind of hot tea, according to Dr. Maya Sardesai, an associate professor of otolaryngology and surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, herbal teas are better for your throat than green or black teas, as they’re low in caffeine, which can spark acid production and irritate the throat more. 

As for which herbal tea is the best, you can check out our ranking here:  Best Herbal Teas, Ranked.

Peppermint Tea

The helpful ingredient in Peppermint Tea is menthol, the mint extract which helps loosen congestion in the lungs and soothe inflammation in your throat. Not only that, but menthol cools you down, helping to calm down your poor, inflamed throat as you drink it. And you’ve got to admit that it’s a healthier way to get some menthol than a two-pack-a-day habit. 

You can find our guide to the best peppermint teas at: Best Peppermint Tea: 7 Best Mint Tea Bags to Steep Away the Pain.

Turmeric Tea

While the peppery taste of turmeric might not be the most appealing tea flavor on this list, it’s full of curcumin, a compound that’s been studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And when your sore throat is hugely inflamed, you’ll need all the soothing properties you can get, pepper taste or no. 

Check out our ranking of the best turmeric teas here: The Best Turmeric Tea That Actually Tastes Good.

Chamomile Tea

A very popular home remedy for sore throats, chamomile tea has been used for centuries to treat inflammation and cold symptoms, including sore throats. But some recent studies have also pointed to chamomile tea’s “flavonoids” (a type of plant pigment) as a source of its anti-inflammatory properties, with one National Institute of Health study finding that chamomile tea spray helped reduce post-surgery sore throats. And if it’s good enough to help with surgery, it’ll probably help with your cold. 

You can find our chamomile tea ranking here: Get Cozy with the Best Chamomile Teas.

Ginger Tea

Your best bet for a sore throat tea is probably ginger tea, which also has centuries of history as a home remedy. More recently, various scientific studies have pointed to ginger as a possible anti-inflammatory agent, but also as an anti-microbial compound that can help fight off infection. And another study has pointed to its anti-oxidant properties as a way to boost the immune system. So if you’re looking for a tea with multiple ways to help you beat that sore throat, this is the one for you. 

You can find our ginger tea ranking here: Tummy Troubles? Try the 6 Best Ginger Teas.