Several herbal teas can help reduce the pain and inflammation of swollen tonsils, with chamomile, ginger, peppermint, marshmallow root, and green tea having the strongest evidence behind them. None of these will cure a bacterial infection on their own, but they can meaningfully ease discomfort while your body heals or while antibiotics do their work.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is one of the better-studied options for mouth and throat inflammation. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that chamomile produced a statistically significant reduction in both pain severity and mucosal inflammation, the type of tissue that lines your throat and tonsils. It works partly by lubricating the throat, which reduces friction and irritation every time you swallow. Its antioxidant compounds also support the healing process more broadly.
Chamomile is mild enough to drink several times a day and is generally well tolerated, making it a good baseline tea to keep sipping throughout a bout of tonsillitis. It also has gentle calming properties, which helps if swollen tonsils are keeping you from sleeping.
Ginger Tea
Ginger attacks the problem from two angles. Its anti-inflammatory compounds block specific proteins in your body that trigger the inflammatory response, directly reducing the swelling, pain, and itching around your tonsils. Lab studies also show that ginger is effective against several types of gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. While drinking ginger tea delivers far lower concentrations than lab extracts, regular contact between warm ginger liquid and inflamed tonsils still provides meaningful relief.
To make ginger tea, slice about an inch of fresh ginger root and steep it in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Fresh ginger produces a stronger brew than dried ginger powder, though both work. The tea has a natural spiciness that some people find soothing and others find intense, so start with a smaller piece and adjust.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint’s key ingredient, menthol, interacts with specific receptors in your nerve cells to create a cooling sensation. This isn’t just a feeling. Menthol has demonstrated analgesic and mild anesthetic effects, meaning it temporarily reduces pain signaling in the tissue it contacts. For swollen tonsils, that translates to short-term relief from the burning, raw sensation that makes swallowing painful.
Peppermint tea is best used between meals or before bed when throat pain is most noticeable. Breathing in the steam before you drink adds another layer of benefit, since the menthol vapors reach the back of your throat and nasal passages simultaneously.
Marshmallow Root Tea
Marshmallow root works differently from the other teas on this list. It contains a substance called mucilage, a thick, gel-like compound that forms a protective film over inflamed tissue. This coating physically shields your swollen tonsils from further irritation, reduces the sensation of dryness and scratchiness, and protects cells from additional microbial contact. Research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology describes how this bio-adhesive layer supports faster regeneration by letting your body’s own defense mechanisms work without constant disruption.
To get the most mucilage out of marshmallow root, use a cold or lukewarm steep rather than boiling water. Boiling can break down some of the beneficial compounds. Place a tablespoon of dried marshmallow root in room-temperature water for several hours or overnight, strain it, then warm it gently before drinking.
Green Tea for Gargling
Green tea’s main anti-inflammatory compounds are a group of polyphenols, with one in particular that has strong anti-inflammatory effects. A randomized clinical trial found that gargling with a green tea solution significantly reduced both the prevalence and intensity of sore throat compared to a control group. The combination of anti-inflammatory polyphenols and glycoproteins in green tea gives it a dual mechanism: reducing the inflammatory response while also soothing the tissue on contact.
For swollen tonsils specifically, gargling may be more effective than simply drinking, because it brings the liquid into direct, prolonged contact with the tonsils at the back of your throat. Brew a cup of green tea, let it cool until it’s comfortably warm, and gargle for 15 to 30 seconds before spitting or swallowing. Repeating this several times a day gives the best results.
Adding Honey for Extra Relief
Stirring about two tablespoons of honey into any of these teas adds both antimicrobial and coating benefits. Honey has well-established activity against bacteria and creates a soothing layer over irritated tissue, similar to marshmallow root but with added sweetness that makes the tea more palatable when your throat is raw. Use it in any tea you’re already drinking for tonsil relief.
One important exception: do not give honey to children under one year old due to the risk of botulism.
Temperature Matters
When your tonsils are swollen and tender, the temperature of your tea matters as much as what’s in it. Liquid that’s too hot will irritate already inflamed tissue and can even cause minor thermal burns to the delicate lining of your throat. Let your tea cool until you can take a comfortable sip without flinching. Warm is what you’re aiming for, not hot. Some people with severely swollen tonsils actually prefer room-temperature or cool tea, especially peppermint, where the menthol’s cooling effect pairs well with a lower temperature.
A Note on Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root tea often appears on lists of sore throat remedies, and it does have soothing properties. But it carries a real safety concern that other herbal teas don’t. The active compound in licorice, glycyrrhizin, can raise blood pressure at surprisingly low doses. The European Scientific Committee on Food sets the safe daily limit at just 10 milligrams, which is less than half a cup of licorice tea. Consuming more than 75 milligrams daily for as little as two weeks has been shown to cause significant blood pressure increases. If you have any history of high blood pressure or are taking medications that affect blood pressure, skip licorice root entirely. Even if you don’t, keep it to very occasional use rather than making it a regular part of your routine.
When Swollen Tonsils Need More Than Tea
Tea is a comfort measure, not a cure for bacterial tonsillitis. A sore throat with fever that doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours, painful or difficult swallowing, extreme fatigue, or unusual fussiness in children all warrant a visit to a healthcare provider. Trouble breathing, excessive drooling, or extreme difficulty swallowing are signs to seek care immediately. These can indicate a peritonsillar abscess or severe swelling that’s compromising the airway, neither of which will respond to home remedies alone.