Passionflower
Herbal infusion
4.3/5 · FindMeTea score
About this tea
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a caffeine-free herbal infusion made from the aerial parts — leaves, stems, and flowers — of a climbing vine native to the southeastern United States and parts of Central and South America. It is not a true tea, and there is no caffeine in the cup at any steeping time. Mild and gently grassy with a soft, hay-like sweetness, it has been part of Western herbal tradition since European botanists first brought the vine home as an ornamental curiosity. Its aerial parts carry flavonoids such as vitexin. Today it is a familiar ingredient in evening tea blends around the world, usually alongside chamomile, lemon balm or valerian.
How to brew: 90°C, 5 min, 2 g per cup.
Caffeine
None
How to brew
Flavor notes
smooth, vegetal, floral, delicate
Often associated with
Calm, Relaxation
Best time to enjoy
Evening, Mid-afternoon, Afternoon
Tags
Where to find it in United States
Where to find it in United StatesNear Columbus
- North Market SpicesOther Herbal infusion
Columbus · North Market, downtown
Spearmint, Crushed Leaves
from US$ 3.85· 1 oz
In storeOnline59 Spruce Street, Columbus, OH 43215See the shop → - Posh Teatime Co.Other Herbal infusion
Columbus · Franklinton, West Broad Street
Farmer's Market Fruit Blend
from US$ 16.95· 4 oz
In storeOnline1273 W Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222See the shop → - Sencha Tea BarOther Herbal infusion
Minneapolis · Uptown (also Madison, WI)
Rose Hips
from US$ 3.99· 2 oz
In storeOnline2601 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408See the shop → - Old City CoffeeOther Herbal infusion
Philadelphia · Old City · Reading Terminal Market
Hibiscus
US$ 11· 4 oz
In storeOnline221 Church St, Philadelphia, PA 19106See the shop → - The Random Tea RoomOther Herbal infusion
Philadelphia · Northern Liberties
Chamomile
US$ 18· 6 oz
In storeOnline713 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123See the shop →
Origin & Production
Passiflora incarnata is native to the warm, humid southeastern United States, where it grows wild along roadsides, fence lines, and the edges of fields from Virginia and Texas down to Florida. The vigorous perennial vine climbs with tendrils and produces strikingly intricate purple-and-white flowers before forming an egg-shaped fruit known as the maypop. Related species in the Passiflora genus are found across Central and South America, where indigenous peoples used various passionflowers in their own traditions. The herb thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and the leafy aerial parts are harvested for tea while the plant is in flower. Most commercial passionflower today is cultivated or sustainably wild-collected and dried for the herbal-tea and supplement markets.
Production process
Harvesting the aerial parts
Leaves, stems, and flowers are gathered while the vine is in bloom, traditionally in mid to late summer when the plant's aromatic compounds are most concentrated.
Shade-drying
The cut aerial parts are spread in thin layers and dried slowly in ventilated shade. Gentle drying preserves the delicate flavonoids and keeps the mild, grassy aroma intact.
Cutting & sifting
Once dry, the herb is cut to a uniform size and sifted to remove coarse stems and dust, leaving a consistent cut-and-sift grade ideal for steeping.
Blending & packaging
Passionflower is often blended with chamomile, lemon balm, or valerian for bedtime teas, then packed in sealed, light-protected containers as loose herb or tea bags.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Tea fun facts
History & Tradition
Passionflower has a long history that begins with the indigenous peoples of the Americas and continues through European herbalism into modern bedtime-tea culture, where it remains one of the best-known calming herbs.
Indigenous traditional use
Indigenous peoples of the southeastern Americas ate the fruit of native passionflowers — the maypop — and used the aerial parts of the vine in traditional preparations.
Named by Spanish missionaries
Spanish missionaries in the Americas saw the flower's intricate structure as a symbol of the Passion of Christ, giving the plant its enduring name 'passionflower'.
Introduced to European gardens
Passionflower was brought to Europe as an ornamental curiosity, prized for the architecture of its flower, and gradually entered herbal practice alongside the garden plants of the period.
