Last updated: October 2026
CBD tea is any tea with cannabidiol (CBD) in it: ready-made CBD tea bags, hemp tea, or a cup you make yourself by stirring CBD oil into milky tea. CBD is oil-based and won’t dissolve in plain hot water, so fat matters. A 2020 trial found whole milk increased CBD absorption about 2.4 times.
Below: what CBD tea is, whether it works, how much CBD is in a cup, CBD tea bags vs hemp tea vs adding oil, the best teas to pair with CBD, four recipes and the UK legal points.
What is CBD tea?
“CBD tea” covers three quite different things, and it pays to know which one you are buying:
- CBD tea bags: ordinary tea or herbal blends with CBD extract added, sold in boxes like any other tea. The amount of CBD per bag should be printed on the pack.
- Hemp tea: dried parts of the hemp plant steeped in water. It often contains very little CBD, and the amount is rarely stated.
- DIY CBD tea: your usual cup with a measured dose of CBD oil stirred in. This is the one where you know exactly how much CBD you are getting.
All three are simply another way of taking CBD by mouth, like oil or gummies. The tea itself adds flavour and a ritual; the CBD content is what you need to check.
Does CBD tea work?
CBD tea delivers CBD in the same way any food or drink does, so whether it “works” comes down to two things: how much CBD is actually in the cup, and how much of it your body absorbs.
- The amount varies a lot. When we looked at CBD tea bags on sale in the UK in October 2026, labels ranged from about 3mg to 35mg of CBD per bag, and one brand said the amount you get depends on how long you steep it.
- Absorption is low in plain water. CBD dissolves in fat, not water. A systematic review of how the body handles CBD found peak levels were higher when it was taken with food or in a fat-based formulation.
- Milk makes a real difference. In the 2020 trial mentioned above, taking CBD with whole milk raised total exposure about 2.4 times compared with an empty stomach. A milky tea or latte is the easiest way to use that.
CBD isn’t a treatment for any medical condition, and we don’t present tea as one. Most people who enjoy CBD tea like it as part of a calm daily routine. If you want to understand absorption in more depth, see our guide to CBD bioavailability, and for a CBD drink that is designed to mix with water, read what is water-soluble CBD?
How to make CBD tea
- Brew your tea as usual. Caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile or rooibos suit an evening cup.
- Measure your CBD. Count your drops so you know your dose. See how much CBD to take.
- Add it to a fat. Stir the drops into a splash of milk, oat milk, a little coconut milk or a teaspoon of honey first, then pour into the tea.
- Stir well and drink it all, including the last mouthful, as some CBD settles on the surface and sides.
Prefer the fastest effect? Holding drops under your tongue for 60 to 90 seconds before your tea works too, and you still get the ritual. See how to take CBD oil.
4 CBD tea recipes
| Recipe | Ingredients | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Evening chamomile latte | Chamomile tea bag, warm oat milk, 1 tsp honey, your CBD dose | Steep the tea in a little water for 5 minutes, mix CBD into the honey and warm milk, combine |
| Golden milk | Warm milk, ½ tsp turmeric, pinch of black pepper and cinnamon, honey, your CBD dose | Whisk spices into warm milk, stir CBD into the honey, combine |
| Orange rooibos | Rooibos tea bag, splash of milk or oat milk, a strip of orange peel, orange-flavoured CBD oil | Brew the rooibos with the peel for 5 minutes, stir the CBD into the milk, combine |
| Classic cuppa | Black or green tea, milk, your CBD dose | Stir CBD into the milk first, then add to the brewed tea. Best earlier in the day because of the caffeine |
Our Sleep CBD Oil with passion flower suits the evening recipes; Flow CBD Oil suits a daytime cup. If you’d rather keep the flavour of your tea, our Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is just CBD in MCT oil, with no added botanicals. For the orange rooibos, try Evolabs Orange CBD Oil: the citrus sits well with rooibos or a strong breakfast tea. Not keen on the earthy taste of CBD? See what CBD oil tastes like and how to improve it.
For a low-caffeine mushroom alternative, try a reishi hot chocolate. See mushroom tea. Prefer coffee? The same milk-first method works: see CBD coffee, and for more ideas, cooking with CBD oil.
Best teas to pair with CBD
CBD has an earthy, slightly grassy taste, so teas with a strong flavour of their own, or a milky base, work best. Any tea you enjoy is fine; this is how the common choices compare.
| Tea | Caffeine? | Why it works with CBD | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamomile | No | Gentle, floral; lovely as a latte with oat milk and honey | Evening |
| Rooibos | No | Naturally sweet and rich; takes milk well and pairs with orange flavours | Any time |
| Peppermint | No | Strong enough to mask the taste of CBD; add honey to help it mix | After meals, evening |
| Lemon balm or lavender blends | No | Light herbal flavour; traditional bedtime choices | Evening |
| Chai or golden milk | Chai: yes. Golden milk: no | Spices and milk hide the earthy taste and give the CBD a fat to dissolve in | Golden milk for evenings |
| Breakfast or Earl Grey | Yes | The classic milky cuppa: easy to mix, but keep it to earlier in the day | Morning, afternoon |
| Green tea or matcha | Yes | Grassy flavours match CBD; a matcha latte gives you the milk | Morning |
For an evening cup, choose a caffeine-free tea. The NHS advises not drinking tea or coffee in the 6 hours before bed if you struggle to sleep. For a ranked look at the herbal options, see our guide to the best tea for sleep.
