Camomile tea

[lombardia2007]

Since my Italian girlfriend introduced me to camomile tea, an Italian favourite, I've been an avid fan! 'Especially using proper camomile flowers, commonly used in Italy, rather than the powdered 'plant matter' found in all the UK supermarket camomile tea bags.

It's a great drink in the evening, when you don't want to be drinking caffeine, and want something relaxing (and non-alcoholic).

I'm also growing some camomile plants (they're doing well, although have a few small black insects a few mm long on the newly forming flower heads and some leaves, which I need to sort out!), so when they're finished, it will be interesting to try my own homemade camomile.

Like many UK people, I used to think that camomile tea was for 'old ladies', but after coffee, it's almost a national (non-alcoholic) drink of Italy! All the bars and cafes will serve you a camomile, as well as at Bergamo airport - not likely in the UK!

I used to buy the tea bags, with full flowers, but now use loose flowers instead, as it's cheaper - N.B. some supermarkets have loose flowers at very expensive prices, especially CoOp (e.g. 3.29 Euro for 50g), and also Esselunga (around 2.50-3 Euro for 50g, but not sure), but Standa are very reasonably priced (around 1.69 Euro for 50g I think) - great deal, and 50g lasts a long time - around a month at least.

Does anyone else enjoy a good cup of camomile tea at night?

[antonella edwards]

Camomile tea, brings back memories of my husbands father who had a camomile lawn in his back garden in Sussex, but that was a long time ago. Sweet memories!
Antonella

[Jane D]

I also love camomile tea and drink some every day.

Here's a useful camomile tip:

If your dog has conjunctivitis, bathing its eyes with a cool solution of camomile tea provides comfort to the poor animal.

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by antonella edwards

Camomile tea, brings back memories of my husbands father who had a camomile lawn in his back garden in Sussex, but that was a long time ago. Sweet memories!
Antonella

That sounds great Antonella - with it being grown in England, it was probably Roman camomile (Chamaemelum nobile), with the other type being German camomile (Matricaria recutita). I'd love a whole garden lawn of it!

[Francesca]

I usually have a cup of Camomile tea for my bedtime drink and never have any problems in getting off to sleep.
Next time I am at the garden centre I will look out for a camomile plant as I would love to grow my own and make my own bedtime drink. Mind you, it can be drank at any time of day and is quite refreshing.

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by Francesca

I usually have a cup of Camomile tea for my bedtime drink and never have any problems in getting off to sleep.
Next time I am at the garden centre I will look out for a camomile plant as I would love to grow my own and make my own bedtime drink. Mind you, it can be drank at any time of day and is quite refreshing.

That's when I have it too Francesca, late at night & I also find it helps me to get off to sleep well.

I started my plants from seed a couple of months ago, and they're doing well, apart from the insects, which I will find out about asap!

It's true it can be drunk at any time, although I tend to drink it late on, because I'm quite sensitive to drugs,herbs,etc, and it does tend to slow me down somewhat, especially a good dose of real flowers, rather than the powdered rubbish in the UK!

[Sally Donaldson]

I read recently that drinking one cup of chamomile tea daily, according to scientific resullts, can prevent the complications associated with diabetes. Here's the link I bookmarked - BBC NEWS | Health | Chamomile tea 'may ease diabetes'

Further reading online suggests that you take it with meals.

[Noble]

It also helps those with palpitations (racing heart feeling). Quite a few older Italians seem to suffer from this as well as diabetes.

[Gala Placidia]

In Spain, it is customary to drink an infusion made of chamomile flowers and aniseed. It has excellent digestive properties. Actually, Horniman's sells it in bags although I have not seen it outside Spain. It is mainly a chamomile infusion with just a little touch of aniseed. Delicious!

[gregmiller]

I love Camomile Tea! I feel very relaxed whenever i finished drinking a cup of tea.