Lavender chamomile tea is a floral herbal tea made by steeping dried chamomile flowers and dried culinary lavender buds in hot water for about 10 minutes. My base cup uses 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile and 1/2 teaspoon of dried lavender in 1 cup of boiling water. Below you will find a ratio chart from mild to floral, steeping times, three variations, and a make-ahead jar blend.
This post is about flavor and technique. If you want to know when to drink chamomile, read our guide to chamomile tea before bed.
Lavender Chamomile Tea at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Time | 5 minutes prep, 10 minutes steeping |
| Makes | 1 cup |
| Base ratio | 1 teaspoon dried chamomile and 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender per 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water |
| Caffeine | None, unless your blend includes tea leaves |
| Serve | Hot, or chilled over ice |
Ingredients and Which Lavender to Use
- Dried chamomile flowers: whole flowers give a softer, apple-like flavor than tea-bag dust. See our guide to how to make chamomile tea for a closer look at flowers versus tea bags.
- Dried culinary lavender buds: buy lavender sold for tea or cooking. Wetrini Food recommends organic dried buds to avoid pesticides. Do not use lavender from a craft shop, essential oil, or flowers from a garden you cannot confirm are unsprayed.
- Water: use fresh water and bring it to a boil.
- Optional: honey, a lemon slice, or a few fresh mint leaves.
Lavender to Chamomile Ratio
Two popular recipes use about 2 parts chamomile to 1 part lavender: Whole Hearted Eats blends 1/2 cup of chamomile with 1/4 cup of lavender, and Wetrini Food uses 1 teaspoon of chamomile with 1/2 teaspoon of lavender for 2 cups of water. Lavender is strong, and too much can taste soapy, so start light. These three levels are my own suggestions per cup:
| Style | Dried chamomile | Dried lavender | Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 1 teaspoon | 1/4 teaspoon | Mostly chamomile with a faint floral note |
| Balanced (base) | 1 teaspoon | 1/2 teaspoon | Clear lavender with soft chamomile |
| Floral | 1 teaspoon | 3/4 teaspoon | Strong lavender, best with honey and lemon |
How to Make Lavender Chamomile Tea
- Put the dried chamomile and lavender into a teapot with an infuser, or straight into a mug.
- Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herbs.
- Cover the cup or pot and steep for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Strain into a clean cup.
- Add honey or lemon if you like, and serve warm.
Lavender Chamomile Tea
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
A floral herbal tea made by steeping dried chamomile and culinary lavender for about 10 minutes. Serve it hot, or chilled over ice.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers
- 1/2 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds
- 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
- Honey or lemon, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Put the dried chamomile and lavender into a teapot with an infuser, or straight into a mug.
- Pour the boiling water over the herbs.
- Cover and steep for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Strain into a clean cup.
- Add honey or lemon if you like, and serve warm.
Notes
Use dried lavender sold for tea or cooking, not craft lavender or essential oil. Start with 1/4 teaspoon lavender for a milder cup, since too much can taste soapy. For iced tea, double the herbs and water, strain, chill, and serve over ice. Nutrition is not listed because I could not source a reliable value for brewed dried herbs. Honey adds about 21 calories per teaspoon.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Steeping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 8 fl oz / 240 ml)
Keywords: lavender chamomile tea, lavender chamomile tea recipe, chamomile lavender tea blend
How Long to Steep Lavender Chamomile Tea
| Source | Steep time |
|---|---|
| Whole Hearted Eats | 8 to 10 minutes, covered |
| Wetrini Food | 10 minutes |
| My base recipe | 8 to 10 minutes, covered |
Covering the cup keeps the aroma in. Taste at 8 minutes. If it is too floral, shorten the steep next time or use less lavender.
3 Easy Variations
Honey Lavender Chamomile Tea
Stir in 1 teaspoon of honey after straining. A teaspoon of honey is about 21 calories, based on University Hospitals’ listing of about 64 calories per tablespoon. If you want a creamier drink, try our honey chamomile tea latte.
Iced Lavender Chamomile Tea with Mint
Double the herbs and the water, steep, strain, and chill the tea. Pour it over ice and add a few fresh mint leaves. Wetrini Food notes the tea can be served hot or iced, and Sunset has a chamomile lavender mint iced tea if you want another idea.
Lemon Lavender Chamomile Tea
Add a thin lemon slice or a small squeeze of juice after steeping. The acidity brightens the floral flavor and softens strong lavender.
Make a Jar of Lavender Chamomile Tea Blend
Whole Hearted Eats mixes 1/2 cup of dried chamomile with 1/4 cup of dried lavender, stores the blend in a sealed jar in a cool, dark place for up to a year, and uses 2 teaspoons of the blend per cup. You can follow the same 2 to 1 ratio, or use my base ratio of 2 parts chamomile to 1 part lavender. For more blend ideas, read our guide to herbal tea blends at home.
Troubleshooting Your Tea
- It tastes soapy or perfumed: use less lavender, such as 1/4 teaspoon per cup, and steep for 8 minutes.
- It tastes weak: use whole flowers instead of old, crumbled ones, and cover the cup while steeping.
- It tastes bitter: steep for less time and use water that has just come off the boil.
- Bits in the cup: strain through a fine mesh strainer.
Lavender Chamomile Tea FAQ
What does lavender chamomile tea taste like?
It is floral and slightly sweet. Wetrini Food describes lavender as slightly sweet with hints of apple and rosemary, and chamomile adds a soft, apple-like note.
How much lavender should I use?
Start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dried culinary lavender per cup with 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile. Lavender is strong, and too much can taste soapy.
Can I use lavender from my garden?
Only if you can confirm it is an edible variety that has not been sprayed. When in doubt, buy dried culinary lavender sold for tea or cooking, and choose organic buds as Wetrini Food suggests.
How long should I steep lavender chamomile tea?
Steep for 8 to 10 minutes, covered. Whole Hearted Eats steeps for 8 to 10 minutes and Wetrini Food for 10 minutes.
Does lavender chamomile tea have caffeine?
No, not when it is made only with dried chamomile and lavender. Check the label of any store-bought blend in case it includes tea leaves.
Can I make lavender chamomile tea iced?
Yes. Steep a double-strength batch, strain it, chill it, and serve it over ice with mint or lemon.
Sources
- Whole Hearted Eats: Lavender Chamomile Tea
- Wetrini Food: Calming Lavender Chamomile Tea Recipe
- Sunset: Chamomile Lavender Mint Iced Tea
- University Hospitals: Honey, 1 tbsp nutrition facts
More cozy cups: try our fresh ginger tea or browse the types of herbal tea.