Wellness Origin HubChamomile and lavender tea for a calm evening
How to make chamomile and lavender tea: dried chamomile flowers with a small pinch of culinary lavender, steeped covered for five minutes for a soft, floral, caffeine-free evening cup.
Chamomile and lavender tea is dried chamomile flowers with a small pinch of culinary lavender, steeped under a lid for five minutes in water just off the boil. Chamomile gives a soft, apple-like, honeyed taste; lavender adds a light floral scent on top. It is caffeine-free, takes seven minutes and makes a quiet end to the day.
Chamomile tea has been drunk across Europe for centuries. It is manzanilla in Spain, Kamillentee in Germany and camomilla in Italy, and in many homes it is the cup offered before bed or after a heavy meal. Lavender is an old garden herb of southern Europe, best known in Provence, where it is used in small amounts in honey, baking and herbal blends. Together they make a gentle, fragrant tea that is easy to blend at home.
How to make it
- Put the chamomile and lavender into a teapot, an infuser or a mug with a strainer.
- Pour over water that has come off the boil for about a minute, around 90 to 95°C.
- Cover the pot or mug with a lid or saucer, so the fragrant oils stay in the cup.
- Steep for 5 minutes. Taste, and give it 2 minutes more if you want a fuller flavour.
- Strain into a cup, and stir in honey or add a slice of lemon if you like.
Tips for the best flavour
- Go easy on the lavender. Too much lavender tastes of soap. A quarter teaspoon per cup is plenty; you can always add more next time.
- Use culinary lavender. Choose dried lavender sold for cooking, usually English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia. Lavender from garden centres or craft shops may be treated with chemicals.
- Choose whole flowers. Whole dried chamomile heads taste sweeter and cleaner than the fine dust in some tea bags.
- Cover while it steeps. The aromatic oils of both herbs escape with the steam. A saucer over the mug keeps the flavour in.
- Do not over-steep. Beyond about ten minutes, chamomile can turn slightly bitter.
Choosing your herbs
| Herb | What to look for | Taste in the cup |
|---|---|---|
| German chamomile | Small, whole, bright yellow and white flower heads | Sweet, apple-like, honeyed |
| Roman chamomile | Larger, paler flowers | Stronger and slightly more bitter |
| English lavender | Dried buds sold for cooking, grey-purple | Floral, sweet, gently herbal |
| Other lavender types | Often sharper, with a camphor note | Better for scent than tea |
Most chamomile tea is German chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, which suits this blend best. For more caffeine-free options, our herbal teas guide compares the main types by taste.
Variations
- With lemon balm: add a few fresh or dried lemon balm leaves for a lemony note.
- With mint: a couple of fresh mint leaves make a brighter, fresher cup.
- Milky: steep the herbs in hot milk instead of water for a soft, sleepy drink.
- Iced: brew double strength, cool and serve over ice with a little honey on warm evenings.
- Make your own blend: mix 8 parts chamomile to 1 part lavender in a jar and use 2 teaspoons per cup.
Make ahead and storage
Use the buttons beside the ingredients to brew a pot for two or more. Brewed tea keeps in a closed jar in the fridge for up to two days and can be drunk cold or gently reheated. Dried chamomile and lavender keep for about a year in an airtight tin away from light and heat; once they smell faint, replace them. A good teapot with a fine strainer, like those in our guide to teapots for loose-leaf tea, makes loose flowers easy to brew.
Questions people ask
Does chamomile tea help you sleep?
Chamomile has a long tradition as a bedtime drink, and some small studies suggest it may help a little with sleep quality and relaxation, though the evidence is limited. A warm, caffeine-free cup is also part of a calm routine in itself. It works best alongside other habits, such as those in our evening wind-down routine.
Is it safe to drink every night?
For most adults, a cup or two of chamomile tea a day is considered safe. Lavender is used here in a very small amount. See the note below if you take regular medicines or are pregnant.
Can I use fresh flowers?
Yes, if you know they have not been sprayed. Use about three times the amount of fresh chamomile flowers, and a small sprig of fresh lavender buds.
Photograph: AI-generated image
