Herbal Tea Ingredients: Bigelow Tea Answers Your Questions
Updated October 27, 2026
Unlike green or black tea, herbal teas contain no Camellia sinensis. Herbal teas are instead a caffeine-free blend of flowers, roots, spices, fruits and other botanicals. Chamomile, mint (peppermint and spearmint), ginger, lavender and echinacea are just a few of the herbal ingredients that are most widely used in a variety of herbal tea recipes. Many herbs have been studied for their potential positive health impacts. Echinacea, for example, is often studied for its role in immune support while chamomile and lavender flowers are more often associated with relaxation. Ginger and mint are often associated with digestive support. Bigelow Tea features these herbs in many teas within our line up as well as many other herbal combinations, from Cozy Chamomile to Ginger Honey plus Zinc.
Key Takeaways
- Most herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free made from dried roots, flowers, spices, fruit and other botanicals rather than the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
- Echinacea, chamomile, lavender, ginger, and mint are among the most often used ingredients in herbal blends, each with a distinct flavor and long history of traditional use.
- Herbal teas should be made with fresh boiling water and steeped for about 4 minutes to get the full flavor impact. With 0 mg of caffeine, herbal teas can be enjoyed just as much in the evening as they are in the daytime.
- Bigelow Tea offers many herbal blends featuring these ingredients, including Cozy Chamomile, Peppermint Herbal Tea, and Stay Well Lemon and Echinacea.
- Each herbal ingredient has its own unique tastes and uses. Echinacea is studied for immune support, chamomile and lavender for relaxation and ginger and mint for digestive support.
Bigelow herbal teas are blends made with exceptional ingredients. For three generations, the Bigelow family has delivered an uncompromised tea experience with every cup, and while Bigelow Tea fans everywhere trust what’s in their mug, many still come to us with queries about herbal tea so here are your top questions answered:
What Is Herbal Tea?
One of the top questions about tea is what makes an herbal tea different from a green or black tea. Unlike green or black tea, herbal teas contain no Camellia sinensis (the tea plant). Herbal teas are instead blends of flowers, roots, spices, fruits and other botanicals packed into a teabag. Since they are brewed the same way as a tea we call them herbal teas. At Bigelow Tea, we include top quality ingredients. For example, the chamomile in our Cozy Chamomile Herbal Tea is carefully selected for its flavor. Whether it’s served on its own or combined with delightful citrus, fruit or mint, chamomile’s soft and delicate floral notes make it one of the most inviting and cozy of herbal teas, perfect for relaxing and de-stressing.
Is Herbal Tea Caffeine-Free?
Nearly all herbal teas are caffeine-free, including every herbal blend Bigelow Tea makes. A few herbs do contain caffeine, such as guayusa, yerba mate and yaupon, and Bigelow Tea does not use them. Every box carries a Caff-O-Meter showing caffeine content per serving, so you can check at a glance. Sweet Dreams Herbal Tea, for example, features chamomile and peppermint plus a spicy-meets-floral hint of hibiscus, rose blossoms, spearmint, spice and orange blossoms, with 0 mg of caffeine.
Why Do People Drink Herbal Teas?
Herbal teas have been a part of daily life for people all over the world because of their flavors and the seemingly endless opportunities to blend them. In addition, many herbs have been studied for their potential positive health impacts.
Each herb has its own unique properties associated with well-being, and Bigelow Tea has built on that to add even more goodness to your cup in many of its herbal blends. I Love Lemon Herbal Tea plus Vitamin C delivers 90 mg of vitamin C per serving, which is 100% of the Daily Value. Mayo Clinic details the benefits of vitamin C. Our Bigelow Benefits line of wellness teas, where most flavors are herbal teas, was created to fuel your body with good-for-you ingredients and help provide solutions for all of your wellness needs.
Why Are Your Herbal Teas Packed in Foil?
Just like tea, herbal ingredients are sensitive to light, moisture and air and need to be protected. Additionally, many of these ingredients have sensitive volatile oils that are easily lost or damaged by exposure to these elements. Bigelow takes pride in using a foil overwrap that keeps the teabag inside safe from exposure to the elements and keeps those important volatile oils inside of your teabag.
What Are Some of the Most Well-Known Herbal Ingredients?
