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I am a tea before bed person. Not every night, but when I want to wind down and I am reading or watching something low key, a warm cup is part of that. The problem is most herbal teas either taste like grass or are so heavily blended you have no idea what is actually doing anything.
Hiihone sent me this lemon balm tea to try. One ingredient, caffeine-free, and it turned out to be genuinely good. Here is what I noticed.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: you want a clean caffeine-free tea for a low-key nighttime wind-down with no weird aftertaste and nothing you cannot pronounce on the label
- Skip it if: you want a bold strong cup or you require organic certification
- My favorite feature: the flavor is brighter and more lemony than most lemon balm teas I have tried. It actually tastes like something instead of just warm water with a hint of herb.
- Would I buy again? Yes
Why One Ingredient Is Actually a Selling Point
Most herbal sleep teas are blends. Chamomile, passionflower, valerian, lemon something. There is nothing wrong with blends, but when the flavor is off you do not know which herb to blame, and if you are sensitive to one of them you are stuck guessing. This is just lemon balm leaf. That is the whole ingredient list. No fillers, no artificial flavors, nothing extra. For anyone who wants to know exactly what is going into their cup every night, that simplicity is genuinely useful.
Hiihone Lemon Balm Tea Bags 20 Count
20 individually wrapped caffeine-free tea bags made from pure dried lemon balm leaf. One ingredient, resealable packaging, and a citrusy flavor that holds up even after a longer steep.
Hiihone Lemon Balm Tea Specs
- Count: 20 tea bags
- Ingredient: Pure dried lemon balm leaf (Melissa officinalis)
- Caffeine: Caffeine-free
- Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free
- Organic certified: No
- Brew temp: Boiling water, 8 fl oz
- Steep time: 3 to 5 minutes recommended, I went about 10 and it was still smooth with no bitterness
Who Is Hiihone Lemon Balm Tea For?
If you want something warm to sip while you read or watch something before bed, this fits without any fuss. It is also a good pick if you are trying to cut back on caffeine but you do not want to give up a warm drink in the evenings. The flavor is pleasant enough to drink straight without honey or sweetener, which makes the habit easy to keep. If you already use lemon balm in another form, like a supplement or tincture, this pairs well with that kind of routine.
Does Lemon Balm Tea Taste Bitter If You Over-Steep It?
I dropped a bag in and got distracted, which means it steeped for about 10 minutes instead of the recommended 3 to 5. The liquid turned a soft golden amber and I expected it to taste bitter or grassy the way over-steeped teas usually do. It did not. Still smooth, still light and citrusy, easy to drink all the way to the bottom of the mug. The smell alone when I opened the bag was noticeably lemony and clean, which is not something I say about most herbal teas.
Things Worth Knowing Before You Order
- One ingredient, full stop: Lemon balm leaf and nothing else. No proprietary blend, no hidden herbs. As transparent as a tea gets.
- Resealable outer packaging: The bag closes back up to keep the remaining tea fresh. Small detail but I noticed it right away.
- Brighter flavor than most lemon balm teas: A lot of lemon balm teas taste flat or grassy. This one leans citrusy in a way that holds up even after a longer steep, which the brand attributes to using more leaf and fewer stems.
Pros
- Brighter more lemony flavor than most lemon balm teas
- Completely caffeine-free, safe to drink right before bed
- One clean ingredient with no additives or fillers
- Forgiving steep time, no bitterness even after 10 minutes
- Resealable packaging is a nice touch
Cons
- Not certified organic, which may matter if that is a priority
- 20 bags goes fast if you drink one every night
- Flavor is mild so if you want a bold strong cup this will underwhelm you
- Newer brand with fewer independent reviews than the big herbal tea names
Common Questions About Lemon Balm Tea
Is it actually caffeine-free?
Yes, completely. Lemon balm is an herb, not a true tea plant, so there is no caffeine in the leaf. Safe to drink in the evening without affecting sleep.
Is it just lemon balm or are other herbs blended in?
Just lemon balm leaf, nothing else. If you want a pure single-herb tea, this is it.
How strong is the lemon flavor?
Light to medium. Noticeably citrusy and pleasant but not intense. For a gentle evening cup, the lightness works in its favor.
Can you make it iced?
Yes. Steep in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes, let it cool, then pour over ice or refrigerate for a few hours. The citrusy flavor holds up cold.
Any side effects or drug interactions to know about?
For most people lemon balm at normal serving sizes is gentle and well-tolerated. If you take thyroid medications or sedatives it is worth checking with your doctor first since lemon balm can interact with both.
Similar Options Worth Comparing
| Tea | Ingredients | Organic | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiihone Lemon Balm | Lemon balm leaf only | No | A clean single-herb cup with brighter, more citrusy flavor |
| Traditional Medicinals Lemon Balm | Lemon balm leaf only | Yes | If organic certification or a longer track record matters |
| Bigelow Benefits Calm Stomach | Chamomile + lemon balm blend | No | Digestion and relaxation in one cup |
My Take After Adding It to My Nighttime Routine
This is now a regular part of my reading wind-down. Warm, lightly lemony, nothing complicated. The 20-count goes faster than you expect if you drink one every night so factor that in when you order. But the flavor, the clean label, and how easy it is to just make a cup and sit with it made this one stick. If I keep reordering it, you will know it delivered. The tea is just one piece of my wind-down. If you want the whole evening routine I built around it, I wrote that up over on my other blog.
Related Reviews
- Respira Botanicals Mullein Tea: another single-herb tea I tried for the first time
- OH MY CHEWY Sleep Gummies: another caffeine-free way to wind down at night
- Wild & Organic Passion Flower: the calming herb lemon balm is usually blended with
