Valerian tea

Valerian tea is a herbal infusion — a tisane — made by steeping the dried root and rhizome of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) in hot water. Like chamomile or peppermint it is not made from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, so it contains no caffeine whatsoever; "tea" here just means a hot water infusion. Unlike most herbal teas, which are prized for a pleasant scent, valerian is famous for the opposite: the dried root gives off a heavy, musky, earthy smell often likened to old socks, damp cellars or wet dog, and the cup carries a warm, woody, faintly bitter earthiness rather than anything floral or sweet. Valerian is drunk almost exclusively as a bedtime and calming tisane — it is one of the oldest and best known herbal sleep remedies in the Western world, taken to unwind, ease anxiety and help with falling asleep.