Herbal teas draw on a wide range of botanicals, from flowers and roots to fruits, leaves, seeds, and spices. This guide highlights just five of the many ingredients Bigelow Tea uses as well as what each one is valued for and we include examples of Bigelow Tea blends that feature these ingredients.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family known for its sweet yet delicate flavor. Its bright sunny appearance and golden color when brewed has even been a part of legend dating back to ancient Egypt. For centuries around the world people have enjoyed chamomile to help calm their minds and bodies. Today people drink chamomile when they need a quiet moment or as part of a peaceful evening routine. Chamomile naturally contains a flavonoid, a natural compound in botanicals that often acts as an antioxidant, called apigenin. Apigenin is thought to have a mild calming effect, helping with relaxation and sleep. It has been studied in both chamomile essential oils as well as brewed herbal tea. One study found that when people smelled chamomile's essential oil, the signals in their brain related to stress were reduced compared to their baseline tests. It works to increase the calming chemicals that the brain creates and decrease stress hormones your brain produces. This research implies that chamomile's aroma may have an overall calming effect on the brain. Beyond brewing a cup of chamomile to smell its soothing aroma, drinking a cup of this herbal brew has positive impacts on your day as well. Another study found in Complementary Therapies in Medicine looked at sleep quality in elderly populations given chamomile extract over a 28-day period. Researchers looked at the sleep quality of participants before and after and saw that those who were drinking chamomile tea before bed had a statistically significant improvement in their sleep quality. Bigelow sources our chamomile from gardens high above sea level where it has warm sunny days and cool crisp evenings to ensure it grows well. Once they reach the right height the flowers are hand cut and gently grouped together to dry. From there, farmers hand separate the pollen from the stems and petals. Bigelow offers a wide range of chamomile containing blends including Cozy Chamomile, a one ingredient blend that is made simply from the chamomile flowers. Chamomile Vanilla Honey pairs this flower with the smooth taste of vanilla and honey creating a mellow brew with a sweet finish. For more on this ingredient see Unwind with Bigelow Tea: Discover the Serenity of Chamomile.
Lavender
This small purple flowering plant has a subtle sweet flavor and a strong floral aroma. The lavender flower has long been used in perfumes and aromatherapy tinctures dating back to ancient Egyptian societies. Lavender is known for its calming aroma and is associated with sleep and relaxation. A 2022 meta-analysis in Complementary Therapies in Medicine looked at the correlation between lavender aroma and ingestion as it relates to stress reduction. Among the 21 qualifying studies, the researchers found that there was a statistically significant decrease in the reported stress scores for those people who used either lavender oils or tea during the study period as compared to their baselines at the start of the study period. One of these studies included in that analysis looked at the use of several different essential oils impact on sleep quality among a group of cardiac patients. They found that those who used lavender oil before bedtime reported higher sleep quality scores than patients who did not. This indicated to the researchers that lavender is a safe intervention that can improve the overall sleep quality of these patients. Bigelow Tea's Chamomile Lavender with Probiotics blends these two ingredients to create a floral brew that will relax while also supporting your overall wellbeing. For more on this ingredient, see Indulge and Relax with Bigelow Lavender Teas.
Ginger
Ginger is a common botanical that was first propagated in India and China. The stem of this plant, often referred to by people as its root, is prized for its strong spicy flavor and aroma. Recipes dating back centuries use ginger to add a warm spicy character to both savory dishes and baked goods alike. Historically, in areas of the world that practice traditional medicine, ginger has been used in food preparations as well as herbal tinctures for nausea and digestive discomfort. The ginger plant contains nearly 400 different bioactive compounds that can vary depending on which species is being used and the growing conditions associated with it. One systematic review from the Nutrition Journal looked at ginger for its potential impact on nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. This research included multiple studies with varying dosages of ginger given to pregnant women who reported nausea and vomiting symptoms during their pregnancy. Those women who took the ginger reported statistically significant lower instances of nausea compared to the women who were given a placebo. Building on that study, a 2022 double blind randomized control trial from Health Science Reports looked at the potential usage of ginger for patients stomach discomfort and nausea. The participants were given either ginger or a placebo three times a day with meals for a 12-week period. The results showed that those consuming ginger saw a statistically significant improvement in their symptoms compared to the weeks prior to supplementation. They also saw a statistically significant improvement in symptoms overall compared to the group that was given the placebo treatment. As a caffeine-free option, it is suitable for any time of day, whether you need a mid-morning pick-me-up, an afternoon break, or a relaxing evening treat. Bigelow Tea's Ginger Honey Herbal Tea plus Zinc and Lemon Ginger Herbal tea plus Probiotics offer a cup of tea that supports everyday wellness. For more on this ingredient, see Embracing The Wellness Benefits of Bigelow Ginger Teas.
