Looking for a natural way to relax after a busy day? Discover this soothing calm-down chamomile drink from our wildflower expert Katja Wezel of Wilderlust. This wildflower tea is ideal for relaxing after a stressful day. It makes you sleep wonderfully! Will you get started with this wild-picking recipe? Chamomile blooms from May to September!
Wild chamomile tea
Calm-down chamomile is the name of a delicious soothing drink made from natural ingredients that you can pick wild. This drink combines the calming properties of chamomile and rose with the smooth taste of oat milk and a hint of lemon. It is perfect to drink before bed or anytime you need some relaxation. I love it myself.
Chamomile and rose: healthy and delicious
Chamomile and rose are both versatile plants that are common in the Netherlands. Chamomile, with its small, daisy-like flowers, blooms roughly from May to September. Common camomile has a delicate, sweet flavour with a hint of apple and is known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Note: there are also a lot of other chamomile varieties in addition, such as Roman chamomile and false camomile. These are not poisonous, but also not really useful (because they don't taste good). You really need to look for real chamomile for this recipe, an important detail!
The other ingredient in this wild-picking recipe is roses. Roses bloom from June to October and their petals have a subtle, slightly sweet flavour with floral notes. Rose petals are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which contribute to a healthy immune system and have anti-inflammatory properties. Together, these plants make the Calm-down chamomile drink - which is how I named the drink myself - not only tasty, but also healthy.
Important: true camomile is a plant that has many siblings similar to it, but which are not edible or sometimes even poisonous. So get help from a good guide or app if in doubt! A tip to recognise Chamomile: the flower head is hollow, see photo!
Recipe: calm-down chamomile wildflower tea
Kitchenware
- (saucepan
- sieve
- big mug
- optional milk frother or whisk
Ingredients
- 1 el fresh or dried camomile
- 1 el fresh or dried rose petals
- zest of ½ organic lemon
- 300 ml oat milk (or another type of plant-based milk of your choice)
- optional honey or agave syrup
- optional cinnamon
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a pan and put the pan on low heat.
- Simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on the pan (make sure it does not boil).
- Strain the contents of the pan into your favourite mug and squeeze the remaining mixture in the strainer a little more.
- If you have a milk frother, you can froth the drink some more.
- Using unsweetened milk? Then add some agave syrup or honey to taste.
- Optional: experiment with adding extra spices such as cardamom or cinnamon for a personal twist.
Why oat milk?
Oat milk is known for its calming and relaxing effects, making it an excellent choice for this drink. In addition oat milk more environmentally friendly than dairy and many other plant-based milks. This makes it not only a healthy but also a responsible choice. Of course, you can also choose other plant-based milks such as almond or soy milk, depending on your personal preference.
This is how to make your wildflower tea even tastier!
You can easily adapt this basic recipe to your own taste. For example, try a different type of milk or add additional herbs such as lavender, valerian or lemon balm. These herbs all have their own unique relaxing properties and can make the drink even more effective in relieving stress.
Taking a picking break: do you know the game picking rules yet?
Wild picking is not only super fun (and tasty!), but also something you need to know a little about. It is officially banned in the Netherlands, but in many places it is turned a blind eye - as long as you do it properly. Think of nature as a wonderful buffet we can all taste from, but only if we behave. So pick with love, not greed. Want to know more? Read the unwritten rules of wild picking. We have listed it for you!
Would you also like to go on the road with Katja? Check out her website Wilderlust with all the information about its wild-picking walks and courses.
More game picking tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also tasty is this garlic butter.
- Delicious summer drink with elderflower syrup.
- Have you ever tasted a wild game pesto? Make it yourself!
Photo credits: main image: Hilaryh (Pexels) & Katja Wezel. Other: Katja Wezel.
