I’ve done a number of fasts in the past few years. I get asked many questions about fasting and tea. What teas to drink, why herbal teas, how do you start a fast, do certain teas contain caffeine, and more.
I had no idea where my fast that was really a detox would take me; now on the other side, I’m sort of Ketogenic, and absolutely sweetener free!
My longest fast was 15 days and documented here on youtube. I drink herbal teas during my fast, with no caffeine. Today I do intermittent fasting. My fast came about during the month of January after a few months of research and a few more weeks of mental preparation.
I was battling an autoimmune disease, weight gain, IBS, and an all-around not-good feeling. I wanted all that to leave my body as well as clean up my leaky gut. I decided to do a fast. I was not sure how long the fast would last. I knew I was going to juice mostly vegetables but, then what else would I drink? Water? Tea? Coffee?
While green juice is nutritive I knew I was going to need something more beyond water. So my concern went beyond water, what would I drink?
Most juices were out since I was sticking to strictly green juices and honestly how much of that can one person drink in a day? The green juice I drank was my nutrition. It was not that bad, actually but I did look forward to my hot cup of herbals.
There was no caffeine and then I thought about the amazing properties of herbal teas or tisanes.
Why No Tea?
All teas contain some amount of caffeine.
Per 8 ounces of brewed tea the caffeine count averages:
- Black – 47 mg
- White – 30 mg
- Green – 28 mg
Caffeine can and will break your fast. If it does not break your fast it will create a bit of a disturbance for the goals you are trying to acquire while fasting. One cup of caffeinated tea won’t destroy a long fast but, why allow it when the object of the fast is to cleanse the body.
There are all types of fasts. When I fast I choose to go caffeine-free. So what do you choose to drink? Herbal teas are the best. You can drink them hot or cold. When you are fasting there is nothing like a hot cup of “tea”.
Herbs or tisanes are “teas” that contain no tea. They are not tea but what we call a tisane. Since I was going caffeine-free I had some herbs to choose from, there are plenty to choose from. But only a few I feel really benefit you while fasting.
What Tea Would I Drink And Why
I did not want to waste time and drink something with no purpose. I began to study more about herbal tea properties and this is what I came up with to enjoy while fasting.
Mint
The number one reason I used Mint Tea was to calm my stomach, although I had no stomach issues previously,
I wanted to give my stomach a peaceful calming drink to aid it in relaxing and calming since I’d put it through so much while eating foods not benefiting me or my organs at all.
This really came in handy as it also gave me a tad bit of sweetness and a pick me up when my stomach was anxious and not relaxing.
Some other properties of mint are:
- improve digestion
- reduce pain
- eliminate inflammation
- relax the body and mind
- cure bad breath
- boosts the immune system
This fresh, spicy, cool tea has taken root and flourished. When you sip this tea, enriched with mint leaves and orange in color, you will take a walk through time.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is a wonderful herb to help detox the liver, one of the reasons for doing the cleanse/detox was to cleanse my body and allow my organs a chance to relax.
Here are some other fun facts about Hibiscus:
- relief from high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
- works well on the digestive
- immune system
- inflammatory problems
A naturally caffeine-free, fruit infused tea with vitamin boost and packed with flavors
Dandelion Root
Dandelion Root is exactly that, the root of the dandelion.
I was afraid to try it at first, however, it quickly became a favorite.
Dandelion Root has an earthy flavor. It really gave me something to look forward to as well as providing detox for my liver and getting rid of stored up toxins.
Other properties of Dandelion Root are:
- a natural diuretic effect
- allowing your liver to more quickly eliminate toxins
- helps strengthen the immune system
- balance blood sugar levels
- relieve heartburn
- soothe digestive issues
Some think of dandelion as a common weed, but our herbalists know that its bitter taste stimulates digestion and supports your body’s natural detoxification process.
Soba
I reviewed teas and this tea actually showed up a day or two before the detox. It was about a week or so into the detox that I decided to try it and WOW, it’s now another favorite.
