As summer is approaching, many growers seek to harvest and dry chamomile for tea. This is a delightful and rewarding process that allows you to enjoy the soothing benefits of this versatile herb.
Whether you grow chamomile in your garden or find it in the wild, you can preserve its delicate flavor and therapeutic properties if you’ve learned the right techniques for harvesting and drying chamomile.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through when to harvest chamomile, how to harvest chamomile, and how to dry chamomile. This will help you to enjoy a refreshing and rejuvenating cup of homemade chamomile tea.
Table of Contents
What Part of Chamomile Do You Harvest for Tea?
For chamomile tea, you harvest the flower heads (the blossoms) of the plant—not the leaves, stems, or roots.
What Part of Chamomile Do You Harvest for Tea?
- Flower Heads Only: The white-and-yellow daisy-like blooms are the part used for tea and other herbal preparations.
- Why not Leaves/Stems: Green leaves and stems can add bitterness and are generally avoided for a clean, floral infusion.
When to Harvest Chamomile?
The best time to harvest chamomile is when the flowers are in full bloom, with bright yellow centers and flat, white petals that have not yet begun to droop. Typically, this occurs in the late morning, after the heat has dissipated but before the sun reaches its peak. The flowers should be fully open, with petals extended and a strong, sweet apple-like fragrance.
When to Harvest Chamomile?
Harvesting at this time ensures the highest concentration of essential oils, which are responsible for chamomile’s aroma and flavor. It’s also important to choose a dry day, as excess moisture can damage the harvest. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more blooms, allowing for multiple harvests throughout the season.
How to Harvest Chamomile for Tea?
The most prized part of the chamomile plant for tea is the blossoms with their strong, apple-like fragrance. The foliage is aromatic but bitter-tasting and should not be harvested or dried. So, it’s suggested to pick the flower heads and get rid of the leaves and stems.
How to Harvest Chamomile for Tea?
Here is how to harvest chamomile for tea.
Prepare the Supplies
You need a pair of clean, sharp garden shears or scissors, a bud bowl trimmer to prune the unwanted parts, and a basket or small bucket to collect the flower heads.
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Snip or Pick
Use the garden shears to snip just the flower head without any stem, or you can pluck the flowers off the top of their stems between your fingers.
Remove the Flower Heads from the Stems
After picking the chamomile, you can use Spider Farmer's bud bowl trimmer to carefully remove the leaves from the chamomile flowers, ensuring that only the highest quality buds are collected for tea or other uses.
The newest size of the Spider Farmer's bud bowl trimmer is 13 inches. Especially, it's very compact and suitable for daily household or small commercial needs. It has a fast processing speed and is ideal for collecting and pruning a large number of chamomile heads in a short time. More importantly, it has a lower price and higher efficiency.
Additionally, after trimming excess leaves or stems, it helps in maintaining the integrity of the chamomile flowers. Whether you are harvesting chamomile for tea, essential oils, or medicinal purposes, the bud bowl trimmer is an essential tool that simplifies the process and ensures that you get the most out of your chamomile plants.
How to Dry Chamomile for Tea?
The properly stored, dried chamomile can last for months. In this part, we’ll explore some common methods and techniques for drying and storing chamomile. Ensure to take each step with care and preserve the integrity and quality of the cherished herb.
Preparing for Drying
- You can rinse the flowers quickly under cool water to remove any dirt or insects. Gently shake off excess water.
- While not necessary, some people prefer to remove the stems for a cleaner appearance and to make the tea easier to steep.
How to Dry Chamomile for Tea?
Drying Methods
Air Drying
- Spread the flowers out on a clean, dry surface such as a paper towel, newspaper, or drying screen.
- Place them in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight to prevent mold and preserve the color and flavor
- It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the humidity and temperature.
- Check daily to ensure they are drying evenly and to prevent mold.
Oven Drying
- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (around 100°F or 38°C).
- Spread the flowers on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Place the tray in the oven and leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape.
- Check every hour and remove the flowers when they are completely dry, which usually takes a few hours.
Dehydrator
If you have a food dehydrator, follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying herbs.
Set the temperature to around 95°F (35°C) and dry until crisp, which usually takes 8-12 hours.
Microwave Drying
This method may affect the taste of the tea quality, but it’s a quick method.
- Spread the flowers on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer.
- Microwave in short bursts (30 seconds to 1 minute), checking and stirring after each interval.
- Be careful not to overheat, as this can damage the flavor and medicinal properties.
Storing the Dried Chamomile
Store the Dried Chamomile
- Once the chamomile is completely dry, store it in an airtight container to protect it from moisture and light.
- Label the container with the type of herb and the date it was dried.
- Store the container in a cool, dark place to maintain the quality of the chamomile.
Using Dried Chamomile for Tea
- Use 1-2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers per cup of boiling water. Steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain the tea and enjoy it hot or iced. You can add honey or lemon for additional flavor.
FAQs About Harvesting Chamomile for Tea
By the end of the post, we'll answer several frequently asked questions about harvesting chamomile for tea.
Do you have to dry chamomile flowers to make tea?
No, you don’t have to dry chamomile flowers to make tea, since fresh blossoms work well and can give a mild, slightly sweeter, more fragrant cup. The main trade-off is convenience and potency: drying concentrates the flavor and lets you store flowers for months, while fresh flowers are best used the same day (or within a couple of days refrigerated) and require roughly 2–3 times more by volume than dried to achieve similar strength. If using fresh, rinse gently, pat dry, then steep about 3–4 tablespoons of blossoms per 8 oz of near-boiling water for 5–10 minutes; for dried, use about 1–2 tablespoons per cup and steep similarly.
Does chamomile grow back after cutting?
Yes, chamomile generally grows back after cutting, especially when you harvest or prune correctly. Regularly snipping off flower heads (deadheading) or harvesting blooms encourages the plant to produce more buds and can trigger additional flushes of flowers during the season. If plants get leggy, cutting stems back by about one-third (or to ~4 inches for a midseason reset) promotes bushier regrowth and often a new bloom cycle, provided you water well and give light feeding afterward. The long-term return depends on type: Roman chamomile is a perennial that comes back from the same roots each year, while German chamomile is an annual that won’t regrow from the cut plant but readily self-seeds so new plants often appear the following spring.
When shouldn't you drink chamomile tea?
- Avoid or use caution if you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family (ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies), as chamomile can trigger reactions from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people are generally advised to skip it due to limited safety data and possible uterine-stimulating or hormone-like effects at higher doses.
- Avoid if you take blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) or have a bleeding disorder, because chamomile’s coumarin-like compounds may increase bleeding risk; stop at least 1–2 weeks before surgery or dental procedures.
- Use caution or avoid if you’re on sedatives, sleep aids, or drink alcohol, as chamomile can add to drowsiness; avoid driving if you feel sleepy after drinking it.
- People with asthma or significant immune sensitivities should also be careful.
- Those on hormone therapies (e.g., tamoxifen, estrogen-containing contraceptives) should consult a clinician before regular use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, harvesting and drying chamomile for tea allows you to enjoy the calming and healthful benefits of this versatile herb. By carefully selecting the right time to harvest, ensuring proper drying conditions, and storing your chamomile correctly, you can preserve its delicate flavor and therapeutic properties. Whether you grow chamomile in your garden or source it from a trusted supplier, following these steps will ensure that you have a supply of high-quality chamomile tea to enjoy throughout the year. With a little patience and attention to detail, you can transform fresh chamomile into a soothing and aromatic tea that enhances both your health and well-being.
