How Long Should Chamomile Tea Brew to be Perfect?

More often than not, we make a miscalculation: we leave our chamomile tea to brew for too long or for too short. There is, actually, a correct brewing time for chamomile: from three to five minutes, depending on what chamomile tea we're drinking. Leaving the teabag to brew for longer could lead to some undesirable effects, making our chamomile stimulating. Usually, we drink chamomile tea to sleep better, but brewing it for too long could make us nervous or lead to insomnia, just like if we'd drink coffee. Let's see how to make the perfect chamomile tea.

Chamomile tea isn't always relaxing

To make the perfect chamomile tea you're going to need really hot water, but not boiling, to leave the herb's properties intact. The ideal temperature is of 90°C (194°F). This is a rule that's going to be valid for every type of herb tea. Brewing time should be from three to five minutes, depending on the type of chamomile you're using; remember to follow the instructions on the teabags or the dried flowers' packaging. This is a really important step: if you leave it to brew for too long the taste will be bitter, and it could have a stimulating effect on you.

The correct brewing of chamomile tea contributes to maintain the relaxing properties of the beverage unaffected. If you feel nervous or if you have trouble sleeping after you've had it, it's probably because you've let it brew for too long. This happens because the herb goes under stress, losing the relaxing proprieties that are typical of this plant, getting instead coffee's same stimulating effects. We also don't recommend using refined white sugar. Brown sugar is usually better, but the best choice would be a tablespoon of honey, if you want to sweeten the tea. This way, you'll pair the benefits of honey with chamomile's ones. Our advice is to drink it as it is, to relax better.