Dry and Store Chamomile at Home for Herbal Tea
I love non-milk teas of all kinds. Apart from green tea, that everyone is supposed to love for health reasons, if there’s another herbal tea close to my heart it’s Chamomile. Though i really like the chamomile-honey blend from the shelves, nothing comes even close to a cup of fresh tea brewed from flowers grown in your own garden..
I remember me and my dad having a cup each at midnight while being engrossed in our desktops.. ( i must admit that i get scared very easily yet i thought nothing of going at 1am to pluck some flowers from the garden)
On trips to hill stations, i love exploring the little shops that store boxes & bags of flavored teas, looking for something fruity and floral and fun. For the same reason, i love the brand FabIndia for their tea blends.. recently i picked up mango vanilla( to be honest i liked the sound of it) which i really liked though everyone around me hated it( my husband and my best friend whom i forced to drink)
I had a few leftover seeds from the first batch(that my grandfather got me from Palampur)but they never germinated again.. so this year i picked up a fresh packet of German chamomile from Omaxe seeds which turned out to be a great pick.. Excellent germination and great flavor..
Chamomile has some amazing health benefits. Apart from always being successful at putting me to sleep when i am struggling with insomnia, it has also helped with soothe an irritated stomach and inflamed skin.. no wonder it has become one of my favorite herbs.
Making fresh Chamomile Tea is simple & quick.
Boil some water, switch off the flame, drop a few flowers and let them steep for a few minutes till the water turns golden.. Strain and enjoy!!
Since i like the natural sweetness i do not add honey but you can if you feel so.
You can also mix the flavor with green or mint tea.
Chamomile also offers some skin benefits.
Boil the flowers with water and let steep for a few hours.. Add any complementing essential oil if you wish to and refrigerate in a spray bottle. Use this as a floral toner or mix in face packs. It is great for soothing inflamed skin.
How to Dry and Store Chamomile flowers from your garden.
- Stop admiring flowers and pluck them gently with fingers
- Toss into a mesh basket and run under water
- Keep to dry in the same or any container of your choice(i kept indoors and it was fine)
- Try to keep them spread in a thin layer for faster drying
- Admire the beauty and take pictures everyday
- Collect after a few days and store in a pretty jar
- Keep admiring the jar and do not use for the fear of finishing them
- Make some tea and enjoy
For a comprehensive SEED SOWING GUIDE, refer HERE.
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