Soba has a grain-type flavor yet it’s not related to wheat at all it’s actually part of the rhubarb family. Soba is high in protein and minerals and is considered an antioxidant.
Some Soba properties are:
- reduction in blood pressure
- prevention of certain types of cancer
- management of diabetes
- improved digestion and cholesterol levels
- boosted immune system
- elimination of gallstones
- protection from an asthma attack
- relief from constipation and other intestinal conditions
The organic Tartary buckwheat is grown in Inner Mongolia, China. According to traditional Chinese medicine, an herb shall be grown in a particular area to ensure it contains the compounds necessary for effective functions.
Rose Flower
When I opened this tea and saw the full rosebuds I thought it so strange however I had to give it a try and wow it was amazing. Finding all the health benefits made me love it more.
It reminded me of a Victorian drink and you can read my review about it HERE
The reasons for the Rose are:
- diuretic effects of the roses are they contain Vitamin C
- It clears toxins and heat from the body. As a result, it has a cooling effect on the body
- It can relieve sore throats, runny noses, and blocked bronchial tubes.
- It is useful for people prone to chest problems by fighting against infections.
- Rose tea helps to fight the infection in the digestive tract
- re-establish the normal bacterial population of the intestines.
- It relieves fluid retention and hastens the elimination of wastes through the kidneys.
- It is a wonderful remedy for dysentery, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis.
- It is a laxative
- It works as a remedy for all liver problems including sluggishness and constipation. [ding, ding, ding… the bells are going off!]
- It cleanses the liver and gallbladder and promotes bile flow.
- It has an uplifting effect on the nervous system and can relieve insomnia, depression, and fatigue.
10 more reasons to love Rose Tea
The green sepals of the flower buds form an outer envelope to hold and protect the delicate reddish-pink bud, which when brewed look like little purple orbs radiating with a sweet, enchanting aroma
Margaret’s Soother
A combination of herbs to calm and relax this tea was just extra special to calm me down in a crazy work environment.
The scent alone can just put you at ease. I loved having this special tea with me when I could make time to enjoy it and allow my body to just soak in its amazing qualities.
It was and still is helping with my calming efforts in a stressful job.
Fragrant and good-tasting, it's based on organic rooibos, the wonder herb known to help keep your body's defenses strong*. Marshmallow root and licorice are added to squelch soreness*. 
Tea And Intermittent Fasting
I hear this question often and wanted to take a moment to talk about Intermittent fasting and tea.
Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle change that people choose to eat inside a certain window of time. I do 16/8. I fast 16 hours out of a day and eat within an 8-hour window. There are other windows as well. 16/8 works best for my lifestyle.
While some will use intermittent fasting as a weight-loss effort, its real advantage is a healthier lifestyle. If you join intermittent fasting with a keto diet your body will learn to consume fat for energy and not sugar. That’s the plan. The plan does work. Carbs and sugar are a big no-no. Consuming no calories during the fasting period is also very important so people often are concerned about their teas and what they can and cannot have.
The beverages that you can have while fasting are:
- Water
- Black Coffee
- Tea
- Black
- White
- Green
- Oolong
- Tisanes (herbal teas)
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Rose
- Hibiscus
- Ginger
- etc.
Herbal teas are one of the best teas to have during your fast or intermittent fasting. Many aid in digestion and strengthen your immune system.
In your teas, you will want to avoid any cream or sugar. It’s the sugar and cream that will break your fast, not the teas or herbs. That cream and sugar will not benefit you during the fast. I do not add sugar or cream to any of my teas, anytime. It is something you will get used to and honestly it’s the only way to really taste the tea.
If you still feel you need to sweeten your tea there are a couple of things to try that add sweetness to your tea:
- Blackberry leaf
- Licorice root
- Peppermint
Called “sweet stalk” in Sanskrit and “sweet herb” in Chinese, licorice is loved around the world. Not only is it perfectly sweet, but licorice root benefits include soothing the digestive tract and supporting the respiratory system.
