Chamomile tea is usually made using the flower head itself, part of the Asteraceae plant family.
This is the same plant family to which daisies belong, and if you compare the two plants, you will find they look very similar and also both grow quite rapidly.
The plant’s abundance is one major factor that has added to its popularity over the millennia.
Chamomile is so popular globally it has several names, including; Roman
chamomile, chamaemelum nobile, anthemis nobilis, mother’s daisy, German chamomile, blue chamomile, whig plant, garden chamomile, or even ground apple, named thus due to its flavour and scent undertones akin to apple.
In fact, the word chamomile comes from the Greek word chamaimelon which translates to “earth-apple”.
The plant can be harvested 2-3 times each year to provide flowers for making tea and used immediately, however it should be noted they contain a high percentage of water, around 80%, and therefore should be dried for long-term storage.