Chamomile oil is found throughout continental Europe. There’s a slight difference between German and Roman varieties, but each provides the same benefits. Chamomile is a delicate flower with a light green stem holding a honeycombed yellow center with soft white petals extending outward. Whether purchased in fresh bushels or bags of the dried type, there are many culinary and medicinal uses for chamomile. Chamomile’s reputation for healing was renowned, and ancient Egyptians worshiped it as a dedication to the sun.
The most famous use of chamomile is in tea. Chamomile tea is best known for settling an upset stomach. The antibiotic properties of chamomile likely prevented many infections before the development of pharmaceuticals. In Medieval Europe, chamomile’s reliability as a vermifuge kept many from suffering from intestinal distress. Chamomile also kills lice and mites, allowing hair to shimmer as beautifully as healthy the underlying scalp. Because chamomile gets the body to sweat, it’s an excellent tool for people suffering from fevers.
There are other medicinal benefits, including stress reduction, anti-inflammation properties, and even mood stabilizers.
In today’s culinary world, chamomile has unique uses – for example, some restaurants infuse chamomile in ice cream. Its conventional use is tea, but the fruity, apple-like aroma appears in Spanish sherry and English beer. Mixologists are turning to chamomile to create exciting interpretations of classic cocktails and create new drinks for people to enjoy.
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