If you’re a fan of herbal and floral teas, then you have come to the right place!
If I have to pick one floral tea that’s my absolute favorite, then I’ll pick chamomile tea over and over again, no questions asked.
It’s just such a refreshing and soothing drink that I can’t help but have it multiple times every day. If you’ve never tried chamomile tea and want to try it out, then it’s only natural to want to know what the hype is all about and what it tastes like.
So, if you’re wondering, “what does chamomile tea taste like?” then read on to find out!
What Is Chamomile Tea?
Chamomile is a flower that’s closely related to marigolds, sunflowers, and other daisy-like flowers. The word “Chamomile” comes from the Ancient Greek words kamai (ground/earth) and melon (apple).
Even though it grows throughout the world, Eastern Europe and Egypt are the leading cultivators of chamomile.
As soon as the chamomile flowers open, they are harvested and dried whole to be used in making chamomile tea, which is a simple infusion of dried chamomile flowers in hot water.
What Does Chamomile Tea Taste Like
So, what does chamomile tea taste like?
Chamomile has exceptionally mild hints of apple and a particularly mellow, honey-like sweetness to it. It’s quite mild in taste and is pretty light and palatable.
The scented flavor of chamomile tea is a bit flowery and earthy. The texture of chamomile tea is rather silky, clean, and pretty soothing. However, this soothing and mildly sweet tea can taste bitter if you add too many dried chamomile flowers or tea bags to the water and brew them for too long.
How Do You Serve Chamomile Tea
You can serve chamomile tea in lots of different ways. You can serve it with freshly squeezed lemon juice or herbs with lemon flavor such as lemon myrtle and lemongrass. You can also mix some honey in it to enhance its yellow flavor.
You can also add peppermint, cinnamon, or lavender when steeping the dried chamomile to give your chamomile tea a more complex flavor profile.
A hint of ginger and some soy milk will also make a nice blend of flavors that you can add in your tea.
If you want to put a fun spin on chamomile, then you can add the tea to an aromatic gin and make a nice cocktail with complex flavors. Alternatively, you can just serve the tea as is.
Can You Put Lemon in Chamomile Tea?
As mentioned above, you can absolutely put lemon in your tea. Lemon juice a widely popular addition to chamomile tea as it adds a zesty and tangy taste to the mild flavor of chamomile tea.
Moreover, lemon also helps to revive the freshness of your tea, particularly if it’s a little old and doesn’t have the same floral taste as it did earlier.
When Is the Best Time to Drink Chamomile Tea?
Since chamomile is a mellow tea, it’s best to have it right before you hit the bed. You can also have it in the afternoon or evening after a particularly heavy meal, or you can have multiple cups of it throughout the day as well if you enjoy the flavor as much as I do.
How to Store Chamomile Tea
Fresh chamomile flowers are dried for long-term storage. If you have fresh flowers, then spread them out and put them in a dry, cool spot away from direct sunlight for about a week.
Alternatively, you can dry them in an oven or a food dehydrator. Once the petals have dried, store them in an airtight container or jar and put it away from heat, sunlight, and humidity.
Store it in a cool and dry place in your pantry or kitchen spice cabinet. The dried petals will retain their flavor for about a year.
Here’s an incredibly helpful link on how to store tea in 2 simple steps!
Tips on Making Chamomile Tea
Here are some tips on making the perfect cup of chamomile tea:
- If you prefer your tea to have a mild flowery flavor, then don’t steep the tea for more than 3 to 4 minutes. However, if you want a strong and slightly bitter flavor, then steep it for over 5 to 6 minutes.
- Stir in a spoon of raw honey and add a pinch of ginger powder while making your chamomile tea to give it a more exotic flavor.
- For each cup of water, use about 1 to 4 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers, depending on how strong you want your tea to be.
- Make sure to let the water come to a slight boil or at least reach 200 degrees Fahrenheit before steeping the tea in it.
- For a prepared tea bag of chamomile tea, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the best results.
- Make sure to use a tea kettle that’s best suited for a gas stove to brew your tea.
The bottom line
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide on, “what does chamomile tea taste like?”.
Make sure to serve it with the different ingredients that I’ve mentioned and try out the aforementioned tips to make delectably fresh and flavorful chamomile tea.
Lastly, store the tea properly so that it retains its flavor.