I've recently got some pretty good (or so I assume) whole, loose
chamomile flowers.

So far I've been using a rounded teaspoon per 8oz of water and pouring
the water just off the boil. I've been relatively happy with the
results. Is this the best/only way to make it?

Anyone have any advice?'

Happy Steeping.

On Jul 11, 4:47 pm, Ferris92 > wrote:
> I've recently got some pretty good (or so I assume) whole, loose
> chamomile flowers.
>
> So far I've been using a rounded teaspoon per 8oz of water and pouring
> the water just off the boil. I've been relatively happy with the
> results. Is this the best/only way to make it?
>
> Anyone have any advice?'
>
> Happy Steeping.

This is probably a better place for you to get herbal tea answers -
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.f.../topics?lnk=sg -
since this is a tea group.

On Jul 11, 7:50 pm, Shen > wrote:
> On Jul 11, 4:47 pm, Ferris92 > wrote:
>
> > I've recently got some pretty good (or so I assume) whole, loose
> > chamomile flowers.
>
> > So far I've been using a rounded teaspoon per 8oz of water and pouring
> > the water just off the boil. I've been relatively happy with the
> > results. Is this the best/only way to make it?
>
> > Anyone have any advice?'
>
> > Happy Steeping.
>
> This is probably a better place for you to get herbal tea answers -http://groups.google.com/group/alt.folklore.herbs/topics?lnk=sg-
> since this is a tea group.

yes, If you can add a piece of lime or lemon in your cup..your cup of
chamomile will be more interesting ..


Howard
www.jardinduthe.ca

On Jul 11, 7:47 pm, Ferris92 > wrote:
> Anyone have any advice?'
>
> Happy Steeping.

That is about it, it really depends on the quality and handling of the
chamomile. I always make sure to get Egyptian Chamomile that is
intended for consumption, a lot of it is sold for potpourri/etc. and
in a few cases people have been selling this for tea. You can tell the
potency and quality pretty quickly, I have some that will put you down
after drinking it... you can feel your eyes getting heavy as you drink
it. Just smelling the flowers in the jar gives a noticeable feeling.

Since it is herbal, steep time really doesn't matter nor water temp...
but I go fairly hot off boil water and about 2 minutes. Lemongrass is
a great additive to Chamomile.

Best of luck!
- Dominic

On 2007-07-12, Dominic T. > wrote:
> Lemongrass is a great additive to Chamomile.

I generally add mint or catnip. Harney and Sons' "yellow and blue" is
a blend of chamomile and lavender (and cornflowers); quite delicious.


N.

i enjoy adding some french lavender to the chamomilie and yes the
egyptians have the finest quality and after visiting egypt you would
be nervous to touch anything that came form there as the environment
is pretty filfthy /: Add some good honey to the tisane and sweet DREAMS

when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
was ok...

On Jul 17, 1:45 pm, SN > wrote:
> when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
> they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
> powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
> was ok...

I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
(like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).

It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
tea.

- Dominic

"Dominic T." > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Jul 17, 1:45 pm, SN > wrote:
>> when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
>> they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
>> powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
>> was ok...
>
> I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
> I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
> lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
> (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>
> It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
> there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> tea.
>
> - Dominic
>

Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I haven't
slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
Thanks

ladyredlight

On Jul 23, 5:35 pm, "ladyredlight" > wrote:
> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>
> ups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Jul 17, 1:45 pm, SN > wrote:
> >> when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
> >> they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
> >> powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
> >> was ok...
>
> > I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
> > I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
> > lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
> > (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>
> > It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> > tea.
>
> > - Dominic
>
> Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I haven't
> slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
> Thanks
>
> ladyredlight

Yes, that's the stuff... from Presto George. Although any chamomile
will help some. I bought a pound once and gave it out for Christmas
and my grandfather brewed some while we were there and he was out like
a light in 20 minutes. It's potent.

- Dominic

"Dominic T." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Jul 23, 5:35 pm, "ladyredlight" > wrote:
>> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>>
>> ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jul 17, 1:45 pm, SN > wrote:
>> >> when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
>> >> they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
>> >> powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
>> >> was ok...
>>
>> > I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
>> > I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
>> > lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
>> > (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>>
>> > It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
>> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
>> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
>> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
>> > tea.
>>
>> > - Dominic
>>
>> Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I
>> haven't
>> slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
>> Thanks
>>
>> ladyredlight
>
> Yes, that's the stuff... from Presto George. Although any chamomile
> will help some. I bought a pound once and gave it out for Christmas
> and my grandfather brewed some while we were there and he was out like
> a light in 20 minutes. It's potent.
>
> - Dominic
>


Okay, I found the website....now WHICH brand is it?

ladyredlight, with her plastic ready to SHOP

"Dominic T." > wrote in message >>
>> > I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
>> > I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
>> > lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
>> > (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>>
>> > It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
>> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
>> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
>> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
>> > tea.
>>
>> > - Dominic
>>
>> Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I
>> haven't
>> slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
>> Thanks
>>
>> ladyredlight
>
> Yes, that's the stuff... from Presto George. Although any chamomile
> will help some. I bought a pound once and gave it out for Christmas
> and my grandfather brewed some while we were there and he was out like
> a light in 20 minutes. It's potent.
>
> - Dominic
>

How are Presto George's Teas? Worth getting an everyday Kemmun or green
along with the order?

