Chamomile

The last warm, quiet thing in your hands before the lights go out: that is where a cup of chamomile has lived for generations. The dried flowers brew a soft, golden cup with a gentle apple-and-honey sweetness and a light floral finish. Pour it hot in the evening on its own, or add a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey. Beyond the mug, the flowers fold into simple syrups, shortbread, and citrus compotes, where a small pinch goes a long way.

Chamomile has been the classic evening cup across German and Eastern European kitchens for generations, brewed after supper and sipped slowly. The one thing to get right is heat. Flowers scorched in fully boiling water turn grassy and bitter, so a slightly cooler pour keeps them soft and sweet. Used in a light hand, that same delicacy is what makes chamomile a lovely baking flower rather than an overpowering one.

Single ingredient: whole chamomile flowers. Caffeine-free, with no sugar and no preservatives. Naturally vegan. We pack the flowers fresh so their delicate aroma stays bright.

How do I brew it?
Use one teaspoon of flowers per eight ounces of water. Heat fresh filtered water to around 200°F, pour it over the flowers, and steep for three minutes for the best flavor. Use fresh flowers each time you brew. For an iced cup, brew it double-strength and pour over ice.

Why does my chamomile taste grassy or bitter?
Two things usually cause it: water that is fully boiling, and too long a steep. Chamomile is delicate, so a pour at around 200°F and a three-minute steep keep it soft, floral, and sweet. Water straight off a rolling boil cooks the flowers and pulls out a hay-like, dusty edge.

What do I do with it besides tea?
Treat it as a floral note, not a bulk ingredient. Steep a spoonful into warm cream or a simple syrup, then use that to flavor panna cotta, cakes, or a citrus drink. Baked straight into batter it works too, but keep the amount small so it reads as floral rather than grassy.

Does it have caffeine?
No. Chamomile is a caffeine-free flower infusion with no black or green tea in it, which makes it as easy in the evening as any other time of day.