Find safe and yummy tea for kids to soothe sore throats, offer comfort, and even help settle tummies. With herbal and caffeine-free options, these are easy kids drinks to share.

Favorite Tea for Kids

Ever since my kids were little, we’ve enjoyed tea together both for comfort and as an easy kids drink option. We started with very straightforward options and have explored more flavors as they’ve grown. The benefits of tea for kids include offering comfort, soothing sore throats or congestion, providing warmth on cold days, and helping to settle an upset stomach and nausea as needed. It can also help calm anxiety. We like it as an interesting alternative to soda and juice to mix things up.

We also love having tea parties with Tea Sandwiches and real cups of tea!

(Some studies have even found that tea can help reduce cavities.)

I will cover common questions about giving tea to children, what to look for and what to avoid when buying it, how to serve it, how to avoid caffeine, and more.

Caffeine in Tea

Many teas have caffeine, which we want to avoid giving to kids as that’s a stimulant they don’t need. Common teas with caffeine includes matcha green tea, green tea, black tea, pu-erh teas, mate, oolong, white tea, and purple tea. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant do have some caffeine.

The best teas for kids include roobois, which is actually an herbal infusion. Chamomile is also a great option, as are other herbal teas labeled caffeine-free.

(Consult your pediatrician for guidance on any specific concerns about tea or herbal blends or herbal remedies, as some may contain ingredients that are not safe for kids.)

Herbal Tea for Kids

Here are our very favorite teas for kids:

How to Make Tea for Kids

The two main things to know about making tea for kids, which is generally the same process as making tea for adults:

1. Keep an eye on how long you steep the tea. Tea bags or loose tea that is steeped too long can turn bitter or the flavor may be too intense to start for some kids. Err on the side of less time, then taste and steep more as needed.
2. Use caution with the temperature of the liquid. Let it cool if the water was at a full boil or add an ice cube to ensure it is cool enough for kids to drink.

Follow the directions on the tea you’re making for temperature of the water and steep time, and consider making the adjustments listed above.

Best Tips for Success

• Choose caffeine-free tea for kids.
• Try “honey tea” for kids over 1, where you stir honey into warm water to make a lightly sweet drink that is great for kids who are sick.
• Watch how long the tea is steeped to avoid the tea becoming bitter or too strongly flavored.
• Try a few flavors to see which ones kids like.
• Sweeten with a little honey for kids over age 1 if desired.
• Be sure to allow the tea to cool sufficiently or add an ice cube to avoid burning mouths.

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