>With any herbal tea,
> there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> tea.

I notice you've said something similar to this a few times. I can
understand if it applies to Chamomile, but find it hard to believe that time
and temerature only affect the tea plant. Why won't any other plants get
bitter with stronger brews or have an optimum temperature and brew time to
bring out the flavor?

Blues

On Jul 24, 5:01 pm, "Blues Lyne" > wrote:
> "Dominic T." > wrote in message >>
> >> > I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
> >> > I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
> >> > lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
> >> > (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>
> >> > It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
> >> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> >> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> >> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> >> > tea.
>
> >> > - Dominic
>
> >> Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I
> >> haven't
> >> slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
> >> Thanks
>
> >> ladyredlight
>
> > Yes, that's the stuff... from Presto George. Although any chamomile
> > will help some. I bought a pound once and gave it out for Christmas
> > and my grandfather brewed some while we were there and he was out like
> > a light in 20 minutes. It's potent.
>
> > - Dominic
>
> How are Presto George's Teas? Worth getting an everyday Kemmun or green
> along with the order?
>
> >With any herbal tea,
> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> > tea.
>
> I notice you've said something similar to this a few times. I can
> understand if it applies to Chamomile, but find it hard to believe that time
> and temerature only affect the tea plant. Why won't any other plants get
> bitter with stronger brews or have an optimum temperature and brew time to
> bring out the flavor?
>
> Blues

Presto George is a decent place for tea. Much is overpriced but they
are about it for loose tea in Pittsburgh. They are a small coffee
roaster/seller in the area called "The Strip District" which is like a
row of ethnic and unique shops and stores. A few teas I've had were
good, but nothing exceptional. They order from a catalog (The name
escapes me but I think it was Metropolitan Tea company) They tend to
ask me to help identify teas every now and then, and no one there is
an expert. If the price is right and you're not expecting high-end tea
then go for it. Middle to lower quality.

As for steeping, it is generally safe to state that brewing herbal tea
requires no specific attention. There are exceptions, but for the most
part (especially with flowers) they only have so much flavor in them
and no more. There is nothing to become bitter or off, if they sit for
5 minutes or 1 hour, the flavor will be the same. With tea you are
stopping the process at the optimal point, it is much more complex and
is processed in some manner which also changes things. Flowers are
simply dried. The hotter the water the better just to ensure you get
everything out of your flower, but time and temp are fairly
unimportant.

- Dominic

On Jul 24, 1:44 pm, "ladyredlight" > wrote:
> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Jul 23, 5:35 pm, "ladyredlight" > wrote:
> >> "Dominic T." > wrote in message
>
> roups.com...
>
> >> > On Jul 17, 1:45 pm, SN > wrote:
> >> >> when i got some chamomille flowers for tea , from chado,
> >> >> they told me 5-7 minutes... did that, came out good, ok not very
> >> >> powerful in flavors and rather kinda felt oilly-thick,
> >> >> was ok...
>
> >> > I get mine from a little shop here in Pittsburgh called PrestoGeorge.
> >> > I believe they have a website, and they do ship. They charge like $8/
> >> > lb. and for a frame of reference a 1/2lb. is two big overstuffed bags
> >> > (like the type you buy fresh ground coffee in).
>
> >> > It is very good quality and not heavy or weak. With any herbal tea,
> >> > there isn't really a steep time. The flavor will only reach a certain
> >> > strength at max and not get bitter or different if left longer. 3-5
> >> > minutes is fine, but 10 or more won't hurt anything as it would with
> >> > tea.
>
> >> > - Dominic
>
> >> Is that the stuff that knocks you out???? I NEED some of that. I
> >> haven't
> >> slept for 2 days. Which kind will put my tired self to sleepyland?
> >> Thanks
>
> >> ladyredlight
>
> > Yes, that's the stuff... from Presto George. Although any chamomile
> > will help some. I bought a pound once and gave it out for Christmas
> > and my grandfather brewed some while we were there and he was out like
> > a light in 20 minutes. It's potent.
>
> > - Dominic
>
> Okay, I found the website....now WHICH brand is it?
>
> ladyredlight, with her plastic ready to SHOP


The site is www.prestogeorge.com

It is found under Herb Teas and then Chamomile. It appears that their
website has been changed big time, and it also looks like they raised
their price a bit too. It is not a brand, they have huge glass jars
filled with the flowers... they pack it in those bags to order. 1/2lb.
for ~$7 isn't bad though.