Adopted by Eclectic physicians
Nineteenth-century Eclectic physicians in North America wrote about passionflower and put it into circulation, which is how the vine entered Western materia medica.
Listed in pharmacopoeias
Passionflower appeared in national pharmacopoeias and herbal monographs across Europe and North America, and dried aerial parts became standard stock in the herb trade.
Bedtime-tea staple
Today passionflower is a familiar ingredient in commercial evening tea blends worldwide, often combined with chamomile, lemon balm and valerian. The European Medicines Agency published its monograph on the herb in 2014.
What's in the cup
Caffeine-free by nature
Passionflower is an infusion of leaves, stems and flowers from a vine, not of Camellia sinensis, so there is no caffeine in the cup at any steeping time or strength. That is why it tends to appear at the end of the day.
What is in the cup
The aerial parts carry flavonoids, among them vitexin, which is the marker compound pharmacopoeias use to standardise the dried herb. In the cup the herb reads as mild and gently grassy, with a soft hay-like sweetness and very little bitterness.
The flower that got its name from a story
Spanish missionaries in the Americas read the flower's intricate corona as a symbol of the Passion of Christ, and the name stuck in every European language. The fruit of the North American species, the maypop, was eaten long before any of that.
What the regulator actually says
The European Medicines Agency lists passionflower herb as a traditional herbal medicinal product, and herbal tea is among the preparations it covers. Its 2014 monograph is explicit about what that category means: the conclusions rest on documented long-standing use, and the agency states there is insufficient evidence from clinical trials.
Source: European Medicines Agency (2014)
Before you pour a cup
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health lists drowsiness, dizziness and confusion among possible side effects, and states that passionflower should not be used during pregnancy. It also advises talking to a health care provider if you are within two weeks of surgery.
This isn't medical advice. If you have a specific condition, or you are pregnant or taking medication, check with a healthcare provider.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Brew better
Grades & Varieties
Cut & sifted herb
The standard loose-herb format: dried leaves, stems, and flowers cut to a uniform size. It steeps into a clear, mild, grassy infusion and is the classic choice for an evening cup.
Best for
- ✓Evening infusion
- ✓Custom bedtime blends
- ✓Loose-leaf brewing
Tea bags
Pre-portioned passionflower in tea bags for quick, fuss-free brewing. Slightly milder than loose herb but the most convenient format for a nightly cup before bed.
Best for
- ✓Nightly bedtime tea
- ✓Travel and the office
- ✓Beginners to the herb
Bedtime blend
Passionflower combined with companions like chamomile, lemon balm, or valerian. The blend softens passionflower's grassy edge and rounds it into a fuller, more aromatic cup.
Best for
- ✓Evening ritual
- ✓Softer, sweeter flavor
- ✓Pre-sleep routine
Did you know?
Spanish missionaries named the passionflower in the 16th century because its intricate purple-and-white bloom reminded them of the Passion of Christ; the plant's egg-shaped fruit is still known as the 'maypop'.
Foods with this tea
What to Eat with Passionflower Tea
Passionflower's mild, grassy, gently sweet character pairs beautifully with soft, comforting evening foods—buttery toast, mild cheeses, honeyed pastries, and light fruit.
Passionflower-Steamed Chicken with Herb Rice
Tender chicken gently steamed over a passionflower, thyme and lemon zest infusion, served on herb rice with parsley and lemon — a light supper for a quiet evening.
Passionflower and Honey Panna Cotta
A silky, lightly set panna cotta infused with mild passionflower tea and sweetened with honey—a gentle, barely sweet dessert to round off the evening.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Tea recipes & drinks
Drinks with this tea
Passionflower with Chamomile, Lemon Balm and Honey
A warm, caffeine-free evening cup of passionflower with chamomile, lemon balm, and honey: floral, herbal, and softly sweet.
Iced Passionflower Lemonade with Mint
Cold-brewed passionflower blended with fresh lemon and mint over ice: a caffeine-free cooler that stays mild, grassy, and lightly sweet.
Passionflower Bedtime Mocktail
An alcohol-free nightcap shaking passionflower tea with lemon, honey syrup, and a splash of sparkling water—all the ritual of a cocktail with none of the buzz.