Thyme Tea: Recipe, Detox Claims and Side Effects

Thyme tea is an infusion of thyme in water; this chilled version takes 2 hours and 5 minutes to make and yields about 1 litre (4¼ cups).

What is thyme tea?

Thyme tea is water flavoured with the leaves and stems of the thyme herb. It can be served hot or cold and has a savoury, herbal taste. This recipe uses a refrigerated infusion, which produces a gently flavoured drink without added caffeine.

Thyme tea is one option among drinks often called herbal detox tea. The name describes an herbal drink, not a proven way to remove toxins from the body.

How do you make thyme tea?

Prep time: 5 minutes
Steep time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Yield: About 1 litre (4¼ cups)

Ingredients

1,000 ml (about 4¼ cups) drinking water
2 fresh thyme sprigs, about 5 g (about ⅛ cup, loosely packed)

Instructions

Rinse the thyme sprigs under running water.
Place the thyme in a clean, covered pitcher and add the water.
Refrigerate for 2 hours to infuse. For a stronger flavour, steep for up to 4 hours in the fridge.
Strain out the thyme and serve the tea chilled. Alternatively, gently warm a portion when ready to drink.

For another combination, use the ai detox recipe generator.

Use a clean pitcher with enough room for the water and sprigs. Cover it while the thyme tea infuses in the refrigerator.

The flavour will depend on the size and freshness of the sprigs. If it is too mild, allow the tea to steep longer within the suggested range; if it is stronger than you like, dilute it with drinking water.

Keep the strained tea refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavour. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

If serving warm, heat only the portion you plan to drink and return the rest to the refrigerator promptly. Let a hot serving cool enough to sip comfortably.

What does thyme tea do for detox?

Thyme tea can help you drink water, but it has not been shown to speed up detoxification or remove toxins. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Sweat removes only trace amounts.

Thyme contains compounds that researchers have studied, but findings about thyme ingredients cannot establish what a cup of thyme tea does. The amount transferred into water also depends on the thyme and how it is prepared. Read more about the evidence and limits behind thyme tea benefits.

Fresh thyme contains nutrients, but the amounts in strained tea are not established by the nutrient values for the whole herb. Plain thyme tea is primarily a flavoured way to drink water, not a reliable source of those nutrients.

How much thyme tea should you drink, and when?

There is no established dose of thyme tea for detox. If you want to try it, start with a cup of about 240 mL and see whether you enjoy it and tolerate it. That is a serving suggestion, not a recommended treatment or a required daily amount.

You can drink plain thyme tea with a meal or between meals, whenever it fits your routine. There is no evidence that a particular time of day makes it more effective for detoxification. It can be part of your usual fluid intake rather than a drink you need to schedule.

What are the side effects of thyme tea?

Thyme can cause an allergic reaction in some people, especially those who are allergic to thyme or related plants in the mint family. Stop drinking it if you develop symptoms such as a rash or stomach upset. Seek urgent medical help for trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, take medication or are considering giving thyme tea to a child, ask a healthcare professional before using it regularly. Do not add thyme essential oil to the drink; it is much more concentrated than the herb. See the guide to thyme tea side effects for more detail.

Thyme tea FAQs

Does thyme tea contain caffeine?

Plain thyme tea made with thyme and water is naturally caffeine-free. Ingredients added to a blend may change that, so check the label if you use a packaged product.

Can you reuse the thyme sprigs?

Fresh sprigs may give a weaker flavour after their first infusion. For a more predictable taste, use fresh thyme for the next batch and keep the prepared tea refrigerated.