Chamomile Organic Flowers, Whole – WS

(Matricaria recutita) Chamomile flowers come from an annual plant that can be found growing today in many places throughout the world. A cup of fragrant, apple-like chamomile is a wonderful way to relax after a stressful day.

Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.

Chamomile Tea Squares

Recipe from The Blog that Ate Manhattan by MARGARET POLANECZKY, MD
 
Tea:
Add 2 Tbsp of chamomile tea to 1/2 cup boiling water in a pyrex glass measuring cup. Let steep. Strain tea. Let tea cool. (You will only be using 1/4 cup of this tea, so dilute what’s left over with some hot water and have a cup..).

Crust:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/8 tsp salt
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Filling:
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup chamomile tea

Topping:
Sifted Confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.

Combine flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add butter and pulse until the mixture is pebbly. Press evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake until lightly golden, about 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Whisk together sugar, flour and salt. Add eggs and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the tea. Pour over crust. Bake until filling is just set, about 2o minutes. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners sugar and cut into squares.

Highlighting Hair Rinse
Recipe from Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox

This will lighten fair hair. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 1/4 cup chamomile flowers. Cool and strain. Use after shampooing.

Relaxing Bath Blend

In a muslin bag combine:

Chamomile Flowers
Lavender Flowers
Rose Petals

Add to your bath to help de-stress after a tough day!

 

Chamomile Rice Pudding with Tea-Soaked Golden Raisins

Recipe from Serious Eats by Kerry Saretsky

– serves 4 to 6 –

Ingredients:
2 cups water
3 tablespoons of dried edible chamomile flowers
4 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup Arborio rice
1 chamomile tea bag
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup cream to finish (optional)
Honey

Procedure
1. Start as though you were making a risotto. In two separate pots, heat the water and the milk. Place the chamomile flowers (not the tea bags) in the water, and allow to steep for at least ten minutes. Strain the flowers out, and return the chamomile water to the pan to keep warm.

2. Melt the butter in a wide pan with sides over medium low heat. Add the rice, and stir to coat, cooking for just a minute in the butter until the rice turns translucent.

3. Use a ladle to add the water bit by bit to the rice, adding more only as it is absorbed, and stirring continuously. Once you have used all the water, switch to milk, and continue to stir.

4. Meanwhile, brew a cup of chamomile tea with the tea bag. Place the golden raisins in the tea to rehydrate.

5. Once most of the milk has been used, and the pudding has reached a thick, porridge-like texture, add the sugar and stir it in to melt over the heat. Add the pinch of salt as well.

6. Take the pan off the heat. Stir in a splash of cream to finish, and serve hot, in separate bowls or ramekins. Strain the golden raisins out of the tea, and top the pudding with them. Serve with honey alongside.

Chamomile Shampoo

¼ cup water
¼ cup liquid soap (castile)
½ tsp light vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. dried Chamomile flowers
½ cup boiling water

Pour the ½ cup boiling water over the chamomile and steep for 30 minutes and strain. Mix together the ¼ cup water, soap and oil. Mix the shampoo mixture into the chamomile water and shampoo as usual.

Chamomile Hair Conditioner

1/2 cup chamomile flowers
1/2 cup olive, safflower or sunflower oil

Combine the chamomile and oil in a jar with a lid. Place on a sunny windowsill and shake the jar at least once a day. After two weeks, strain out the herbs. Apply to the ends of your hair (not the scalp) and leave in approximately 10 minutes. Shampoo out.

Please Note: The information given here has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.