We’ve had a lot of questions about chamomile this past week and wanted to share some tips and recipes! Although thyme was the herb of the week, chamomile’s pretty flowers caught the eye of so many of you. Chamomile is traditionally known as a soothing and calming herb. It is one of the most popular herbal teas.
Picking Notes: When picking, pop off the bloom by pinching the stalk just below the flower head. Select flowers that are fully open. A handful of blossoms will equate to about 4 cups of fresh chamomile tea, so you don’t need to pick too many to make tea.
To air dry, pick off just the flowers and spread them out in a single layer. Allow the flowers to dry for 1 to 2 weeks in a dark, warm, dry space.
To dehydrate flowers use a lined dehydrator tray (Tip: place a mesh liner on top of the chamomile flowers to prevent them from blowing) and set the dehydrator on the lowest setting (~95°F). Dry for 12 to 18 hours. (Tip: Delicate herbs and flowers should always be dehydrated at the lowest settings for optimum results)
Once dry, store flowers in a sealed glass jar until use.
Dried Chamomile Tea Recipe: Use 2-3 teaspoons dried chamomile per 1 cup boiling water and steep for 2-5 minutes.
Fresh Chamomile Tea Recipe: Use 6-8 teaspoons of fresh chamomile per 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 2-5 minutes.