Steeping your herbal tea for the right amount of time is crucial to achieving the right flavor. If you leave the tea to steep for too long, the tea can become to strong and even have a bitter taste, while brewing the tea for too short of a period of time can make the tea taste to weak and not have enough of a floral aroma for taste.
Most people agree that 5 to 7 minutes is the ideal time to allow the flowers to release their full sweetness and allow the delicate flavor and aromatic properties to be drawn out of the flowers.
What Is the Ideal Steeping Time for Chamomile Tea?
The ideal brewing time for making chamomile tea is 5 to 7 minutes.
Steeping the flowers for 5 to 7 minutes will make a balanced cup that is light and floral with a sweetness and a smooth after taste. This will be true whether you use dried flowers or tea bags.
On the other hand, if you are seeking a more powerful herbal flavor and aroma than normally found in the tea, you can always extend the tea’s brewing time up to 10 minutes or more. Note however, that beyond a certain point, longer steeping times will generally begin to evoke an earthier flavor than that which has been sought.
How Steeping Time Affects the Flavor
Chamomile tea can be steeped for a longer or shorter period of time. The longer it is steeped, the more flavor and aroma is released from the flowers. Below you can read about the typical flavor profiles when you steep your chamomile tea for a longer or shorter period of time.
| Steeping Time | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|
| 3–4 minutes | Light, delicate, and mildly floral |
| 5–7 minutes | Balanced, smooth, naturally sweet, and aromatic |
| 8–10 minutes | Richer herbal flavor with a stronger aroma |
| Over 10 minutes | A stronger, more intense herbal flavor. There is a possibility of some bitterness appearing. |
As you can see from above, 5 to 7 minutes brewing time provides the best cup for the majority of tea drinkers; a light and delicate tea with a strong floral taste and a smooth finish, and a naturally sweet flavor.
What Water Temperature Should You Use?
The temperature of the water used to make tea is just as important to the flavor as the time that the tea is left to steep.
Firstly, the temperature of the water that you use to make chamomile tea is crucial. For chamomile tea, we use water that has been heated up to around 200°F (93°C) to 212°F (100°C) and then we pour it over the flowers or tea bag.
Water that is too cool could mean that not all of the flavors from the tea have been released. On the other hand, tea that has been steeped for too long in very hot water can create a tea that has a much stronger herbal taste than what is desired.
Does Loose Chamomile Need a Different Steeping Time?
Loose tea or tea bags — should you be using different brewing times? As a rule, loose tea and tea bags are brewed for roughly the same amount of time. However, because our loose chamomile flowers are whole, they release flavor gradually and thus make for a very rich and fresh-tasting tea. For this reason, we recommend about 1 teaspoon of loose chamomile per 8 oz cup and a 5-7 minute brewing time.
For making chamomile tea with loose flowers, a good rule of thumb is to use about 1 teaspoon of loose chamomile flowers for every 8 oz. cup of tea. We recommend steeping your loose chamomile tea for 5-7 minutes to bring out the best flavor.
For a stronger infusion of loose tea use slightly more flowers rather than increasing the steeping time.
Can You Steep Chamomile Tea Too Long?
Yes. While Chamomile Tea is made from mild ingredients, the tea can be affected negatively by long steeping.
After 10 to 15 minutes the tea can start to develop an unpleasing taste, it can become stronger, earthier, less sweet and even have a bitter taste. The tea can also lose some of its strong herbal smell.
- A stronger earthy taste.
- Reduced natural sweetness.
- Slight bitterness.
- A heavier herbal aroma.
If you have let your tea steep for a bit too long and found that it has an unpleasant taste, you can mix in a bit of hot water to dilute the tea. Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon of honey and stir until dissolved in order to mellow out the flavor.
Should You Cover the Cup While Steeping?
Cover your cup or teapot.
The aromatic essential oils within the tea are retained by the steam given off by the tea while it steeps. If the tea is allowed to steep uncovered, some of these very delicate oils will be lost as the steam rises. By covering the tea with a small plate, saucer or tea bag cover helps to retain these all important oils.
Place a small plate, your tea lid, or a tea saucer down over your cup to help retain the delicate essential oils within the tea while it is steeping.
How Much Chamomile Should You Use?
The amount of chamomile flowers that you use can also affect the flavor of the tea.
As a general guide:
- 1 tablespoon dried flowers per 8 oz cup of tea.
- Tea bags: One tea bag per cup.
Using more flowers will make a stronger brew without increasing the steep time.
Can You Re-Steep Chamomile Tea?
Unlike most teas, chamomile tea doesn’t make for multiple flavorful infusions.
You can try to re-infuse the whole flowers in water to make a second tea, but this will be quite weak and often taste of nothing. For this reason, it is generally recommended to use fresh flowers or a new tea bag for each cup of tea.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few simple things that you can do wrong when making tea with chamomile flowers.
- Steeping the tea for too long.
- Using too many flowers or multiple tea bags.
- Brewing with stale or old chamomile.
- Leaving the cup uncovered while steeping.
- Using water that’s not hot enough.
Learn How to Avoid the Mistakes That Can Spoil Your Chamomile Tea and Preserve Its Flavor.
Tips for the Best Cup of Chamomile Tea
To make the best cup of tea every time using these recipes!
- Use the best quality of fresh chamomile flowers or use premium tea bags.
- Brew with freshly boiled water.
- Steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Cover the cup while brewing.
- Add honey or lemon to your tea only after you have had a taste of the tea plain first.
Simple steps to perfection!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I steep chamomile tea for 10 minutes?
Yes. If you want a stronger herbal tea then 10 minutes could be the answer. However for a lighter, smoother tea then 5 to 7 minutes is preferred.
What happens if I don’t steep chamomile tea long enough?
If you steep your tea for only 2 to 3 minutes, it can have the opposite effect and be too weak to enjoy. Instead, the tea will lack the floral aromas and the strong herbal flavor that is expected from a good cup of chamomile tea.
Should chamomile tea be covered while steeping?
Yes. It helps retain the essential oil and aromatic extracts from the tea during the brewing process.
Can I reuse chamomile tea bags?
Yes, you can re-use the tea bags but the second brew will be much weaker.
Is boiling water okay for chamomile tea?
Yes. As with many teas, the water for chamomile tea should be freshly boiled.
Final Thoughts
At its best, the tea is a smooth, floral, and sweet concoction with a calming aroma, the perfect cup to unwind after dinner. Yes, it can be made stronger by steeping for longer; in fact, 10 minutes will yield a very strong herbal tea, but longer than that will give it a bitter taste and, more so, decrease the delicate sweetness of the tea. With high quality chamomile, hot water, and the optimal amount of time for the tea to steep, it’s a delicious and healthy addition to your tea repertoire.
