Did you know? In the children’s story Peter Rabbit, Peter’s mother gives him chamomile tea (after a proper scolding) before sending him to bed after his return from Mr. McGregor’s farm. No doubt the chamomile tea helped to soothe both Peter's nerves (after his harrowing escape) and his tummy (after feasting on the farmer's produce).

Flavorful, comforting, gentle, traditional chamomile tea is made with German chamomile flowers. A versatile herb, chamomile is also an ingredient in shampoos and conditioners for light colored hair, in skin care creams and lotions, and in relaxing bath blends.

Roman chamomile or German chamomile, which to choose? Your location may dictate the botanical most often chosen: Roman chamomile is preferred in the United Kingdom and eastern Europe, while German chamomile is preferred in western and southern Europe and the United States.

For many purposes, the two are used interchangeably, but differences in constituents dictate a preference in certain situations. Roman chamomile is preferred as an aromatic bitter and is more mentally relaxing, while German chamomile is more soothing to the tummy and is preferred in treatments for the skin.

German chamomile is by far the more popular of the two and is usually the chamomile used when a species is not specified.

Caution/Safety: The Botanical Safety Handbook* classifies Roman chamomile as: Class: 2b Herbs not to be used during pregnancy.