Chamomile | The Simple Base to Many of Your Favorite Teas
As we continue our conversation of specific ingredients that you find in many of our teas, the next we will be talking about is chamomile. If I were to play “association” with chamomile, I would think of rest, calm, healing, and a good night’s sleep. All good things! So, let’s take a closer look at what makes this herb and why it has been used for many years for enjoyment and medicinal reasons.
Chamomile Tea Flavor
The Chamomile plant looks much like a small white daisy. When brewed, it has a light yellow color to it, like watercolor sunlight. It is a sweet flavor at first, with a slightly bitter undertone. Chamomile is naturally caffeine-free, so a cup of Chamomile tea can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Since chamomile does not have a strong flavor, it is an excellent addition to most tea blends. Any dried or natural fruit flavors are often found in Chamomile blends, as well as peppermint, lemon, and lavender.
Chamomile Tea Origin
Chamomile is considered an herb, so it is most often found as the base of herbal teas. The name Chamomile comes from Greek, meaning “ground or earth apple”. There are actually eleven different species of chamomile, but only two are used for tea blends: Matricaria chamomile (also known as German chamomile) and Chamaemelum nobile (or Roman chamomile). It dates back as far as ancient Egypt when they would use it to help with colds. Romans would also use it in their drinks and burn it as incense.
Chamomile Tea Benefits
Chamomile has traditionally been used to help with anxiety or insomnia and to settle stomachs, calm nausea, and ease heartburn. Chamomile’s healthy properties come from its flowers, which possess several volatile oils. These oils include bisabolol oxides, bisabolol, and matricin. The flowers also contain flavonoids, one of which is apigenin, and it confers numerous benefits. Its medicinal properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, and sedative actions. While chamomile can help in many ways, it is always essential to confer with your doctor about any health concerns you may have.
Hackberry Tea has some great options when it comes to Chamomile teas. Whether you are looking for a simple chamomile or one with additional ingredients, like peppermint or lavender, I am positive you will discover a new favorite way to sip and relax!