CBD tea bags vs hemp tea vs DIY
| CBD tea bags | Hemp tea | DIY with CBD oil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD per cup | Often low and uneven | Usually very little; often not stated | You choose and measure |
| Absorption | Poor in plain water | Poor in plain water | Better with milk or fat |
| Lab report | Check before buying | Rare | Batch reports for each oil |
| Choice of tea | Limited to the brand’s blends | Hemp flavour only | Any tea you like |
| Best for | Convenience | Taste only | A known, consistent dose |
Hemp tea and CBD tea aren’t the same thing. If a label says “hemp” but gives no CBD amount in mg, assume it contains little. See hemp oil vs CBD oil.
One bottle of CBD oil also goes a lot further than a box of tea bags, and you can use it in coffee, smoothies or on its own. If you are comparing oils, our guide to the best CBD oil in the UK explains what to look for.
Buying CBD tea bags: what to check
If you prefer the convenience of ready-made CBD tea bags, check these five things before you buy:
- CBD in mg per bag, printed clearly. “Hemp infused” with no number tells you nothing.
- A recent lab report from an independent ISO 17025 accredited lab, showing the CBD content and THC.
- The FSA public list. CBD foods sold in England and Wales should be linked to a novel food application on the FSA’s public list.
- What is in the bag. Bags of CBD extract on tea leaves are a different product from loose hemp flower. See the legal section below.
- The suggested daily amount, so you can add it to any other CBD you take.
How much CBD to add
Start with a low dose once a day and increase slowly over a week or two if you want to. Count drops rather than pouring, and remember your tea is part of your daily total, not extra.
With our Broad Spectrum CBD Oil, one drop gives about:
| Strength | CBD per drop | Drops for about 10mg |
|---|---|---|
| 500mg (5%) | About 2.5mg | 4 drops |
| 1,000mg (10%) | About 5mg | 2 drops |
| 2,000mg (20%) | About 10mg | 1 drop |
For other oils, check the label for the CBD per drop or per ml before you add it to a cup.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Don’t add CBD to black tea with no milk and expect it to mix. It will float.
- Don’t boil the CBD. Add it once the tea has brewed.
- Don’t put oil in a tea bag. It won’t steep out into water. Add your drops to the cup instead.
- Check your medicines with a pharmacist first, as CBD can affect how some are processed. See CBD and medication.
- Watch the caffeine in an evening cup. See does caffeine cause anxiety?
- Make it a ritual, not a rush: the same time, the same mug, a few minutes to yourself. Pair it with an evening wind-down.
Is CBD tea legal in the UK?
CBD oil added to tea is legal for adults as long as the product meets UK rules on THC and is on the FSA’s public list of CBD products linked to novel food applications. Smokable or loose hemp flower (“CBD flower”) is treated as cannabis and is illegal in the UK, so avoid teas made by steeping flower. See is CBD legal in the UK?
The reason is in the law itself. The Home Office says pure, isolated CBD is not a controlled drug, but under the Misuse of Drugs Act “cannabis” means any part of the plant except the mature stalk, the fibre and the seeds. Flowers and leaves are not on that list of exceptions, so a tea made from them is on much shakier ground than a tea with CBD extract added.
All Evopure CBD products are broad spectrum with 0% THC, made in the UK and on the FSA public list, linked to validated applications.
Related guides
- How to make lemon balm tea.
- Chamomile makes a good base: see how to make chamomile tea.
- Is lavender tea good for sleep?
FAQs
Can you put CBD oil in tea?
Yes. Stir it into milk, plant milk or honey first so it mixes, then add to the brewed tea.
Does hot water destroy CBD?
Not at normal tea temperatures, but add it after brewing rather than boiling it, and stir well.
Is CBD tea as effective as CBD oil?
It’s the same CBD, but absorption is lower in plain water. Taking it with milk or fat, or under the tongue, helps.
What is the best tea to mix with CBD?
Any tea you enjoy. Caffeine-free chamomile or rooibos suit evenings; a milky cuppa helps the CBD mix.
Is hemp tea the same as CBD tea?
No. Hemp tea often contains very little CBD. Look for the mg of CBD per serving and a lab report.
Can I drink CBD tea every day?
Many adults do. Keep track of your total daily CBD and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
Does CBD tea work?
It delivers CBD like any other food or drink, but the amount per cup is often small and absorption in plain water is low. A milky tea with a measured dose of CBD oil gives you a known amount. CBD isn’t a treatment for any medical condition.
How much CBD is in a CBD tea bag?
It varies by brand. UK CBD tea bags we looked at listed from about 3mg to 35mg per bag, and the amount in your cup can depend on how long you steep it. Check the pack and the lab report.
Can you make your own CBD tea bags?
Not usefully. CBD oil won’t steep out of a tea bag into water. It is simpler and more accurate to brew your usual tea and stir measured drops of CBD oil into the milk or honey.
Will CBD tea show up on a drug test?
Workplace tests look for THC, not CBD. Our CBD products are broad spectrum with 0% THC, but teas made from hemp flower or leaf may contain traces of THC, and no seller can promise a result.
Can I drink CBD tea when pregnant or breastfeeding?
We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and UK food safety advice on CBD calls for extra caution at these times. Speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist.
Sources
- Crockett J et al. A phase 1, randomized, pharmacokinetic trial of the effect of different meal compositions, whole milk, and alcohol on cannabidiol exposure and safety in healthy subjects. Epilepsia, 2020.
- Millar SA et al. A systematic review on the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in humans. Front Pharmacol, 2018.
- FSA. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
- FSA. CBD products linked to novel food applications.
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids.
- FSA. Provisional cannabidiol (CBD) acceptable daily intake.
- NHS. Insomnia.
