When I pick chamomile, sometimes the green leaves from the plant come off with the flower. I've been making sure it is off when I dry the flowers, but began to wonder if it wouldn't be okay to leave in with the flowers for a tea. Anyone have experience with it? Thanks.
When picking chamomile ...
vjbuffy, an occasional leaf in with the flowers isn't bad, but the leaves are fairly bitter, so too many of them will make the tea bitter. When I harvest my chamomile, I use my hand as a mini rake. I start just below the flower heads with my palm skyward and gently rake upwards. The flower heads will pop off the plant and be in your cupped hand.
or, lol you can be ridiculous like me and take a small pair of scissors and a litle container (with high sides!) and snip them off, leaving leaves and addiotional future blooms on the stems. I am wayyyyy to bored, , and that is how i get the lemonbalm leaves i pick as well. Too bad its past my season now~ my flowers are sring into seeds for next years plants. Thaey are wild in the garden now, its fun as i dont know if it is dill or chamomile for the first week in the spring!
:D