Real chamomile is a valuable medicinal plant that can be used to treat various diseases. However, the proportion of active ingredients and thus the quality of the dried chamomile largely depends on the correct time of harvest, since the amount of essential oils fluctuates greatly during the flowering period.
Harvesting chamomile is easy
The optimal harvest time
The proportion of medicinally active essential oils is highest about three to five days after the flower heads have fully opened. You can recognize the right time, for example in the case of wild collections, by the fact that the majority of the population has already opened the flowers, but some are still closed. Traditionally, chamomile blossoms are harvested around St. John's Day on June 24. According to legend, blossoms picked on this day are particularly medicinal. Also collect on a dry and sunny day, preferably around noon. It shouldn't have rained for a few days beforehand.
Harvest and prepare chamomile
Only the fully blossomed flower heads are harvested, which are cut off directly at the base of the stem with scissors or a sharp knife. Also, you should only cut off clean and healthy buds that don't look wilted. The very pressure-sensitive flower heads should be touched as little as possible, and washing should also be avoided. Spread the buds loosely on a large piece of newspaper placed in a dark, warm, and airy spot. An attic, a dry cellar or a garden shed is very suitable. (24.90€) Temperatures between about 20 and 27 °C are ideal.
dry chamomile
If you do not have a suitable opportunity to professionally dry your self-harvested chamomile, you can alternatively dry it in the oven. However, set the temperature as low as possible, about 30 °C would be ideal. Do not close the oven door completely, but instead wedge a piece of cork or a wooden spoon between the door and the oven. In this way, escaping moisture can escape immediately. The flower heads should be turned several times during drying.
tips
Another option is hanging drying of the chamomile blossoms: Cut off the stalks and the attached flower heads as a whole, tie them loosely together and hang these bundles upside down in a warm, dry and airy place. It is also important that it is dark in this place, since solar radiation destroys the volatile essential oils.