I try to stay away from all sweeteners and never anything artificial. Those artificial sweeteners are toxic to the body.
One other thing you can try if you absolutely must is Monk Fruit. Monk Fruit is a fruit from China that is used as a sweetener in many products and is also sold granular to use in baking.
So the choices are there and your teas as well, green being the best choice for your metabolism.
Be cautious of caffeine. It can be upsetting to a fasted stomach. Moderation is the best way to go with caffeinated teas.
Why No Sugar?
Sugar is addictive as or more addictive than Cocaine.
Sugar has an addictive property that most of us will make any excuse to keep.
Consuming too much sugar has been liked to the following:
- weight gain
- obesity
- risk factors for heart disease
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- cancer
The parasites in our bodies love sugar, it allows them to take up residency in our systems and grow. Sugar intake is one of the leading factors in cardiovascular disease.
Americans consume way too much added sugar. Adult men take in an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Conclusion
A life full of healthy eating, better function, and a clearer mind, we all want it, now you can get it.
Oh and don’t say: You can’t fast! Nothing is more upsetting than giving up before you have even started. It takes preparation, both physical and mental. Making sure you have the teas and herbs you need for fasting.
Start out your day with a green tea and lemon slice and finish your day with chamomile tea.
Fasting or living an intermittent fasting life? Teas will play a major part in your success.
39 thoughts on “6 Teas To Benefit You During Fasting”
Thanks Lisa I know I’m going to enjoy this site thanks again
Hi Mary!
Thank you! If you every need help or have a question let me know. I’m thrilled to know you’ll be out there reading. 🙂
I’ve been reading about sweeteners and found out that 100% stevia may be ok to not break the fast. What are your thoughts about this. I like my teas unsweetened but good to know my options.
Thanks,
Javier
Hi Javier, I believe Stevia may be a good alternative as well. It does not raise the glycemic levels and does not break the fast. My one problem with Stevia is the taste. For me (and others I have talked to) it leaves a metallic taste. I’m thinking this is because it’s extremely sweet so many times over-processed sugar we may use too much. I prefer monk fruit over all the sweeteners out there right now. Some monk fruit producers use Xylitol and that can be a little iffy as far as a fast breaker. There are so many studies out there and I think what matters as well is our end goal. Is it to lose weight, to remain in a fasted state, or just to sweeten our tea responsibly.
I also know of a sweetener being produced out of Israel. I’ve been waiting for it to come out of testing so I can review it. It looks very promising.
What’s your favorite tea? Thank you so much for reading and supporting this blog and our tea community.
Is Liquorice and Peppermint tea by Pukka ok during a fast? One site says no cals one site says 2 cals per cup. Pukkas own nutritional info says cals are negligible so not on the box. Also some sites say the sweet flavour of liquorice will cause an insulin response and break the fast.
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for reading and commenting.. I appreciate it.
So, while I am not a doctor or scientist I can tell you from my studies on these two herbs what I found.
Actually the opposite is true about licorice, it actually has a negative diabetic reaction. I get that from a few studies but mainly this one:
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now discovered that liquorice root also contains substances with an anti-diabetic effect. These amorfrutins not only reduce blood sugar, they are also anti-inflammatory and are very well tolerated.Apr 17, 2012
As far as a sweet taste or smell enacting our insulin response I believe that it’s more of a chemical reaction happening in the body and not one that reacts simply by taste or smell. I do believe however that chemical created sweeteners do have a bad reaction on our pancreas (insulin creator) and are not good for us at all, in my opinion.
