Tea Sommelier’s Chamomile Tea Recipe
on Mar 15, 2026
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Chamomile tea is a caffeine-free drink made from dried chamomile flowers. See how to make this infusion properly, step-by-step, from a certified Tea Sommelier.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a naturally caffeine-free herbal drink made by steeping dried chamomile flowers in water. It can be made both hot and iced.
Chamomile is a flowering plant with white petals and a mustard-yellow center that looks like a daisy. There are a few varieties of chamomile and only two types are used for tea, the German chamomile and Roman Chamomile.
There are two ways to pronounce chamomile and both are correct. The “h” is silent so it’s pronounced as either KAM-MAH-MEEL or KAM-MUH-MILE.
Note from Jee
Chamomile tea has a slightly earthy taste with floral and apple notes. If it’s steeped for too long it’ll get a medicinal taste but won’t get bitter.
I like to steep herbals in a glass teapot or a French press so I can see the pretty herbals in the water. For other types of tea, I stick with ceramic teapots, which retain heat better.
Ingredient Notes
- Chamomile tea: The more intact the chamomile flowers, the higher the quality, so go for loose chamomile tea. You can use tea bags but they’ll contain less quality chamomile since it’ll consist of crushed pieces. Always use food grade chamomile or chamomile tea.
- Water: Use filtered water for the best tasting tea.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Boil water.
Boiling water for tea is easy when you use an electric kettle with temperature setting. Boil extra water to warm the teapot.
Step 2: Warm up the teapot by pouring some hot water into the teapot then swirl it around a bit. Discard the water.
All tea professionals warm the teapot before the steep so that the water stays nice and hot.
Step 3: Put chamomile tea into the teapot and add hot water. Cover teapot and steep. Keep the teapot covered so that the water temperature stays consistent.
Step 4: Strain chamomile solids and pour hot tea into a cup.
Chamomile tea can be brewed and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep it covered or airtight glass container or pitcher.
Steep Time
Herbal teas like chamomile can be steeped for a long time without getting bitter. The longer you steep, the more medicinal it’ll taste though with a stronger flavor. An herbalist will steep chamomile for 30-45 minutes on the stovetop, with the heat on low.
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Tea Sommelier’s Chamomile Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, + more to warm teapot
- 2 teaspoons chamomile tea, (or 1 tea bag or tea sachet)
Instructions
- Boil water.If using an electric kettle with temperature setting, set it to 208°F. Boil a little more water than needed so that it can be used to warm up the teapot. Filtered water is best.
- Warm up teapot.Pour hot water into a teapot halfway and swirl it around a bit. Discard the water.All tea professionals warm the teapot before the steep so that the water stays nice and hot.
- Put chamomile tea into the teapot and add hot water. Cover teapot and steep for at least 5 minutes.Keep the teapot covered while tea is steeping to make sure the water temperature stays consistent.
- Strain chamomile flowers and pour hot tea into a cup.
Notes
- The more intact the chamomile flowers, the higher the quality, so go for loose chamomile tea. You can use tea bags but they’ll contain less quality chamomile since it’ll consist of crushed pieces. Always use food grade chamomile or chamomile tea.
- Herbal teas like chamomile can be steeped for a long time without getting bitter. The longer you steep, the more medicinal it’ll taste though with a stronger flavor. An herbalist will steep chamomile for 30-45 minutes on the stovetop, with the heat on low.
- Chamomile tea can be brewed and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep it covered or airtight glass container or pitcher.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What is the make of your teapot and cup? They are so pretty!
Hi Melissa, the teapot is the Kinto Unitea teapot and the cup is from CB2.
Great article. I am planning to make a litre of chamomile tea (roughly 4.5 US cups/ 34fl oz), every night to drink at room temperature the next day. I only have chamomile teabags to use. My plan was to boil water and leave it on the kitchen table to brew overnight. Do you know roughly how many teabags I should use for this? I’m assuming it’s fewer than the amount you’d use ratio-wise for having the same amount of individual mugs Many thanks.
Hi Beth, if you’re using tea bags, I would suggest 5-6 for your 4.5 cups.
Such an interesting article! I love chamomile tea for its taste and lightness, when ordinary black tea bothers me, I turn to chamomile. I did not know that there were any subtleties in its preparation. Usually I just make boiling water and let the tisane brew. Chamomile tea calms well and helps with stomach-ache.
Hi Ann, I like to drink chamomile at night since it’s so calming. Try it cold brewed in the summer!