How to Read an Herbal Tea Label Before You Buy It

A label is the most honest conversation a product can have with you, and most of us were never taught how to read one. Here is what we look for, and what we expect any brand — including this one — to make easy to find.

1. The ingredient list, in order

Ingredients are generally listed in descending order by weight. That means the first two or three items are most of what you are actually buying. If a blend is named after an ingredient that appears last on the list, the name is doing more work than the recipe.

2. Net quantity, not just the box size

Packaging can be generous while the contents are not. Look for the net weight or the number of servings, then work out the cost per cup. That single number makes very different-looking products comparable.

3. Cautions and who they are for

Responsible labels name the people who should check with a professional first — commonly people who are pregnant or nursing, people giving a product to a child, and people taking medication. A label with no caution language at all is not necessarily safer; it may simply be less complete.

4. Who is responsible for the product

There should be a named responsible party and a way to reach them. If something goes wrong, or you simply have a question about sourcing, you want a real person at the other end.

What we are still working on

HERBAL RIMEDIES products are in staging while formulations, net quantities, and label copy are finalized. When they publish, every one of the four items above will be on the product page before you are ever asked to add something to a cart. That is the standard we want to be held to.