5 Best Fennel Teas in 2026: Top Rated Herbal Blends to Try

A fennel tea in a teacup surrounded by fennel seeds and plant

Exploring fennel tea and its history

Best fennel teas in 2026 that you should try

Step-by-step process on how to brew and tips

Step-by-step process on how to brew and tips

Introduction

Fennel tea stands out in the world of herbal teas because it has this unusual quality: you can actually look forward to drinking it. Not many herbal teas manage to get the balance of taste just right, but the best fennel tea does that effortlessly. Its sweetness and mildness is a rare thing in the herbal tea world, and that's why people can drink it at any time of day, not just when they need something to soothe a headache or stomach ache.

By 2026, there were some truly excellent fennel teas out there, some of which even blended nicely with other ingredients like peppermint, anise or chai spices. For our guide, we took a close look at the best selling loose leaf and tea bag options, did our research on customer feedback, looked at the quality of the ingredients, how the brands sourced their stuff, and how consistent they were with their products.

What is Fennel Tea?

Fennel tea is made from the dried seeds of the fennel plant, a bit of a distant relative of carrots and celery. When you steep those seeds in a cup of hot water, they release all these lovely oils that give it that distinct sweet, anise like flavor that's not a million miles from licorice. You get that herb like quality too, and yet somehow it's still a pretty gentle tea.

The flavor stays pretty mild and sweet, which makes it a great one to drink on its own. Whole fennel seeds generally provide a gentler taste, while crushed seeds yield a more potent brew. Even when blended like that, fennel is still the main event, making it a key ingredient in many blends touted as the best fennel tea.

History and Traditions of Fennel Tea

Fennel has been a staple in food and herbal traditions for thousands of years. In days of old, ancient cultures in Egypt and Greece were big fans of fennel seeds, using them as a little something to round off their meals. You see, it was common for people to just eat a few seeds into their mouths after dinner for the same reason.

Over time, it became customary to prepare a nice cup of fennel tea to get in on the benefits. To this day, across much of Europe and Asia, families still make it a point to brew themselves a cup of fennel tea after meals. Whether you're a seasoned drinker or trying the best fennel tea for the first time, this tradition continues to thrive. And with the rise of loose leaf and tea bag herbal blends, it's never been easier for newcomers to give this tea a go.

5 Best Fennel Teas in 2026

1) Gardenika – Laxative Move Loose Tea

Brand Overview: Gardenika is all about keeping things real. They swear by using only USDA Organic and Kosher certified ingredients for their herbal and wellness blends. The brand is dead set on living more in line with the environment and makes a point of keeping their products minimally processed so they can be enjoyed by everyone.

Flavor & Experience: Laxative Move Loose Tea does not rely solely on fennel as its primary ingredient. It uses it alongside a bunch of other traditional herbs. The soft anise taste tames down the senna and ginger a bit, leaving you a warm cup with a bit of spice and a smooth herbal body, finishing off with a comforting softness.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Brew a teaspoon of Laxative Move Loose Tea in hot water and just wait for the herbs to start letting out their aroma. As you drink it develops you'll pick up on the warmth of the spices and the gentle sweetness from the fennel. What you're left with is a mellow, really comforting cup that feels like a gentle hug.

2) Plum Deluxe – Golden Cacao Herbal Tea

Brand Overview: Plum Deluxe has been around since 2008 in Portland and they specialize in making small batch loose leaf teas that are just full of unique combinations of ingredients. The team blend traditional tea brewing skills with some more out there flavors to create some pretty amazing blends that'll keep your taste buds guessing.

Flavor & Experience: In their Golden Cacao Herbal Tea, the fennel is there alongside the cacao, turmeric and ginger rather than being the star of the show. That fennel adds a bit of sweetness to the mix which helps to balance out the deep chocolate undertones, making for a smoother and warmer tea with a softer finish.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Put a teaspoon of Golden Cacao Herbal Tea in hot water and just let it brew for a bit, as it develops the chocolate and spice notes start to come through and the fennel adds a sweetness that just sort of sits beneath the surface. What you're left with is a really rich yet silky cup that feels like the perfect cup of tea to curl up with.

3) Culinary Teas – Anti Inflammatory Herbal

Brand Overview: Culinary Teas is a lovely little family business that's been putting love into making tasty, good value loose leaf and specialty teas for people to enjoy. They reckon that tea is one of those things that brings people together, making times you share a pot together all the more special.

Flavor & Experience: The Anti Inflammatory Herbal is a bit of a departure from the norm, as they've mixed together fennel, turmeric, bamboo and roots, rather than just letting one of these stand out on its own. The result is that the earthy notes get softened a touch, leaving a smoother, more approachable cup with a nice warmth and a finish that's clean and just a bit sweet.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Stir a teaspoon of Anti Inflammatory Herbal with some hot water and let the earthy and warm aromas start to develop. The fennel adds a bit of sweetness that helps mellow out the deeper, rootier notes. Once it's all settled down, the tea turns out to be a nice, gentle, herbaceous cup, all calming and steady with a nice clean finish.

