German Chamomile is pretty much the “holy grail” of healing herbs, famous for soothing everything from an upset stomach to a stressful day. But here’s the thing: if you want to get the most out of those blossoms, timing is everything. The concentration of those powerful essential oils changes throughout the blooming cycle, so I’ve put together some tips to help you harvest your chamomile like a pro.
When is the best time to harvest chamomile?
To get that maximum medicinal punch, you want to pick your chamomile flowers between the third and fifth day after the flower heads have fully opened. This is the “sweet spot” where the essential oil content is at its absolute peak.
If you’re out foraging in the wild, look for a patch where most of the German Chamomile is in full bloom, but you still see a few closed buds here and there. For the best results, wait for a dry, sunny day—ideally around lunchtime. You want to make sure it hasn’t rained for a couple of days so the flowers aren’t holding onto extra moisture.
Harvesting Chamomile: Prep and Technique
The golden rule is to only harvest the fully opened flower heads. Use a sharp pair of garden snips or a knife to clip them off, and make sure you’re only picking the healthy, clean-looking ones.
One little secret: chamomile flowers are surprisingly delicate and bruise easily. Try to handle them as little as possible. Instead of piling them up, spread them out loosely on some newspaper. You’ll want to dry them in a spot that’s dark, warm, and has plenty of airflow—think a dry basement, an attic, or even a garden shed.
By the way, the “magic number” for drying temperature is usually between 68°F and 80°F (20°–27°C).
How to dry your chamomile the right way
Don’t have a perfect dark corner to air-dry your harvest? No worries! You can use your oven as a dehydrator. Set it to the lowest possible temperature (around 85°F or 30°C) and keep the oven door cracked open. Pro tip: wedge a wooden spoon or a cork in the door to keep it ajar.
Keeping the door open allows the moisture to escape instead of steaming the flowers. Give the flower heads a gentle toss every now and then. After about an hour, they should be perfectly dried and ready for your tea cabinet!
