What Is Valerian Root? My Honest Take on One of the Funkier Herbs We Use

Valerian is one of those herbs you tend to remember once you've smelled it.

I'll be honest — it smells pretty funky.

When we're mixing a large batch of Dream Easy in the shop, sometimes around 12 pounds at a time, you really know valerian is in the room. Some customers barely seem bothered by it. Others have walked in while we're blending and found the smell so strong they've had to step outside.

I've even noticed the smell still on my clothes when I leave the shop and head home after a blending day.

And yet, once it's actually brewed as part of Dream Easy, I think it's a completely different experience.

That's one of the reasons I find valerian so interesting.

A quick note: this article is for general education and reflects my own experience working with and drinking these herbs. It isn't medical advice, and our herbal products aren't intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

What does valerian root actually look like?

The dried valerian root we work with usually looks like tiny dark-brown pieces or flakes.

It's fairly unremarkable visually.

You could easily look at a scoop of it and wonder what all the fuss is about.

Then you smell it.

For Dream Easy, we use valerian in powdered form as part of the blend. That means its earthy character gets distributed throughout the tea, alongside the more floral herbs.

And for me, that's where valerian works best.

What does valerian smell like?

Strong.

Earthy.

Funky.

It's difficult to describe politely!

The smell of dried valerian is probably the most distinctive aroma in the entire Dream Easy blend. When we're mixing a large bin in the shop, it can completely take over the space.

Customer reactions are funny because they vary so much.

Some people don't seem bothered at all.

Others immediately pull a face.

And occasionally someone really can't tolerate the smell while we're blending.

That's the reality of working with real herbs. They aren't all delicate flowers and beautiful aromas. Some are pungent, earthy, bitter, dusty or downright strange.

Valerian is definitely one of the memorable ones.

Do I drink valerian on its own?

Not usually.

On its own, I find valerian quite earthy, and the finished tea can be a little cloudy.

It's not my first choice.

I much prefer valerian when it's combined with other herbs — particularly lavender, rose, skullcap and passionflower.

Those herbs help soften the experience for me.

Lavender and rose bring floral notes, while valerian provides a much earthier base underneath.

That's exactly why we use it the way we do in Dream Easy.

Why I prefer valerian in a blend

Dream Easy is actually one of the most floral teas we make.

That might sound surprising after everything I've just said about valerian.

But once brewed, the chamomile, rose and lavender really come forward and complement the earthiness of the valerian root.

The dry blend and the finished cup are almost two different experiences.

The dry aroma can be powerful.

The brewed tea is much softer and more floral.

That's part of what I enjoy about herbal blending: you're not just putting individual herbs into a bag. You're trying to make the herbs work together.

Sometimes an herb I wouldn't particularly enjoy drinking alone becomes much more enjoyable when it's balanced properly.

Valerian is a perfect example.

How valerian fits into Dream Easy

With Dream Easy, I usually recommend steeping for around 5–8 minutes.

Personally, I prefer the loose-leaf version in a glass teapot because I enjoy the whole ritual of it.

Tea bags are obviously more convenient, though, and ours contain 4 grams of herbs per bag.

I often leave the bag in the cup while I'm drinking it.

And because of the amount of herbs in each bag:

Each 4 g tea bag can often give you a strong second brew.

For me, Dream Easy is definitely a hot tea rather than an iced one.

Some of our blends are fantastic over ice, but this isn't one I personally reach for cold.

I normally drink mine around 30–45 minutes before bed as part of winding down for the evening.

That's my own routine — not a promise about what the tea will do for anyone else.

What does the research say about valerian?

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has a long history in European herbal traditions.

The European Medicines Agency recognizes valerian root in the context of traditional herbal use for mild nervous tension and sleep-related use.

Modern research is less straightforward.

NCCIH describes the evidence around valerian and sleep as inconsistent, and NIH sources note that its mechanisms aren't completely understood and that long-term safety hasn't been firmly established.

That's important to say plainly.

I don't think herbal education should pretend that centuries of traditional use automatically equal modern clinical proof.

For me, valerian is an herb with a fascinating history, a very distinctive personality, and an important role in the blend we make — but I don't present it as a treatment.

My overall take on valerian

Valerian probably isn't the herb I'd give someone as their first introduction to herbal tea.

The smell alone might scare them off.

But as part of a thoughtful blend, I think it becomes far more approachable.

That's why I like pairing it with floral herbs rather than trying to make valerian the star of the cup.

It's earthy, pungent, slightly odd — and that's exactly what makes it interesting.

If you'd like to see how we use valerian, you can explore our Dream Easy Tea Bags and Dream Easy Loose Leaf, or read more about the full Dream Easy blend in the Herbalist Notebook.