The age-old calories in an herbal tea have always baffled me. Peppermint leaf does not have a calorie if infused in a tea. You are right, some say it does and some say it does not. Here is how I feel.. Peppermint has an incredible amount of good things for us and if let’s say 2 calories are a real thing, that is still not enough to make or break keto or fasting. The good outweigh the bad here. I also believe if you ate the peppermint that is where those calories fit, but not infused into water. That’s my 2 cents worth and I hope it helps. Here is some info on “fresh peppermint leaves”
A 2-tablespoon serving, or 3.2 grams (g) of fresh peppermint provides:
2.24 calories
0.12 g of protein
0.48 g of carbohydrates
0.03 g of fat
0.26 g of fiber
Again these are fresh leaves and not infused. I believe this is where the complication of yes and no to calories are coming from.
I know you said no sweeteners if any kind but what about a small amount of raw honey?
Hi Jeannette,
The reason behind no sweeteners is to keep your body burning fat. The moment you add sweeteners your body switches and starts to burn sugars again. It’s won’t hurt you but it may cause you to plateau a bit.
If you are looking for a way to sweeten your tea, try licorice root or Chinese Blackberry (Rubus suavissimus). I don’t use it often but I have a packet in my tea cabinet if I want to try to sweeten a tea without adding honey or sugar.
Hope this helps.
Let me know how you do!
Lisa B
Awesome resource!!
I haven’t tried soba, forever young rose flower or Margaret’s soother…
Thank you for sharing 😊
Besides the great aid they are for the body and system, they give a variety of flavors that help when you are fasting, giving you some choices. The soba really surprised me and I enjoy that herb to this day.
How much tea can you drink a day while fasting
Hi John,
Thanks for reading and asking! Because these “teas” are actually tisanes (herbals and decaffeinated) you can drink up to 8 cups a day and enjoy. If they were a caffeinated tea the rule is 3-5 cups a day.
I used these teas to break up the tastes in my daily fasting routine. I also used them because of their incredible benefits.
Hope that helps and happy fasting! Let me know how it goes!
Lisa B.
Thank you.
So does mint tea break the fast? Or is this calorie free. I’ve looked on the box and it doesn’t say. I’m doing intermittent fasting . Thanks
While mint itself contains approximately 2 calories in 1/3 a cup (rough estimate), it seems that the way a tea is prepared can add to a calorie count. My suggestion is to read your labels. I drink a lot of mint teas and there are no calories. There is a mint tea that I used to drink that had a “natural flavor” added. It also added a couple calories. I imagine that natural flavor was a sweetener of some sort.
Any calories you take in can break your fast. Herbal teas are the best to drink while fasting, no only are they calorie free they have great benefits to the body.
I practice intermittent fasting as well. I do 16/8. It has been my lifestyle now for 3 years. I also work 12 hour days and swing shifts every 3 months. I believe it helps my body (and mind) with that as well.
What box are you looking at? If you are ever in doubt, look the company up online or call them. they should be able to answer your questions.
BTW, I have a sweetener free gum I LOVE….can’t eat it while fasting.. 5 calories.. drives me nuts. I would have not guessed that had I not read the label.
Happy Fasting, let me know what you find out!
Thanks for your reply, it’s a supermarket own brand and the ingredients are 100% peppermint. Do you think these will be okay?
Hi Jody,
I think peppermint tea is fine for a fast, however like I stated below read the nutritional label to see about the calories. If there is no nutritional content, I’d not eat or drink anything I could not fully know about.
I recently receive a small tea bag with tea inside from someone, no note, no information. I wrote them and asked for more information, they told me where the got it, I went to that website, no information. That tea, went straight to the trash can.
It’s the only way to positive on what we are putting into our bodies.
If it’s 100% peppermint, and no caloric value. Then of course it would be good. I’d prefer it to be 100% organic or at least non GMO. I think things are different in the UK regarding those issues, however.
If you’d like to chat more about it just message me on FB @ MyTeaVault. That way you can send me some images and we can talk more about this peppermint tea.
Hope that helps,
Lisa
Hi lisa i have a herbal tea with no calories written on it as i bought it from an organic shop. These teas have fresh fruit ( such as raisins ) and flowers in ( if im not mistaken) not sure what its called but im pretty sure the most ‘fattening ‘ thing there is , is the raisins. Will this break the fast the fact that you infuse this in your tea? Thanks 🙂
Hi Kim,
Loved your question and it had me dig into a little research. There are some great topics out there on drinking raisin water (and the raisins). Something I am going to have to get into a little bit.
