Chamomile Tea Recipe

Chamomile plant is one of the popular herbs with a wide range of health benefits. It is said that this plant has been used by humans since the ancient Egyptian period. Even now, chamomile tea is one of the most popular herbal teas and is widely used for its therapeutic effects. It is usually made from the dried leaves and flowers of this herb. Even fresh flowers can be used for this purpose.

This herbal tea has a relaxing, soothing and calming effect and is used as a sleep aid. It is said to be beneficial for getting relief from many health problems like abdominal and menstrual cramps, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, colic, mouth ulcers, eczema, contact dermatitis, diaper rash, stress, infant colic and fever. This herbal tea can be consumed as such or can be added to bathing water or healing compresses.

How to Make Chamomile Tea

You can prepare this tea very easily, if you have the dried flowers and leaves of chamomile plant. You can purchase chamomile tea (dried flowers and leaves), either as tea bags or in the loose form. In order to prepare a cup of this herbal tea, you have to boil one cup of water in a saucepan. As the water boils, add a teaspoon of chamomile tea into it. Boil for another minute, with the lid on. Remove from heat and let it sit for one or two minutes, so that the flowers are allowed to steep. You can strain the tea and consume it with honey, which can be used as a sweetener. You may even add a little bit of lemon juice to this tea. If you want to prepare this tea in large quantity, just increase the ingredients proportionally.

Fresh Chamomile Tea Recipe

You may even use fresh flowers to prepare this tea. If you have chamomile plants in your house, you can collect the flowers. Otherwise, you may collect the flowers from wild varieties of this herb, that can be easily distinguished with the white-colored flowers (with yellow center) that resemble lilies. You may also buy fresh flowers from health stores. The method of making the tea is almost similar to the above mentioned one. You have to boil a cup of water for a cup of herbal tea. Add a teaspoon of fresh chamomile flowers, as the water starts boiling. Let the flowers steep for another five minutes and after that, remove the tea from heat. Strain the tea and add some honey, before consumption.

Iced Chamomile Tea

You can prepare the tea, as per the recipes mentioned above. But, once you remove the tea from the stove, strain and let it cool for a while. After that, refrigerate it before serving. You may also add some white grape juice and apple juice (instead of lemon juice) to this tea. For a cup of tea, you can add 4 tablespoons each of both juices. Mix them well and add honey. Place ice cubes in serving glasses and pour the tea over them. You may also brew this tea using hot water and chamomile flowers, using a tea infuser or tea ball and add ice directly to the brew, so as to make it cool.

You may also add other herbs along with chamomile. It is said that adding a few leaves of lemon balm to the this tea increases the sedative effect of the herb. Adding equal amounts of yarrow and sage to the brew is believed to be good for reducing the symptoms of inflammation. You may also brew chamomile tea with equal amount of dandelion and a few fennel seeds and this tea is beneficial for skin problems like rashes and boils. If you are planning to make use of the therapeutic effects of this herbal tea, then, act as per the instructions of a qualified herbal practitioner. It will be better to use it in moderate amounts, as excess consumption may cause chamomile side effects like vomiting, dizziness and high sedation. It is also not recommended for newborns, pregnant and nursing women and also those, who are prone to allergies.