Dried Herb & Tea

Mountain Tea

Sideritis scardica Griseb.

B Limited clinical evidence

Mountain tea (Sideritis scardica) has traditional uses for cold-related cough and mild digestive discomfort; species identity and pregnancy precautions matter.

DigestionSleep, Stress & MoodRespiratory, Throat & Mouth
Mountain tea – Dried flowering Sideritis stems and a cup of brewed herbal tea

Image: Herbadex Botanik Stüdyosu · Özel Üretim

Pregnancy⚠ Avoid
Breastfeeding⚠ Avoid
Children⚠ Avoid
Drug interactionsNo recorded interactions
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At a glance

Mountain tea is prepared from dried flowering aerial parts of plants in the genus Sideritis (Lamiaceae). This entry specifically covers Sideritis scardica, as described in EMA and EU documents. In Türkiye, many other Sideritis taxa share the same common name and should not be assumed to have interchangeable evidence or dosing.

Parts used: flowering aerial parts
Key constituents: Flavonoids (apigenin and luteolin derivatives), Phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside), Phenolic acids, Diterpenes and small amounts of essential oil

Updated: October 24, 2026

Sources include an EMA HMPC monograph. Its scope is limited to the specified species, plant part and preparation; this is not professional approval.

What is it used for?

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    Tea made from dried flowering aerial parts of Sideritis scardica is traditionally used for cough associated with a cold. Its EU recognition rests on longstanding use, not established clinical efficacy. [1][2]

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    An infusion of the same dried herbal material is traditionally used for mild gastrointestinal discomfort. The indication is not supported by robust human efficacy trials. [1][2]

  • B Limited clinical evidence

    Limited clinical evidence: Limited human data; small samples, methodological problems or inconsistent results reduce certainty. Findings do not apply to every product.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    In one randomized study involving 155 adults, a standardized 950 mg/day Sideritis scardica extract lowered state-anxiety scores versus placebo after 28 days. This finding cannot be directly extrapolated to herbal tea or other Sideritis species. [4]

How is it used?

Tea

Infuse the correctly identified dried, cut flowering aerial parts of Sideritis scardica in hot water. The EMA/EU amounts apply only to traditional tea use of this species in adults.

Amount: 2–4 g herb per 150–200 mL water, 2–3 times daily; no more than 12 g of herb per day.

[1][2]

Safety & interactions

Minimum age: 18 years

  • Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.
  • Not recommended for children or adolescents under 18 years because suitable data are lacking.
  • Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to Sideritis or other plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae).
  • Seek medical advice if a cold-related cough persists longer than one week, mild digestive symptoms longer than two weeks, or symptoms worsen. Seek prompt assessment for breathlessness, high fever or bloody sputum.
  • Many different Sideritis taxa are sold as mountain tea in Türkiye. Do not apply the EMA dose to products without confirmed botanical identity.
  • No drug interactions have been reported in the monograph, but absence of reports does not prove absence of interactions. Seek professional advice with regular medicines or concentrated preparations.
  • The concentrated extract studied in a clinical trial is not dose-equivalent to the traditional infusion.
[1][2][3][5][6]

Drug interactions

No recorded interactions

Side effects

  • The EMA/EU source lists no known specific adverse effects, but extensive long-term safety studies are lacking.
  • Hypersensitivity is a concern in people allergic to Sideritis or related Lamiaceae species.

⚕ When to see a doctor

  • If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops
  • If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen
  • If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs

Did you know?

Kew’s medicinal plant names database links the Turkish common name “dağ çayı” to 33 accepted Sideritis taxa, rather than to one botanical species. [3]

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of mountain tea?

Sideritis scardica tea has recognized traditional-use indications for cough accompanying a cold and mild digestive discomfort. Traditional use does not establish clinical efficacy.

How do you prepare mountain tea?

The EMA/EU list gives 2–4 g of cut Sideritis scardica in 150–200 mL water, 2–3 times daily for adults, up to 12 g daily. These amounts should not be transferred to unidentified species.

Is mountain tea safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Its safety has not been established, and the EMA/EU sources do not recommend use in either period.

Can children drink mountain tea?

Medicinal use is not recommended under age 18 because adequate data are unavailable.

Is all Turkish mountain tea the same plant?

No. Kew associates the Turkish name with 33 accepted Sideritis taxa. This record covers Sideritis scardica only.

Does mountain tea help anxiety or memory?

One randomized trial of a standardized Sideritis scardica extract reported improvements in selected anxiety and attention measures. It does not establish the same effect for tea.

Does mountain tea interact with medicines?

The EMA/EU monograph reports no documented interactions. Unknown interactions, particularly with concentrated extracts, cannot be excluded.

Sources

Source type is not an efficacy rating. A monograph may document traditional use or safety. Claim numbers link to the relevant source; the access date does not indicate professional approval.

  1. European Union herbal monograph on Sideritis scardica Griseb.; Sideritis clandestina (Bory & Chaub.) Hayek; Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & Heldr.; Sideritis syriaca L., herbaEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA/HMPC) · 2016 · MonographSource accessed:
  2. Commission Decision 2008/911/EC, Annex II: Union list entry on Sideritis scardica Griseb., herba (consolidated text)European Union, EUR-Lex · 2022 · Official agency informationSource accessed:
  3. Medicinal Plant Names Services: dağ çayı (33 accepted Sideritis taxa)Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · 2026 · Reference bookSource accessed:
  4. The Acute and Chronic Cognitive and Cerebral Blood Flow Effects of a Sideritis scardica (Greek Mountain Tea) Extract: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Groups Study in Healthy HumansNutrients · 2018 · Randomized controlled trialSource accessed:
  5. Bioactive Compounds of Sideritis Species in Inflammation, Neuroprotection and Cardiometabolic Health: A ReviewInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026 · ReviewSource accessed:
  6. Sideritis scardica Griseb. — Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew · 2026 · Reference bookSource accessed:

Cite This Page

Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica Griseb.). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/mountain-tea/

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