Herbal tea, technically, isn’t really “true” tea at all. Tea uses leaves harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is (understandably), called the tea plant or tea shrub. But herbal tea comes from other plants, using other roots, flowers, and herbs.

The practice of drinking herbal tea is actually as old as time, and comparable to the history of drinking actual tea. Herbal tea has been around since the time of Ancient Egypt and Ancient China.

What makes herbal tea so popular is that with so many herbs and flowers to use, you have a wide range of flavors to try out. In addition, you can try various herbal teas to deal with specific health issues.

So, which herbal teas should you try? If you’re new to herbal tea, then you may want to begin by trying out these popular herbal tea options.

Peppermint Tea

The peppermint tea is one of the most popular herbal teas in the world. Part of the reason why is because of its refreshing taste.

Traditionally, peppermint tea has been used to maintain the health of the digestive tract. More recent scientific studies have largely confirmed these benefits, as these studies show that peppermint tea can help with issues like stomach pain, nausea, and indigestion.

Other studies also indicate that peppermint tea has antioxidant properties, along with antiviral and antibacterial properties. It may even help in fighting off cancer.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is another popular herbal tea. It’s a great drink when you’re stressed and anxious, as chamomile tea can help to settle your nerves and calm you down. It’s so calming that it can improve the quality of your sleep and may even reduce the symptoms of depression.

Other studies indicate that it also helps with premenstrual syndrome. People with type 2 diabetes may also drink chamomile tea regularly to improve their blood lipid, insulin, and blood glucose levels.

Hibiscus Tea

This is made from the pink-red flowers of the hibiscus plant, and the resulting tea can be quite refreshing. Some studies even show that hibiscus tea may have antiviral properties, as drinking hibiscus tea can help against certain strains of the bird flu.

Hibiscus tea can reduce oxidative stress, which means you have a lot of bad free radicals in your body and not enough antioxidants. Hibiscus tea can also help with high blood pressure.

Ginger Tea

If you want some spicy tea, try ginger tea. The flavor can really wake you up, plus you get to enjoy lots of health benefits.

It is especially good when you’re suffering from nausea. That’s why it’s a popular choice among pregnant women, cancer patients, and travelers who suffer from motion sickness.

Some studies indicate that ginger tea can relieve constipation and indigestion, and may even help in preventing stomach ulcers. There are also studies that show that ginger tea can help relive period pain, or dysmenorrhea.