Don’t just take a tea brand’s word for it. Here’s what holds up when I check the plant behind the product myself, so you know the herb in the bag is the species named on the front, correctly identified and cleanly dried, not just a nice label.
As a plant biologist with a background in botany and plant chemistry, I read a herbal product the way I read any plant, through the species and its correct botanical name, the part of the plant used, and how it was dried and stored, not the marketing. My training in taxonomy and herbarium work means I can tell whether a brand has the right plant and has handled it well enough to keep its aromatic oils.
I also check what the science actually says against reliable sources before I recommend anything, rather than repeating what a brand claims. Every brand below earns its place the same way: plants I can identify and stand behind, plus the catch you should know before you buy.
Take a look below…