Noble Chamomile

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, also called noble chamomile) and German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) are two distinct species, worth telling apart. Roman chamomile is perennial and creeping, with full flower heads, rich in esters with a more floral, soothing profile; German chamomile is annual and upright, and leans more towards digestion and the skin. INFUSE works with Roman chamomile, the chamomile of English gardens.

In European traditions, Roman chamomile is the plant of the shared evening tea, of compresses for tired eyelids and of the sachet of flowers slipped under the pillow for sweet dreams. A plant of ordinary days.

Place about a teaspoon of whole flowers in 250 ml of steaming water (below the boil, around 80 °C), cover to hold in the volatile oils, and leave to infuse for 7 to 10 minutes. The liquid turns pale gold and the scent of apple rises. Best drunk in the evening.

Both soothe. Roman chamomile, more floral and rich in esters, has a profile turned more towards the quiet of the evening and the transition into night; German chamomile leans more towards digestion and the skin. For an evening ritual and a dream sachet, Roman chamomile is the one to choose, the chamomile of English gardens.

She belongs to the Asteraceae family (like the daisy, arnica and ragweed). In the toxicological literature, the only notable effect reported is the occasional allergic reaction. If you are allergic to Asteraceae, test a small amount carefully before regular use.

The sleep studies concern German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a different species from ours. A review of ten trials (Kazemi et al., Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2024) found better sleep-quality scores, with no change in how long people slept; a pilot trial in chronic insomnia (Zick et al., BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011) found no significant difference from placebo in sleep diaries. Roman chamomile, the one we offer, is not the species of these trials, and the European Medicines Agency monograph on it covers digestive complaints only. Her place in the evening comes from tradition: the Humble Sovereign, the ally of gentle transitions.

At twilight or in the hour before bed, to prepare the landscape of your dreams. Three to five flowers in water at 85 °C, seven minutes covered, so her volatile oils stay in the cup; the tea turns liquid gold.