Summer brings with it fields scattered with pretty white and yellow chamomile flowers. Camomile infusions are made from the bright yellow pollen head of Matricaria recutita and produce a golden bright clear liquor with sweet floral, honeyed notes, evoking aromas from a summer meadow.
This common herbal infusion is perhaps the most underestimated medicinal herb we have and can help us in many different ways. In herbal medicine it is used as a digestive aid, a sleep aid, reduces redness and itchiness in skin conditions - it even contains an antihistamine to help reduce allergies and hay fever symptoms. There seems to be no end to this humble plant's uses!
There are several species of chamomile, but two of them are most commonly used - the German and the Roman. Roman chamomile is markedly more bitter and has a much bigger flowerhead. Due to its bitterness it is not commonly used in herbal infusions and so when people talk about chamomile tea they are usually referring to the German Chamomile, as we are here.