Twinings Pure Chamomile

Twinings Pure Camomile is the British supermarket chamomile classic: single-herb chamomile flower at mainstream pricing (around 8 to 12p a bag), with decades of established quality and availability in every UK supermarket and corner shop. It is the default first chamomile most British drinkers ever buy. Reliable, affordable, plastic-free bag. Not the strongest or most aromatic on the market, but the easiest to keep in stock.

The product

Pure chamomile flower (Matricaria chamomilla, also called German chamomile). Single herb, no flavouring, no additives. Cut-and-sift grade rather than whole flower. The bag holds around 1.5g. More on chamomile as a herb.

How it tastes

Standard mild chamomile: apple-floral, gently sweet, no bitterness, no astringency. Lighter and less aromatic than whole-flower chamomile (Teapigs, Pukka), because cut-and-sift grade keeps less of the surface aromatics than whole-flower temple bags. Pleasant, soothing, predictable. Curator Rating: 4.9/5.

How to brew

1. 1 bag in 200ml just-boiled water.
2. Cover the cup to keep the floral aromatics in the water.
3. Steep 5 to 7 minutes; longer is fine, as chamomile does not turn bitter.
4. Drink black; a teaspoon of honey is the traditional finish.
5. For a stronger cup, use 2 bags rather than a longer steep.

Use cases

• An evening wind-down (the classic use).
• A calm, unwinding moment in the day.
• Caffeine-free, so suitable for the whole family (children over 12 months, with normal supervision).
• Sick-day comfort, especially with a spoon of honey.

Twinings versus Teapigs versus Pukka chamomile

Twinings Pure Camomile is cut-and-sift, mainstream pricing, available everywhere. Teapigs Chamomile Flowers (currently unavailable) use whole flowers in a temple bag, more aromatic, at a premium. Pukka Three Chamomile blends three chamomile species for a more layered cup, also premium. All three work; pick on flavour and budget. Twinings is the right choice for everyday volume.

In short: Twinings Pure Chamomile

FAQ

Caffeine? None.

Vegan? Yes.

Children? Yes (over 12 months), with normal parental supervision.

An evening cup? Yes; chamomile is the classic gentle evening tea. For a fuller blend, try Twinings Sleep or Pukka Night Time.

Allergies? Avoid if you have a known ragweed or daisy-family allergy; chamomile can cross-react.

Curator's note: Twinings Pure Camomile is the British supermarket chamomile classic. Reliable; affordable; widely available. Worth keeping. Lee, Teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.

What to buy now

Buy Twinings Pure Chamomile as the everyday value chamomile. For a step up, Teapigs Chamomile uses whole flowers in a pyramid bag, Pukka Three Chamomile blends three species, and loose-flower chamomile from a herbalist gives the best cup-per-penny for daily drinkers. Twinings Camomile and Honey is the flavoured variant.

Chamomile reading

For brand background see the Twinings deep dive; for the herb see the chamomile tea guide. Related: the Teapigs Chamomile and Twinings Camomile and Honey reviews.

Reference noted

• NHS: How to get to sleep

The bottom line

The UK's baseline chamomile: standard German chamomile flowers in a standard bag, at a supermarket value price. Worth keeping as the everyday, occasional chamomile; for daily drinking, Teapigs whole-flower or loose-flower chamomile gives better cup quality and lower long-term cost. Brew 5 to 7 minutes covered as a gentle evening cup.

Part of the Tea for Sleep pillar at teas.co.uk.

More from the tea wiki

• Green tea
• Black tea
• Oolong tea
• White tea
• Herbal tea
• Caffeine in tea
• How to make tea properly
• Loose leaf vs teabag

Download as PDF