Since I am not a dietician or doctor I can only go on what I have found on the web. I do not think drinking this will break your fast. I equate it to the same as drinking licorice root (or any root or fruit) when we just drink the tea from it. While it may add some sweetness to the tea the fast should still be ongoing. Calories are not the only things to look into. When we add a lot of sweeteners to our teas that can cause our pancreas to react and throw our whole system off balance. So we have to watch anything that may do that as well.
Are you fasting now? How is it going? If you get a moment let me know more about this tea. You should do a search for raisin water, it’s really very good for you.
Be well and happy sipping!
Lisa B>.
Hi Lisa is the breathe deep tea ok to drink while fasting.
Ryan, Hello and thank you for writing.
I believe you are talking about Yogi Teas. If so I believe it is an all herbal tea with some healthy ingredients. Sweetened by Licorice flavor. Organic as well… all herbal and no caffeine, I would drink this during a fast.
I find that when I start a fast my stomach gets upset for the first 2-3 days. To combat this I use a tea bag of licorice combined with my other teas, usually whole leaf back, and this works well for me to settle my stomach.
Hi Milton. Are you doing a total fast or just intermittent? I’m not a Dr. and I don’t know for sure but if you are doing a total fast I could suspect that it’s the toxins that are causing the upset. There are several reasons, for sure. If you find comfort with licorice tea, one of the teas for upset stomachs, I’d stick with that. Peppermint as well as Ginger area also beneficial for upset stomachs.
Hi there. Is the Organic Moroccan mint green tea from Trader Joe’s ok to drink during the fast? Or, will it break my fast? Thanks.
Mint just has such a bad rap when it comes to fasting, as there seems to be some sort of caloric count to it. Does your box of tea from Trader Joes have a calorie count?
Here is how I feel about mint. Mint is amazing for the digestion and stomach issues as well as giving us some fresh breath 🙂 when we steep the leaves in water we are drinking an infusion and not eating part of the leaf. I believe mint is fine to drink during a fast.
I am not familiar with Trader Joe’s mint tea and will have to look at it when I visit a store again. But I grow my own mint and infuse it and it’s the best ever.
Hope this helps. I’m not a doctor so I have no advice in any medical area, I save that for the professionals.
Be well and happy fasting
Lisa B.
Hi 🙂 I love your blog 🙂 Do you think it is ok to make a blend, lets say about 5 herbs, and drink it while fasting? if yes, which herbs would you use to make the perfect blend for fasting?? thanks a lot
First.. Thank you!!! I love feedback!
You had me thinking so I spent some time going over some blends.. I came up with this, to be my favorite blend for a fast. Tonight I may go home and try to make it and see how it goes…
I’d use first and foremost Mint – for fresh breath and any stomach upset
Then…
Ginger – a powerhouse
Chamomile – for that tad of a wild herbal taste and of course the benefit to the stomach and nerves.
Rose – Being another powerhouse of an herb, it just tastes amazing and not so floral
Finally.. tartar berry, it’s a great detox and the taste is really unique and not overpowering.
You may see a video or post on instagram about this herbal mix.. see how it tastes..
Thanks again for all your support!
LisaB.
Used your site as I am preparing for a 10 day fast of just teas and water.
Hello Sherryl, What are you fasting for? I hope you have checked with a physician first. A diet or water and just tea does not always add the nutrients your body may need. My fast was green juice, tea and water. You can follow my daily journey on my YouTube channel. It was an interesting time and I’d love to do it again this fall. For me, I work long hours under a ton of stress so a water or water and tea fast is not optional for me. Nor would it produce good results.
Be well and let me know how you are doing and what transpired.
