Content
Chamomile dries best with the head down
Chamomile dry
Even collected or garden-grown chamomile can also be dried without much effort. However, the quality of dried chamomile and its active ingredient content depends not only on the type of drying, but also on the right harvest time.
Previous article The right time to harvest chamomileOnly the flowers are used
Harvested and used are almost exclusively the flowers. Their share of therapeutically active substances is highest when the flower is open between about three to five days. Naturally, this time is hard to match in wild collections, but you can estimate it by the average number of fully flowered flowers: When about two-thirds of the flowers are open, it's time to harvest.
Chamomile flowers dry
Chamomile flowers are very sensitive and react quickly to pressure and other damage. Therefore, you should touch the flower heads as little as possible, even washing or rinsing is taboo. Harvest instead on a warm, sunny and dry day. Spread the freshly harvested chamomile flowers over a wide area of clean newspaper in a dark, warm and airy place. Optimal is about an attic, a dry basement or a garden shed.
Chamomile flowers in the oven to dry
Alternatively, a drying in the oven is possible, while keeping the temperature as low as possible. Loosely spread the flower heads on baking paper and clamp a wooden spoon or a wine cork into the oven door. This measure ensures that escaping moisture can escape. Turn the flowers over from time to time. The dried flowers are best kept in an airtight container that should stand in a dark and cool place. Dried chamomile lasts for about a year.
Tips
Just like the real chamomile, the Roman chamomile contains numerous valuable ingredients and is used for similar purposes. Other species, however, are of no medical interest.