As you may have already understood by now, finding an effective chamomile tea to calm yourself can be a little difficult. Product marketing strategies often lead to labels making exaggerated claims not all of which are true. To help make the shopping experience easier for you, we have a buyer's guide below. Take a look!
How To Choose a Chamomile Tea
Given that there are myriad options sold by various vendors, the simple task of buying chamomile tea becomes quite complicated. Here are some things you should look for when you're trying to decide which chamomile tea to purchase:
Method of brewing
So the first thing you should check in a chamomile tea is its method of brewing. Some enthusiasts are very serious about their tea and keep special pots and pans especially for brewing different types of teas. Others are more about simplicity and convenience. They lean towards tea bags so that they can seep in water to enjoy a delicious cup of tea before bed. If you want to get loose tea for yourself, make sure that it is the whole leaf and looks more like the actual plant. The more broken down the pieces of chamomile are, the lower the quality. This is because small pieces allow more room for the essential oil and other therapeutic components to evaporate. Whole leaf tea expands better allowing a wider range of vitamins, minerals and therapeutic essential oils to seep into the brew. But if you decide to go with the tea that is packaged in tea bags, select a brand that supplies the chamomile inside natural and unbleached tea bags. Chemicals and plastics from bleached or synthetic tea bags can leach into your tea affecting its flavor, quality and effects.
Origin
The flavor and quality of chamomile tea also vary depending upon its place of origin. Although there are many Egyptian and Canadian options currently available on the market, the most popular types of chamomile tea are Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum mobile) and German chamomile (Matricaria Recutita). Both may appear similar in taste, smell and therapeutic effects, the flavor and quality of the tea are influenced by where it was grown. For example, German chamomile is said to contain a higher concentration of essential oil. Knowing about the areas where the best chamomiles grow will help you choose better.
Intensity
The intensity of the tea leaves is a solid determiner of your decision. Our research yielded that teas that are more mass-produced are often lacking in terms of chamomile flavor intensity. The price you pay for a bag also reflects the amount of tea inside it. Cheaper tea needs more leaves to achieve the intensity you like, hence you'll need to buy more. If you get a more intense option, it will be worth it in terms of price because it will be used in less quantity. Think about all of this before deciding on a certain chamomile tea.
Flavor
Chamomile tea comes both as original and blended flavor options. The additional flavors are meant to improve the experience of drinking the tea, but not every flavor will tickle your fancy. We also noted that some additives can leave a chamomile tea tasting too sweet or too fake. So if you decide to get a flavored chamomile tea, be sure to read up on the perceived flavor before getting an entire bag. We found spearmint and apple flavors to be popular amongst chamomile tea enthusiasts.
Organic or non-organic
Depending upon your lifestyle and preferences, you may want to decide between an organic or regular chamomile tea option. Organic chamomile flowers are not only grown using fewer chemicals but their processing and packaging are also handled more cleanly and carefully. That said, from what we found out there aren’t any guaranteed benefits of choosing organic over the non-organic variation. So if you find an organic option that fits your choosing criteria, go for it. Otherwise, non-organic chamomile tea is also equally beneficial for your senses.
Quality
Chamomile tea that has weight and smells fragrant is certainly high in quality. Different chamomile teas may carry different scents, they all smell slightly sweet, very herby and sometimes have a hint of apples. High-quality chamomile tea leaves also have some noticeable weight when you hold them up. If the tea is feather-light, it may be old, dried out or poor in quality. Besides the variety and the place of origin of the flower, you should also factor in non-GMO (genetically modified organism) practices that increase the quality of the product you are getting.
Package weight
You should also factor in the weight of the pack because it is indicative of the value you will get. The bigger the bag, the more cups you can brew. You should aim to purchase the most substantial pack that fits your budget.
Benefits of Chamomile Tea
Not for nothing is chamomile tea known as an all-around comforting tea. Its amazing and calming effects enable you to relax at the end of a stressful day. The herbal drink is perfect for anyone who wants to relax at night before sleeping. Some people also report that drinking chamomile tea has helped treat their colds. Here are a few specific health benefits of consuming pure chamomile tea:
- Besides being calming and relaxing, chamomile tea is great at easing aches, pains and cramps.
- It is bursting with anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent diarrhea.
- If you suffer from bladder irritation, chamomile tea can ease it.
- You can use it to ease burns as it works as an amazing antiseptic and antibacterial skin wash.
- It also helps in making your skin softer.
- Helps ease vomiting and nausea.
- Helps with insomnia. It has a calming effect that helps you fall asleep.
- Chamomile tea is a smooth muscle relaxant that helps with gastrointestinal tract function, gas, bloating and pain.
Side Effects of Chamomile Tea
While chamomile herbal tea is safe for most individuals, people who are allergic to the plant can develop severe allergic reactions. This allergy can manifest itself on their skin as redness and inflammation. There are also some instances when consumers have vomited after ingesting the beverage in large quantities.
