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Garden Gate:  Making Chamomile tea with fresh herb??  |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 05:54:31 AM
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My chamomile plants just started to make flowers. How do I harvest them to make tea? Can I use them fresh or should they be dried. How do I dry them and preserve the flavor?
I also have chocolate mint...do I handle this plant the same way?
I have read about drying herbs in a brown paper bag in a car trunk. Could I do it in a hot crawlspace as well?
Thanks ladies...as always I don't know what I would do without you guys.
PS. My tomatoes finally started turning red....yipeeee
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 12:16:40 PM
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Anyone have any info out there on chamomile???
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
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LJRphoto
True Blue Farmgirl
760 Posts
Laura
Hickory Corners
MI
USA
760 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 12:23:32 PM
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I don't know anything about chamomile but I've been wondering if it's what I have growing here and there in our "lawn." Does it look like little daisies?
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority." -E. B. White
http://www.betweenthecities.com/blog/ljr/
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 12:45:51 PM
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Hi, FarmGirls! Yes, chamomile looks like little daisies and has a tell-tale apple scent when you crush it between your fingers. You can use it fresh for tea...I would think about a tablespoon of flowers per cup. You can dry it in any place with air circulation out of direct sun, and yes, I have heard of the car trunk idea...a quick way to go in this heat! I have just put mine on a paper towel in a shallow cardboard box (like a soda flat) in the basement, and lightly cover with another paper towel.
As for the chocolate mint, you can dry it the same way (i.e., in a paper bag in a hot car) or tie bundles and hang them upside down if you have a dry basement or place out of the direct sunlight. I have some mint that is dry now and I have more I need to harvest and dry today...
So, good luck! Judy
The Rooster crows, but the Hen lays the egg. ~ Texas Proverb |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 2:15:22 PM
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thank you judy I will pick some tonight...just the flowers are used, right? Not the tiny leaves?
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 8:58:02 PM
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Actually, Jenn, you can use the leaves...any part of the herb that has the "smell" will have the essential oils that you would want in your tea...so don't be meticulous about just having the flowers...the stems and leaves are good too! Have fun!
The Rooster crows, but the Hen lays the egg. ~ Texas Proverb |
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Garden Gate: Making Chamomile tea with fresh herb?? |
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Making Chamomile tea with fresh herb??
