This Is the Best Tea to Drink When You Have a Sore Throat
Next time you have a sore or scratchy throat (and after you’ve consulted with a doctor), look no further than your local tea aisle for an herbal antidote.
Sure, anything warm and calming will soothe your pain, but there’s one tea that packs a serious punch: Traditional Medicinals’ Throat Coat Tea.
A post shared by Traditional Medicinals (@tradmedicinals) on Dec 26, 2018 at 9:20am PST
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon, customers can’t stop raving about its effectiveness.
“I am a singer and I swear by this stuff,” wrote on reviewer. “I never do a show without it. My mouth/throat tend to get very dry during long shows and I used to have to sip water between almost every song just to not feel like I had chalk in my mouth. As long as I drink a cup (or 3 hehe I just really love the sweet, herby taste) I am 10 times better! My voice feels much more effortless and coated.
“I have loved this tea for years,” wrote another. “I use it in lieu of over the counter medications. Everyone that I have recommended this to appreciates it. The key to these types of teas is to drink them at the very first sign of illness coming on, and then drink plenty of it.”
So what makes this blend so dang good? It contains both slippery elm and licorice root, two of the best herbal remedies for a sore throat.
Related: Herbal Teas for Healing—Which Tea Does What?
Slippery Elm Bark
Slippery elm, or Ulmus rubra, is a tree native to the U.S. and Canada.
The tree’s bark has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Native Americans discovered that the bark, when mixed with water, (this sticky paste is called mucilage) proved to be an effective treatment for everything from lacerations to sore throats.
WATCH: How to Make Tea with Ginger-Citrus Ice Cubes
Later, during the American Revolution, injured soldiers would use the healing paste to treat gunshot wounds.
Not only can sipping slippery elm tea help combat sore throats caused by allergies or the common cold, it can also soothe burning caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
If you don’t love tea, you can also get lozenges made from slippery elm bark.
Related: This Tea May Help Treat Acne in Women
Licorice Root
Licorice is the sweet root of a plant called Glycyrrhiza glabra that is native to Europe and Asia.
Licorice root, like slippery elm, works to relieve common ailments by coating the affected area.
It has been used medicinally for thousands of years—people rely on licorice root for soothing stomach aches, treating respiratory problems, and reducing anxiety.
Lucky for us this cold and flu season, it’s considered a sore throat remedy.
You can find Throat Coat in your local tea aisle, or purchase a 6-pack for $25 right here.
