A new found appreciation for chamomile tea

So along with some of our gardens, I have been growing chamomile.  The flowers started coming through in late June, they were pretty small to start off with, but more and more are coming through (plus Rachel didn't want her two plants, so they are waiting at my house to find a new place to go).

I have been deligently picking the flowers.  Doing so it, I realise the Greeks were right in naming it kamai melon or "ground apple".  When freshly picked they do have a suprising apple aroma.  It is seems a shame to pick the flowers, but it does encourage more to come through.  And anyway, I have picking them for a purpose.  I'm drying the flowers in my airing cupboard, so that I can develop my own stock for chamomile tea.  So the tidy heads have been pinced using clothes pegs.

After a few days they are dry and read to store.  This process does give me a great appreciation for the small handfuls of flowers that we have previously thrown into the pot. Here is my collection so far.  I won't be getting many pots out of this lot.

Through growing the flowers, and realising first hand how much time and effort goes into producing each flower, I wanted to really understand the medicinal properties of the flowers.  When I do have that cuppa, I want to make sure it is at the right time.  I knew that chamomile could dye/highlight blond hair and also it is good as a calming tea. That is nothing surprising, but what I have done is used the essential oil to make an ezcema oil, that is really soothing and both nourishes and calms the irritation.

I've also learnt that there is a Roman and German chamomile, which although the names would suggest they are worlds- or at least countries apart- the properties are very similar. I'm sure that next time whether, Roman or German the next time I have a cup, I'll be just a tad more appreciative of the flower and all it's benefits.  Enjoy yours.