Let’s be honest: picking chamomile is one of those good for the soul kind of activities. Imagine wandering through a sun-drenched Dutch field, the air smelling faintly of honey and apples, with tiny white-and-yellow daisy-like flowers bobbing around your knees. That’s chamomile season in the Netherlands, and you can absolutely go and pick your own at several pick-your-own farms (pluktuinen). It’s ridiculously easy, deeply satisfying, and you come home smelling like a dream.

The Great Chamomile Hand-Pick Adventure

Grab a basket (or a large, happy sun hat if you’re feeling rural-chic) and head out on a dry morning after the dew has lifted. Chamomile is small, so this isn’t heavy labour—it’s a gentle, meditative shuffle. You’re looking for the flowers that are fully open, petals perky, with that bright yellow cone in the centre. To pick, just pinch the stem just below the flower head and pop it off. You can be a purist and take only the heads (best for tea), or you can clip the top inch of stem, too (fine for drying). Bring the kids; they’ll love the hunt. Bring a friend; it’s the perfect excuse for a gossipy, sun-dappled morning. You’ll feel like a tiny, very fancy farmer.

Now, what to do with your golden haul?

First, give them a quick, gentle rinse to evict any tiny hitchhikers (spiders love a good chamomile pillow). Then spread them out on a tea towel or a drying screen in a warm, airy spot out of direct sunlight for a couple of days. Once they’re brittle to the touch, store them in a jar. Here’s where the fun begins.

For Tea – The Classic & A Fancy One

Option A (Soloist): The pure, calming classic. Steep a tablespoon of dried flowers in a mug of just-boiled water for 5 minutes. Strain (or just let them float like little surfers). Sweeten with honey if you like. It tastes like a hug in a mug.

Option B (The Sleepy Garden Party): Add a teaspoon of dried lavender (you can find that on the same farms!) and a slice of fresh ginger. Steep as above. The lavender deepens the calm, the ginger adds a gentle zing. Perfect for winding down before bed or after a long day of wielding gardening scissors.

For Decoration – Because They’re Too Pretty to Just Drink

  • Floating Bowl Centrepiece: Pick a shallow glass bowl. Fill with water and float a generous handful of your fresh chamomile heads on the surface. Tease in a few floating candles. Dinner guests will instantly believe you have your life together.
  • The Summer Wreath: Take a simple grapevine wreath base and hot-glue (or wire) clusters of dried chamomile all over it. Hang it on your front door. It looks like a tiny, cheerful sun.
  • Bath Confetti: Tie a handful of dried flowers into a square of muslin or an old stocking. Hang it under your bath tap as it runs. Step into a glorious, chamomile-infused, skin-softening bath. You earned it.