These Soothing Teas Will Instantly Make Your Sore, Scratchy Throat Feel so Much Better

When you feel the dreaded scratchiness of a sore throat and cough coming on, your first instinct is probably to drink something hot, like a big cup of tea.

And your instincts are right: “Warm tea or other drinks can help soothe the inflammation, clear nasal passages, and reduce the amount of mucus coming from the nasal passages that might further irritate the throat,” says Stephen Parodi, M.D., infectious disease expert and national physician leader at Kaiser Permanente. “Some provide topical relief of pain, and some may assist with mucus production.”

However, Dr. Parodi says research hasn’t confirmed that one type of tea is more beneficial than the rest for classic cold and flu symptoms. “There are no specific studies about which specific tea or combination of ingredients for a home remedy is best, and each person responds to different approaches,” he says.

Lisa McDonald, tea sommelier and owner of TeaHaus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has spent her career learning about the properties of tea, from its molecular structure to which blends feel soothing, echoes Dr. Parodi sentiments. “It’s important to me that people understand that white, green, oolong, yellow, and black teas are all the same plant and therefore are all healthy,” she says, referring to the Camellia sinensis plant from which they’re all derived. “I strongly encourage people to drink the tea they enjoy since quantity is important for staying hydrated and reaping the benefits of tea.”

That means if you’re struggling to drink one cup of green tea when you can easily glug down a few cups of black just because you think it’s healthier, you may actually be missing out on all that your drink has to offer during cold and flu season. So, give the following teas a try, add a spoonful of honey, and sip on the one you like the most—we promise they’ll soothe your sore throat in no time.