How Chamomile Tea Promotes Sleep, Aids Digestion, and Relieves Anxiety

Whether you're seeking relaxation, stress relief, or a good night's sleep, Chamomile is a comforting herbal tea that has stood the test of time.

chamomile flowers brewed tea in teapot and tea cup

Chamomile tea has been a popular herbal remedy for centuries with its delicate aroma and soothing taste.

Organic Greek Chamomile from Mount Othrys

In Greek mythology, Mount Othrys was the birthplace of the gods Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon. Today, it is a protected region and home to farms that grow organic Chamomile, sage, mountain tea (Sideritis), and oregano.

Mount Othrys lies on the border of Magnesia Prefecture in central Greece. Its rocky, dry mountain soils create perfect conditions for growing herbs.

The herbs are traditionally harvested every May and June. They are then cleaned and air-dried in the shade, preserving all their scent and flavor.

What does Chamomile Taste Like?

Chamomile Tea should not taste like worn socks or an old dish rag, as some have said. It's fragrant and flowery and a little apple-like.

The answer lies in the quality of the Chamomile used and the brewing process. High-quality chamomile flowers exude a sweet, floral aroma and a mild, pleasant taste when properly harvested and dried.

If the Chamomile is of inferior quality or improperly stored, it can develop a musty or unpleasant flavor. To avoid this, choose reputable brands and store your chamomile tea in a cool, dark place to preserve its freshness.

Chamomile teabags won't taste as good as the flowers. You need the whole flowers. Each brand can taste and smell different. It depends on the process they used to harvest, dry, and store the herb. The taste will also change depending on the way you prepare it.

I love to make a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed.

Where I Bought This Chamomile Tea

Finding high-quality Chamomile is essential for a delightful tea-drinking experience. Specialty tea shops often carry a variety of herbal teas, including Chamomile.

It's hard to find good Chamomile. Look for Chamomile that's sold loose, as it's more likely you'll get the whole flower. The flower is where all the good stuff is.

The dried flowers of Chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, contributing to its medicinal properties (1).

One of the most common herbs used for medicinal purposes is Chamomile, whose standardized tea and herbal extracts are prepared from dried flowers of Matricaria species.

Most Chamomile sold as tea is German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita or chamomilla) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). German Chamomile is a medicinal variety.

The chamomile tea Klio Tea sells is Matricaria chamomilla species, the medicinal variety.

Klio Tea is Steve Raftopolulos's project. He founded Klio Tea in 2014 to support small village families in Greece. All the tea, honey, and olive oil is hand-collected, hand-packed, and unprocessed by Greek family producers. And you can taste the difference.

I'm obsessed with their products. I've enjoyed everything I've tried from Klio Tea and plan to order again and again.

Chamomile Tea Benefits

Chamomile tea is a delightful beverage and a powerhouse of health benefits. One of its most renowned attributes is its ability to promote relaxation and alleviate stress.

The tea contains antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and boost the immune system. Additionally, Chamomile is known for its anti-anxiety properties, making it a popular choice for winding down after a long day.

Honey chamomile tea brewed with 5 g of Chamomile, two slices of lemon, and one tablespoon of honey has been reported to lower blood pressure, detoxify, and relieve inflammation (2).

Related:

Chemicals In Chamomile Inducing Relaxation and Sleep

Because it's an herbal tea, Chamomile does not have any caffeine.

Chamomile flowers extracted in water in tea have been frequently used as a mild sedative to calm nerves, reduce anxiety, and treat insomnia and other sleep problems (3).

Chamomile has been valued as a digestive relaxant and has been used to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances, including flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, anorexia, motion sickness, and nausea (3).

The key to Chamomile's relaxation-inducing properties lies in its chemical composition. The tea contains compounds such as apigenin, luteolin, and bisabolol, which have been studied for their anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative effects.

Apigenin, in particular, binds to specific receptors in the brain, promoting a calming sensation and aiding in sleep induction. While Chamomile may not be as potent as prescription sleep aids, its natural approach makes it a gentle and effective option for those seeking a peaceful night's rest.

How To Brew Chamomile Tea

To fully enjoy the benefits of chamomile tea, here's a simple guide:

Choose Quality Chamomile: Select high-quality, whole chamomile flowers for the best flavor and benefits.
Measure Accurately: Use one to two teaspoons of Chamomile per 8-ounce cup of water. Adjust based on your preference.
Water Temperature: Heat water below boiling (around 200°F or 93°C) to avoid scalding the delicate chamomile flowers.
Steeping Time: Let the Chamomile steep for about 5-7 minutes. Longer steeping times can result in a bitter taste.
Sweeten if Desired: Add honey or a splash of lemon for added flavor if you like.

I enjoy a bit of Greek honey. The resulting brew is rich and delicious.

Purchase this tea

Chamomile tea is a delightful and beneficial beverage when brewed with care and sourced from reputable suppliers. Say goodbye to the notion that it should taste like old socks and embrace this ancient herbal remedy's floral notes and calming effects.

Reference:

Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010 Nov 1;3(6):895-901. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377. PMID: 21132119; PMCID: PMC2995283.
Dai YL, Li Y, Wang Q, Niu FJ, Li KW, Wang YY, Wang J, Zhou CZ, Gao LN. Chamomile: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Quality Control Studies. Molecules. 2022 Dec 23;28(1):133. doi: 10.3390/molecules28010133. PMID: 36615326; PMCID: PMC9822300. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9822300/
Mao JJ, Xie SX, Keefe JR, Soeller I, Li QS, Amsterdam JD. Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2016 Dec 15;23(14):1735-1742. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2016.10.012. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27912875; PMCID: PMC5646235.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5646235/

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