Hi Lisa
I am interested in fasting; I turned 66 today (Dec 3rd) and I used to fast in my twenties for weeks at a time but as I didn’t really know what I was doing I suspect it was a cousin to whatever level of eating issues I had going on at the time, but I did realize that due to environmental toxins it wouldn’t be a good idea to do water-only fasts, as I intuitively knew there would be toxins I wasn’t aware of.
I liked seeing your introduction (I am intermittent fasting right now) and I got here googling for teas; love your pictures with the teas! Thank you.
One question; in your intro, I read “no caffeine”, but I couldn’t see why not? and then scrolling down I saw black coffee as one of the drinks that doesn’t break a fast? Can you elaborate on that? and do you have a website about your fasting?
Thanks so much
Kristina
Hello Kristina,
I appreciate you and your support.
I don’t think I was specific on the coffee comment or more or less the caffeine. You can drink coffee or tea on a fast and not break the fast (there are no calories). The same with Intermittent Fasting. BUT, the caffeine is not good for your body while you are fasting, in a total or cleansing fast.
It’s funny you write now. I just said I think it’s time for another fast, a long one. I love juice fasting because your body really gets cleansed but not depleted of healthy things. I used to fast 3 days out of every month. I’m a long way from that now and that was more for religious reasons.
Whatever you do.. make sure you get your stats and speak with a medical provider, whomever you choose to be safe since it’s been a while. Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Here is a link to my 15 day fast.. If I’d known it was going to be so popular I’d had put more effort into my visual presentation. 🙂 but the message works!
Have a wonderful birthday month
I’ve read many questions but no answers. Answers to those questions would be a big help. I’m on keto and learning about intermediate fasting. Could you please answer their questions.
Thank You
Hello Linda,
I’m surprised at your comment so I went back through all my questions and I have replied to:
Micky
Deborah
Tracy
Alicia
Vera
Cynthia
Rita
Jennette
Amy
Besides yours, these are the only questions I am seeing all of which I have answered?
But I can answer whatever questions you have as well? Are my answers not showing up on your end?
I also found more replies to questions to:
Javier
Milton
Janis
Natalia
Sheryl
Rosemary
Kritina and
Kim
So reply back and let’s see if we can figure out why you are not seeing replies or what questions I have missed.
Hello Lisa.
Thank you for this article. I have a question to which I have not found an answer on the net, hope you can help.
Does nettle tea break a fast?
Thank you
Regards, Lya
Hi Lya,
I get a lot of questions about teas and herbs breaking a fast. Tea is beneficial during a fast, as well as herbs, including nettle.
That being said, if you add milk or sugars to your teas then that is the deal-breaker.
A few years ago I went on a 15-day fast, including teas. There are a lot of videos here but you might find a few interesting ones on herbs, teas and fasting.
What fast are you doing? And Why?
Let me know and stay in touch, btw, thanks for reading and asking.
Lisa B.
Hi Lisa,
I just started my fast last night. I intend to use the teas you recommended. I would like to go for a 7 to 10 day fast, maybe longer. I have been intermittent fasting on and off for about a year but no real results because of my work schedule, stress, and lack of will-power/self-confidence. The doctors aren’t giving me any advice other than a sheet of paper with a Mediterranean diet. I’ve heard of so many other just going for it and so happy they did it and now they keep doing it and haven’t felt this good in years, and so that’s what I intend to do.
Thanks for your blog. I’m bookmarking it to help encourage myself throughout the fast.
Hi Ann!
Stress is a killer for anyone nowadays, isn’t it? I work a tough high-stress job and always wonder “where do those extra pounds come from”.
I was just thinking of another fast, most likely in the fall to winter. I commend you! Please stay in touch and let me know how you are doing AND, do not beat yourself up if you don’t do as well as you expected. Remember a day is better then none, 3 is better than 2, etc. You can follow my journey on Youtube as well.
Any questions just ask.
Hello there , thank you very much for this informative post. I’m going to try this to improve my fasting habits.