Mint
Both peppermint and spearmint are ingredients that have a long history of use throughout the world. Whether for breath fresheners, home remedies or cups of tea, both mints have been enjoyed by generations of people throughout the globe. Historians can trace mints all the way back to ancient Egyptian texts where people were using the herb to soothe their stomachs. While in the same family of plants, peppermint and spearmint each have their own unique flavors and uses. Peppermint is known to have a strong cooling mint taste while spearmint is typically described as being sweeter and less intense overall. One 2020 study by Gastroenterology looked at the use of peppermint oil for gastrointestinal symptoms in a group of individuals with IBS. The study saw that the peppermint oil itself was safe and did have a statistically significant improvement in the symptoms of the group using the oil. Bigelow's Peppermint Herbal Tea is made from peppermint leaves alone, and Mint Medley Herbal Tea blends spearmint and peppermint with rose hips, lemon peel and hibiscus.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a botanical that is native to North America with a long history of traditional use in its support of overall well-being. Historically, communities have used echinacea preparations to help support immune health particularly during cold and flu season. Researchers have looked into its potential use during the common cold. One study using echinacea extracts derived from the roots and the flower looked at the difference between these items and a placebo used during the course of a common cold. Researchers found that those people who had taken the echinacea had reported shorter durations and slightly fewer symptoms than the group taking the placebo. Bigelow's Stay Well Lemon and Echinacea Herbal Tea pairs echinacea with lemongrass, elderflower, peppermint and lemon balm for a caffeine-free cup. For more on this ingredient, see Bigelow Immune Support Teas That Feature Powerful Ingredient Echinacea.
How Do These Herbal Tea Ingredients Compare?
| Ingredient | Flavor | Has Been Studied Regarding | Caffeine | Example Bigelow Tea Blend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamomile | Exquisitely sweet yet delicate | Relaxation and sleep | 0 mg | Cozy Chamomile |
| Lavender | Subtle sweet, strong floral aroma | Calming aroma, stress | 0 mg | Chamomile Lavender plus Probiotics |
| Ginger | Strong and spicy | Nausea and digestive discomfort | 0 mg | Ginger Honey plus Zinc |
| Mint (Peppermint/Spearmint) | Cooling; spearmint sweeter | Soothing the stomach | 0 mg | Peppermint Herbal Tea |
| Echinacea | Earthy, floral | Overall well-being, immune health | 0 mg | Stay Well Lemon and Echinacea |
These are examples rather than a complete list. There are hundreds of different botanicals that can make up an herbal tea, and these ingredients are often blended with green and black teas as well. Browse the full Bigelow Tea herbal tea collection to see every blend featuring a given ingredient.
How Should I Brew Herbal Tea?
Herbal teas should be made with fresh boiling water and steeped for about 4 minutes to get the full flavor impact. Give the teabag a squeeze before removing it. Some herbs, such as cinnamon, really need that squeeze for a richer cup. See How to Make the Perfect Cup of Bigelow Tea for the full brewing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Herbal Tea Ingredients
Where do the botanicals in Bigelow Tea herbal teas come from?
Bigelow Tea is proud to source its botanicals from long standing relationships with trusted partners around the globe, from mint grown on multi-generationally owned family farms to rose hips, bergamot and botanicals sourced from the growing regions best suited to each herb. Our chamomile comes from gardens grown at 6000 feet elevation above sea level where warm sunny days and cool crisp evenings help it grow well. More detail is in Where Does Bigelow Tea and Its Ingredients Come From?.
Do Bigelow Tea bags contain plastic?
All Bigelow tea bags contain no plastic and are biodegradable and compostable. 90% of teabags sold from Bigelow Tea use a non-heat-seal paper made from wood pulp and abaca; the rest use heat-seal papers made with plant-based starches from corn and sugarcane. The studies most often cited online about microplastics in tea tested nylon, PET, and polypropylene tea bag materials, none of which Bigelow Tea uses. See Bigelow Tea Bag Paper Contains No Plastic And Are Biodegradable and Compostable.
Are Bigelow Tea herbal teas non-GMO?
All Bigelow Tea products are non-GMO, and the company works with its suppliers to verify compliance with federal bioengineered food regulations. More on that position is in Bigelow Tea and GMOs.
Who owns Bigelow Tea?
Bigelow Tea is a 100% family- and woman-owned business, now in its third generation, founded by Ruth Campbell Bigelow and led today by Cindi Bigelow, third-generation president and CEO. The Women's Business Enterprise National Council certified Bigelow Tea as a woman-owned and operated business in 2023, and the company first became a Certified B Corporation in 2019, a certification that has to be re-earned every three years.
With so many Bigelow Tea herbal teas to choose from, your options are limitless.