4) August Uncommon – Nightfall Rest and Digest

Brand Overview: August Uncommon Tea, out of California, has a real playful vibe when it comes to blending its teas. They're all about giving you expert brewing tips and creating unique tea experiences that transport you to another world, every single time you take a sip.

Flavor & Experience: This tea blends fennel with chamomile, fruit and some mellow herbs. It's a bit different from the typical singular use of fennel. The fennel adds a bit of sweetness and depth, which in turn helps the floral and apple notes feel smoother and more rounded out, giving you a super calming, softly aromatic cup.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Steep a teaspoon of Nightfall – Rest and Digest Herbal Tea in hot water, and before you know it the floral and fruit notes are starting to really stand out. The fennel just quietly sneaks its way in and gives the cup a soft little sweetness. The texture is just light and silky, making for a super calm and soothing experience that just kind of settles in really nicely on the palate.

5) Culinary Teas – Digestive Detox Herbal Tea

Flavor & Experience: At first, the mint and warm spices jump out at you, but then it's the soft sweetness of the herbs that really starts to come through and balance out the cup. We've got fennel in there too, which gives it a light anise flavor that helps to smooth out the cinnamon, ginger and licorice. The aroma's actually pretty clean and refreshing, and it's got this warm, comforting feel to it.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Add a teaspoon of Digestive Detox Herbal Tea into a cup of hot water and let it steep for a bit - as it brews the mint and spices will come rising up and the fennel will add a bit of sweetness underneath. The liquid's quite smooth and just lightly warming, which makes for a really balanced cup that's clean, comforting and steady - nice to enjoy.

Brewing tips

A kettle pouring hot water in a mug
  • As soon as you brew your tea you'll probably notice it's already giving off that lovely sweet, and licorice like aroma - so you don't have to wait long to start enjoying that!
  • If you're using loose fennel then you'll get a much brighter and more robust flavor - this is because the whole seeds release more oils when they're brewing.
  • If you prefer a softer, milder taste then tea bags are probably your best bet - they're handy and consistent, making them easy to drink every day.
  • If you're a fan of a more complex flavor then you might want to try a chai-style fennel blend. These tend to pair really well with milk or make a great iced drink.

How to Choose the Best Fennel Tea for Your Needs

To pick the best fennel tea, start with organic options for purity and a fresh, sweet aroma. Choose between loose leaf for a richer flavor or tea bags for convenience. Pure fennel tea offers a mild, refreshing taste, while blends with peppermint, anise, or chai spices add complexity and cooling benefits. When trying brands, look for a sweet, fragrant aroma and a soothing flavor. This way, you can enjoy a delicious and refreshing herbal tea every day.

Health Benefits of Organic Fennel Tea

Fennel tea has been a long favored drink for good reason, with its lovely, sweet taste and history of traditional use. It's the natural compounds in fennel that give it that distinctive flavor and its place in herbal teas, and people have been enjoying it after meals for ages. And with no caffeine to worry about, you can drink it as often as you like - just as part of your daily routine.

Fennel seeds are packed with natural minerals, though you won't get much of that in a cup of brewed tea. But still, it's another reason why this tea has health benefits. This stuff has been used in herbal remedies for a long time now - in loads of different traditional herbal practices all around the world. Yet, if you're pregnant or have any health concerns, you should talk to your doctor before drinking herbal tea - just in case.

FAQ

Is it good to drink fennel tea every day?

Loads of people drink this tea daily because it's caffeine free and it's really gentle on the system. It's just a light, refreshing sort of drink.

What is the best time to take fennel tea?

People often have it after meals as part of the tea drinking ritual. And because it's got no caffeine, it's also great to have in the evening.

Who should not take fennel tea?

If you're allergic to fennel or similar plants, it's best to give it a miss. And if you're pregnant or on medication, just talk to your doctor before drinking it every day.

Does fennel tea taste sweet?

Yes, it's got a naturally sweet taste a bit like licorice.

Can fennel tea be mixed with peppermint tea?

Yes. Many herbal infusions blend fennel with peppermint to make a really refreshing drink.

Final Notes

The very best fennel tea in 2026 is all about personal taste. Some folks only take their tea straight up pure fennel seeds for a real, unadulterated fennel flavor. Others prefer a more complex blend, mixing fennel in with peppermint, ginger, or some warming spices to give it a bit of zing.

At the end of the day, whatever you choose, it all comes down to the same smooth, naturally sweet, pretty mild base that makes fennel tea such a lovely, caffeine free addition to your daily routine.

If you want the best out of your fennel tea, go for high quality, organic tea; that way you'll get the full, lovely aroma and all that great flavor. Ready to track down your perfect cup of this great tea? Then head on over to Taste of Tea and start savoring that soothing, refreshing taste right now!

Behind the Cup

Man drinking cup of tea

Patrick R.

Patrick is a tea enthusiast who enjoys writing about tea and exploring its rich history, culture, and flavors. He contributes to Taste of Tea by sharing his thoughts, discoveries, and personal insights into the world of tea.

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