5 Promising Benefits Of Calendula Tea & How To Brew The Perfect Cup

Nothing soothes the mind and body quite like a cup of herbal tea. If you're a tea enthusiast, you might be used to brewing a cup of chamomile or rooibos—but have you considered adding calendula to your rotation? Also called pot marigold, this tasty herbal tea has some potential health perks to boot.

Calendula tea comes from cheerful-looking yellow calendula flowers, named for the Latin word for "little clock," probably because of their round shape. These flowers and their leaves provide the makings of a slightly bitter-tasting, yellow-hued beverage that packs the potential for relieving menstrual cramps, reducing fevers, and more. 

Though calendula tea has been used in folk medicine for centuries, it's not as popular as some of its herbal tea cousins, and not all that common in mainstream stores. You may have to order calendula online or from specialty tea providers. If you do so, you can expect to pay about $1 to $3 per ounce.

"Calendula has been traditionally used to reduce fever," says registered dietitian Wan Na Chun, MPH, R.D., CPT. According to Chun, the plant's flowers demonstrate both astringent and anti-inflammatory activity2, which could be the reason folk medicine has long used them to bring down fevers. "However, there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim. More research is needed," she says.

Calendula cream is a popular, inexpensive choice for moisturizing and hydrating skin—so you might wonder, does the tea work the same as the cream? "Calendula tea has several benefits for the skin," says Chun. "[It] may promote wound and skin ulcer healing3, combat acne, and reduce radiodermatitis, which is skin damage caused by radiation."

Because of its antioxidants, calendula helps activate proteins that kill cancer cells5, according to a 2018 paper in Integrative Cancer Therapies. Another study compared the cancer-fighting properties of calendula tea and chamomile tea. Calendula came out on top6 for its antitumor potential. However, this research is preclinical, so we still have a lot to learn before we can definitively say that calendula has anti-cancer properties.

It's possible that calendula tea could help with pesky period pain. "Calendula has been traditionally used to relieve menstrual cramps and discomfort," Chun says, though she points out that more research is necessary to fully understand the tea's benefits for relieving period pain.

There's another area where calendula could help with menstruation, too. A scientific literature review from 2021 reported that multiple studies found calendula effective for stimulating absent menstruation8. Separate research on a rat model found it to be effective for increasing ovulation with PCOS9.

In a surprising food-as-medicine twist, calendula tea could be beneficial for HIV patients. But again, research is limited. Chun points to one older study10 (1997) that looked at the effects of calendula on people with the immunity-altering virus. 

Other teas like green, black, and chamomile have been more researched than calendula.

Since the scientific investigation is still somewhat spotty on calendula tea, it's not yet totally clear how much of it you need to drink to experience any benefits. Still, sipping on tea daily certainly doesn't do any harm, and there are plenty of reasons to drink up—especially if you're using tea to replace processed sugar-laden beverages.

To incorporate more calendula into your routine, eliminate the hassle of daily cup brewing in favor of one larger pot. "I like to recommend brewing it in large batches all at once and then storing it in the refrigerator for having later," recommends herbalist Rachelle Robinett, R.H., founder of Pharmakon Supernatural® and HRBLS.

You can also add it in some unexpected places in meals and snacks. "Tea is also great in place of water in smoothies, oatmeal, rice, or other recipes you might sneak it into," Robinett says.

Calendula tea might be harder to come by (and a bit more expensive) than your average chamomile—so once you've secured a stash, you'll want to take care of it well.

"Herbs are best stored in airtight containers away from light, temperature, and humidity changes," Robinett says. Try keeping your leaves in an opaque jar in a cool pantry.

As for which type of tea to purchase, you can find calendula in tea bags or loose leaves. It's up to you to decide which version you prefer, as well as what brand suits your price point.

Just be sure you select Calendula officinalis, not any other type of marigold leaves. "I always recommend that people pursue the highest quality herbs they have access to—the same approach we take to food," Robinett says. "If organic is accessible, it's worth it. If sustainably harvested, fair trade is within your means, it's worth it. Higher-quality herbs are a better value, ultimately. Just do the best you can!"

Good news: calendula isn't known for having many adverse side effects. It is possible, though, that this herb could cause an allergic reaction, especially in people with known allergies to marigolds or plants in the Asteraceae family. It might also interfere with certain medications, like sedatives, blood pressure meds, or medications for diabetes. If you're concerned, check with your doctor about potential contraindications before plunking down your cash on calendula.