What tea is best for colds?

When suffering from a cold or acute respiratory viral infection, doctors recommend that patients drink plenty of fluids. It alleviates the symptoms of intoxication and helps reduce the temperature. ¹ You can drink not only water, but also teas based on herbs, fruits, berries and spices. We share recipes for healthy and tasty drinks that can be prepared to combat the flu and acute respiratory viral infections.

Benefits of tea for acute respiratory viral infections

Infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants have been used since ancient times to treat many diseases, including colds. Tea is essentially an infusion, an aqueous extract of tea leaves, herbs, berries and spices. ²

Tea is a valuable source of biologically active substances. It is rich in antioxidants and bioflavonoids, which have a beneficial effect on immunity and help the body fight against influenza and acute respiratory viral infections – viruses.

In the classical sense, tea is a drink made from the leaves of the tea bush. However, today herbal teas have become very popular – drinks based on medicinal plants. They have a natural and safe vitaminized composition and are distinguished by a pleasant aroma and taste. ² Many types of herbal tea can be prepared at home.

In infectious diseases, the body’s need for vitamins increases sharply, which is often accompanied by the development of relative vitamin deficiency. Such a deficiency negatively affects immunity and reduces the body’s resistance to infections. ³

Decoctions and infusions based on herbs, berries and spices help to saturate the body with vitamins and other useful substances. By adding various components to the drink, you can significantly improve its taste, and most importantly, make it truly effective in the fight against colds. After all, at the beginning of the disease, even one cup of tea can bring relief. ²

What tea to drink for a cold

We offer several recipes for healthy and tasty tea for colds.

With herbs

Tea with mint, linden, elderberry and chamomile

Mint has a calming and analgesic effect, increases the body’s resistance to infections. ² Linden and black elderberry flowers increase sweating and reduce temperature. ^5,4 Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and due to the content of chamazulene and essential oils, it also has an antioxidant effect. ⁶

Tea composition:

• 1 tbsp dried peppermint;
• 1 tbsp. dried linden flowers;
• 1 tbsp dried black elderberry flowers;
• 1 tbsp. dried chamomile flowers.

Method of preparation. Mix all ingredients in a jar. Brew herbal tea at the rate of: 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 250 ml of hot water. The drink should be infused for 1 hour in a thermos. After that, it can be poured into cups.

Contraindications: intolerance to tea components, hay fever.

With berries and fruits

Tea with raspberries and St. John’s wort

St. John’s wort has antimicrobial and antiviral properties, has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. ^{2, 7} Raspberries help reduce fever, and also have anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic effects. ⁸

Tea composition:

• 1 tbsp dried St. John’s wort;
• 1 tbsp dried raspberries;
• 500 ml of water.

Method of preparation. Bring water to a boil and add St. John’s wort and raspberries. Reduce heat to low and leave the decoction on the stove for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep under a closed lid for another 5 minutes. Strain the tea. Drink before bed.

Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the drink, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children under 12 years of age, use of drugs that are incompatible with St. John’s wort – antibiotics, antihypertensives, to normalize cholesterol levels, antidepressants. ⁷

Tea with rose hips and honey

Rose hips are a source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and bioflavonoids, which increases the body’s resistance to viruses, enhances tissue regeneration and has an anti-inflammatory effect. ^2.9 Honey is an ancient remedy, rich in vitamins and enzymes, which has a general tonic and antitussive effect. ¹⁰

Tea composition:

• 2 tbsp dried and chopped rose hips;
• 2 tbsp. honey;
• 1 tbsp lemon juice;
• 500 ml of water.

Method of preparation. Place the rose hips in a saucepan and fill with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the broth from the heat, cool and add honey and lemon juice. Drink warm.

Contraindications: individual intolerance to tea components.

With spices

Tea with ginger and citrus zest

Ginger root has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. ² Lemon or orange zest improves the taste of the drink and becomes a source of essential oils, flavonoids and vitamins. ¹¹

Tea composition:

• 2 tbsp. black tea;
• 1 tbsp chopped dried ginger;
• 1 tbsp lemon or orange zest;
• 200 ml of water.

Method of preparation. Add all ingredients to a teapot and pour hot water. Let the drink brew for 10 minutes. Ginger tea should be drunk warm, the saturation of the infusion can be adjusted with water.

Contraindications: individual intolerance to tea components.

Tea with cinnamon and cloves

Cinnamon has antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant properties. ¹² Cloves also have an antibacterial effect, strengthen the immune system and relieve sore throats. ¹³

Tea composition:

• 2 tbsp. black tea;
• 2 cinnamon sticks;
• 2 whole cloves;
• 1 tsp. grapefruit zest;
• 1 l of water;
• honey or sugar to taste.

Method of preparation. Place black tea in a teapot or glass jar with a tight lid and brew it with 500 ml of hot water. Pour the remaining hot water into another jar or saucepan and add cinnamon. Leave for 10 minutes. Add grapefruit zest and cloves to the cinnamon. Let the mixture steep for another 20 minutes. Then remove the spices and combine the infusion with the brewed black tea. It is better to drink the drink warm.

Contraindications: individual intolerance to tea components.  

How to drink tea correctly

To make the drink more beneficial, follow these simple rules:

• Drinks for ARVI should be warm ¹⁴ . Warm, not hot. Scalding tea can contribute to an increase in body temperature and irritate the inflamed mucous membrane of the throat. ¹⁵
• Don’t rely on tea alone for your recovery. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral, antipyretic, gargling, nasal irrigation, etc.

• Don’t force yourself to drink tea that you don’t like. Many people experience nausea and vomiting during a cold, and a bad-tasting drink only intensifies the unpleasant sensations. Choose the tea that you like.
• Always drink fresh tea. Over time, the drink loses some of its beneficial properties, and there is no point in using it. If herbal infusion or tea remains in the container containing the raw materials from which it was prepared, then after preparation it must be used within an hour.

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