Best Tea for Singers

Listening to someone sing can be so calming. The soothing lyrics seem to flow out of a singer's mouth so effortlessly. Yet, if you are a singer, you know that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes.

Keeping a singing voice in tune can be a struggle. Vocal cords can get overused. Start adding in a cold bug, allergies, dusty or smoky environments, or late nights and the voice can become adversely affected.

When you're fighting a bug and a sore throat strikes, drinking warm tea is very comforting. The same principle applies to a singer's voice. To a throat that has become inflamed with overuse, warm tea is very soothing. Tea contains a lot of antioxidants that provide your body with defense against outside elements.

For the best results as a singer, do not add milk to the tea. Dairy products can be mucus-producing which will muffle your tone. The process of clearing the phlegm will only increase the inflammation in a singer's throat. If you like the tune of sweeter tea, consider adding honey in place of a lot of sugar as honey can also soothe your vocals.

When selecting tea, be sure to choose top-quality loose leaf tea which will provide the most benefit. Loose leaf tea with the proper ingredients will help ease a singer's irritated throat. If you're on the road, there are several handy teaware items to make steeping tea easy wherever you go.

Before you step back on stage, review these seven recommendations for the best teas for singers.

Seven Best Teas for Singers

1. Ginger

Ginger has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Ginger tea is one of the best ingredients to soothe a singer's overworked throat. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties making it a natural pain reliever.

Ginger also helps boost the immune system. If the sore throat is due to infection instead of overuse, then the bioactive compounds in ginger may also help fight the infection.

Ginger tea when combined with turmeric can also benefit a singer's throat. Turmeric also contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic qualities that may provide relief to a singer's throat pain.

Try adding a squeeze of lemon to also help a sore throat. Citrus helps break up mucus and provides relief from pain. The vitamin C in lemons can help boost immunity to stave off a throat infection.

2. Chamomile

Chamomile tea is a light, earthy tea made from the dried flower heads of the chamomile plant. Chamomile also contains antioxidant properties that may help repair and support healthy tissue. This flower-based tea also provides antispasmodic support to help reduce a nagging cough. Its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve congestion as well as boost immunity.

Beyond being soothing for a singer's vocal cords, Chamomile is soothing for the whole body. Its calming nature can soothe nerves before a performance, or help relax the body after a long day on the stage or on the road.

3. Licorice Root

This flavorful herb has been used for thousands of years for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Herbalists commonly use licorice in alternative medicine to treat colds and sore throats. The antimicrobial properties in licorice kill bacteria in the throat to help your mucous membranes to heal.

Licorice is also a natural way to reduce phlegm and mucous in the throat and lungs. It is a well-used herb in traditional Chinese medicine for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

Licorice can be found in tea blends such as Immunity Boost tea.

4. Throat Soother Tea

To soothe an irritated throat or dry cough before your next performance, a warm cup of throat coat tea is the remedy your throat needs. Throat Soother Tea is simply one of the best teas for a singer's throat.

Throat Soother Tea is an herbal tea that blends licorice, calming anise, and raspberry leaves plus Slippery Elm (a natural throat coat) coats your throat to help speed the recovery of your scratchy throat. The inner bark of the Slippery elm tree is found in many throat lozenges to relieve coughs and sore throat.

The orange citrus helps reduce swelling and adds a delicious flavor. Add a little honey for a bit of sweetness, and increase the comforting effect. 

5. Green Tea

Because it is the least processed of the true teas, green tea contains the most antioxidants.

If you're dragging a bit, having a cup of green can help put the vibrato back in your voice. Getting your caffeine from coffee can cause dehydration and result in havoc with your voice. Coffee can actually damage vocal cords by increasing the production of acid in your throat.

Although many people think green tea is caffeine-free, green tea does contain caffeine. But green tea also contains an amino acid, L-theanine, which is known to produce a calming effect. L-theanine combines with the caffeine in green tea to enhance memory, and cognitive performance, as well as keep your mood elevated between sets.

Ginseng tea combined with ginger is a fresh and crisp, energizing green tea blending green tea with ginger root (which we already know is a good tea for singers). The sweet, earthy aroma has notes of delicately spicy herbs. Ginseng is often used in alternative medicine to boost the immune system and reduce the effects of fatigue and stress.

6. And finally, the best tea for singers?

Immunity Boost Tea should receive a standing applause because it contains almost every single ingredient we have just discussed: Ginger, Licorice, Peppermint, and Green Tea. Blend in the Cardamom, Fennel, Marigold Flowers, Black Peppercorn, and Cloves for one tasty, soothing cuppa!

Many vocalists turn to peppermint and licorice root for the anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant levels they provide. 

Fennel has also been used for thousands of years for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties which may help to fight off a cold or flu bug. Fennel also helps with insomnia. So if you are nervous about your next performance, Immunity Boost tea may help you get the sleep you need to let your throat and body rest.

Conclusion 

Whether you are a singer, a teacher, or one who gives a lot of presentations, your throat gets a lot of action. When reaching for something warm and soothing, why not drink tea that includes the added ingredients that may actually help your body past the initial warm sip. Falalala!