Preserving: Chamomile Tea from Scratch

... and the scratch I mean is digging in the soil. One of my gardening “experiments” this year was growing Chamomile flowers to make tea. I purchased one packet and spread the seeds into three medium sized pots. Chamomile seeds are extremely small and are planted barely under the surface of the soil.

Keep moist until sprouted. Once established, the plants are quite hardy and only need watering every few days during the hotter months.

Pick Chamomile flowers throughout the summer. The more you pick, the more they bloom. I like to wait until the white petals begin to droop and the bright yellow centers enlarge with seeds.

You can make tea from fresh flowers, but I dry mine for later use. Use a tea ball with fine holes to keep the tiny seeds from escaping. But, ingesting them is not a problem if they do.

This was a successful gardening experiment. I’m hoping that my pots will reseed themselves next year. If not, I’ll get another seed package and start all over again.

Chamomile tea is said to be good for stomach upset and to help you fall asleep. I love it for the unique taste and calming effect on a long winter night. How about you? -- Margy