Chamomile
A caffeine-free herbal infusion of dried chamomile flowers, traditionally drunk in the evening. Covering the cup while it steeps keeps the volatile oils in the tea instead of in the air.
Equipment
- Small saucepan or kettle
- Fine mesh sieve
- Mug or teapot
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp dried chamomile flowers or 2 chamomile tea bags
- Honey optional — omit to keep this keto
Instructions
- Heat the water: Bring the water to a boil, then remove from the heat and let it stand for a minute. Boiling water scorches delicate herbal flowers.
- Steep the flowers: Add the chamomile to a mug or teapot and pour the hot water over. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain: Pour through a fine mesh sieve to remove the flowers, or lift out the tea bags.
- Serve: Sweeten if you like and serve hot. Best in the evening — chamomile is naturally caffeine-free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chamomile Tea
The evidence is modest but real. Chamomile contains apigenin, which binds to receptors associated with relaxation, and trials show mild improvements in sleep quality. It is not a sedative, and the warm-drink ritual before bed likely does some of the work.
About a tablespoon of dried flowers per cup, or one tea bag. Cover the cup while it steeps — chamomile’s aroma comes from volatile oils, and an uncovered cup sends most of them into the room instead of the tea.
For most people, yes. It is caffeine-free and there is no accumulation issue. Chamomile is in the ragweed family, so anyone with ragweed or daisy allergies should be cautious, and it can interact with blood thinners — worth asking a doctor if that applies to you.
