What’s Better Than a Cup of Chamomile Tea?
As the days become shorter and the nights a little cooler, I find myself wanting the comforting warmness of a sleep supporting tea at bedtime. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a steaming cup of chamomile tea, but I like a little variety in my bedtime teas!
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In this Post:
How BTBC Tea Came to Be
Several weeks ago, one of my daughters came home from a long day at work. She was simultaneously amped up and exhausted from dealing with patrons all day, and really wanted a good night’s sleep. She asked me to make her “something like chamomile tea, but better.”
That’s when I came up with the Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea blend. It’s now a tea cupboard staple.
⭐️Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea Recipe
- 2 teaspoons Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla / M. recutita)
- 1 teaspoon Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
- 1 teaspoon Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)
- 1/2 teaspoon Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- 1/2 teaspoon Oat Straw (Avena sativa)
- 1/4 teaspoon Lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Making Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea
This is enough to make 2-3 servings of 8-10 ounces. Make the whole recipe and share with someone (or someones) special.
For each serving, bring 8-10 ounces water to a boil. Remove from heat, stir, and let rest for a minute or so. Add herbs to water or pour water over herbs in steeping basket. Cover and allow to steep for 7-10 minutes. Strain herbs from tea and enjoy!
For best sleep support, drink Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea about 2 hours before bed.
Why These Herbs?
Chamomile, Passionflower, Lemon Balm, Oats, and Lavender are considered “nervine tonics.” They gently ease stress and tension, enhance calm, and strengthen the nervous system.
Marshmallow is a “nervine demulcent.” It soothes irritated nerves, and, like the tonic herbs, Marshmallow strengthens the nervous system.
The combination of these herbs encourages feelings of peace as you prepare for sleep. And that feeling can extend to when you wake in the morning. Can we agree this is better than a basic Chamomile Tea?
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla /M. recutita)
Everyone is familiar with the calming nature of Chamomile tea. It’s especially useful after a long hard day, as it relaxes tension throughout the entire body.
We often think of Chamomile tea as a gentle, sweet, herbaceous tea. But if steeped too long it can become bitter. That “hidden” bitterness indicates that Chamomile tea is also a wonderful digestive.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower has a special ability to calm a restless mind and spirit. It’s especially helpful for easing persistent ruminating thoughts and stress.
Passionflower is so gentle that it’s a wonderful herb to blend with Chamomile in a bedtime tea for small children and the elderly.
In addition to providing a calming herb from its flowers and leaves, Passiflora gives us a delicious fruit and a nourishing lipid seed oil. Like the herb, Passionfruit seed oil is sleep-supporting and is featured in my Sleep-Assist Aromatherapy Roll-on.
Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis)
I love the soft, sweet flavor of Marshmallow root. That softness is reflective of its energy, as well—it softens areas of physical and emotional tension.
As marshmallow roots pull water from the earth to nourish the plant, the dried herb provides that same nourishment to the body. It’s one of the great herbs for moistening and refreshing the body’s tissues.
Marshmallow root adds a lovely silkiness to the Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
A clue to the soothing nature of this herb is in its name: Lemon BALM. This is a gentle, yet effective, herb for easing general exhaustion and body and mental tension. It’s a wonderful sleep-supporting herb for sleeplessness and nightmares.
It has a delicate lemony taste and aroma that enhances the enjoyment of drinking an herbal tea.
Like Chamomile, Lemon Balm helps improve digestion. So, a Lemon Balm and Chamomile tea blend is great after an evening meal.
Oat Straw (Avena sativa)
Oat Straw has a sun-warmed grassy aroma and flavor that I find especially appealing as daylight hours shorten. Like Marshmallow root, Oat Straw adds silkiness to tea blends. As someone who is very texture conscious, I enjoy this extra dimension in tea.
Oat Straw is a nutritive herb, rich in minerals including magnesium and calcium, both important for restful sleep.
Feeling like your nerves are frayed? Including Oat Straw can help reduce irritability and ease tension. It’s another great tea herb for after a long or stressful day.
Lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia)
Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea is one of the 125+ recipes you’ll get in my book Lavender: Lavender Recipes & the Plant Behind the Oil. You’ll find Lavender at:
- My Etsy Store (signed paperback, US)
- Amazon (paperback & Kindle Unlimited, international).
Lavender is deeply relaxing, uplifting, strengthening to the spirit, and emotionally supportive. It enhances the calming properties of the other herbs in the Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea blend.
Just a touch of Lavender flowers adds a delicate floral aroma and taste to the tea, without being “too lavendery.”
Lavender is also one of my favorite herbs to use in an herbal foot bath.
What’s your favorite sleep-supporting herbal tea? Please let us know in the comments below!
📌Herbal Wellness Pins
Mom’s Herb Shopping List
Visit Mom’s Herbal Favorites on Amazon to find all of the herbs used to make Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea—featuring Elanen naturals and Starwest Botanicals. You’ll also find tea making supplies, like strainers, baskets, and lids, on this list.
For additional sleep-support, see Mom’s aromatherapy favorites for Sleep & Stress on Amazon.
Here are the specific herbs I used to make my jar of Better Than Basic Chamomile Tea:
- Chamomile Flower (Matricaria chamomilla / M. recutita):
- Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon)
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon)
- homegrown from seed from Botanical Interests.
- Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata):
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon)
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic.
- Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis):
- Elanen naturals, organic, whole (on Amazon)
- Elanen naturals, organic, powdered (on Amazon).
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):
- Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon)
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
- homegrown from seed from Seed Needs (on Amazon) or Botanical Interests.
- Oat Straw (Avena sativa):
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Lavender Buds (Lavandula spp):
- FGOrganics, L. angustifolia, organic (on Amazon)
- Anthony’s Goods, Lavandula spp, organic (on Amazon).
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
