A beautiful flower and an easily cultivated plant providing delicious and tasty flowerheads that can be used in the kitchen: that’s camomile.
Would you like to find out more? Discover camomile in our RB Plant news!
Camomile belongs to the Compositae family and is an annual, creeping plant that becomes upright when flowering. It has streaked, glabrous stems that branch out at the top with alternating leaves. The florets of the camomile are considered flowerheads.
RB Plant from Albenga grows Camomile as a part of their high-quality, intensely flavoured, natural Sunny heRBs range that is exclusively “made in Albenga”.
Camomile originated in the Mediterranean Basin, but it has since spread beyond Europe to reach many other parts of the world.
This little flower is widely recognised and used for infusions that are sold as a ready-made drink but can also be easily prepared at home by simply growing some Camomile in a pot.
A home-prepared herbal tea is not only 100% healthier but it has a much richer and more intense flavour.
It is also possible to “personalise” your Camomile infusions, adding other home-grown herbs according to seasonal availability and your own personal preferences.
Camomile: cultivation
Camomile’s delicate flowers also have an aesthetic value, considering that a Camomile plant placed in a sunny position will produce charming white and yellow bushes that will attract butterflies and other pollinating insects.
So, let’s see how we can grow Camomile in a pot or in the garden.
Camomile cultivation is not particularly difficult and can therefore be successfully grown in pots if you don’t have a garden. The plant appreciates a sunny position but should be protected from aggressive sunshine and requires a soil that is not too humid.
The flowerheads should be harvested, preferably on dry days, in late Spring, gathering them before they flower completely. These flowerheads should be left to dry in the shade in a well-ventilated position.
By July the Camomile flowerhead harvest is over and the plants can be left to go to seed. Camomile will be back in time for the following Winter if you give your soil a thorough and deep digging over.
Camomile: culinary use
A plain and simple flower: Camomile is an edible flower that can be eaten and used as a plate decoration.
A drink prepared with your own home-grown flowerheads can make a pleasant and relaxing alternative to tea.
By using the flowerheads, either on their own or accompanied by other herbs, Camomile can be used to add flavour to jams, sweets and liqueurs such as vermouth.
Camomile is also an excellent addition to less obvious recipes such as risotto, fish salads, dessert creams and biscuits.
Do you like the taste of Camomile? Do you like to use herbs in your cooking?
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