How to dry a camomile at home - experts say

Everyone knows that chamomile is a very useful plant. Therefore, it is worth storing it for teas, infusions and decoctions. To maintain maximum benefits and aroma, you need to collect chamomile in the summer, and dry at a moderate temperature. Proper storage is equally important.

The benefits of chamomile

First, let's figure out why you need to dry a chamomile, and what benefits it brings:

1. A camomile compress will relieve eye fatigue.
2. Tea and infusion from the plant, thanks to essential oils, strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation and destroys microbes.
3. Chamomile infusion perfectly disinfects and heals the skin and mucous membranes, at the same time removing itching and redness.
4. Washing with infusion of chamomile nourishes, cleanses and tightens the skin.
5. A piece of frozen infusion used in facial massage not only moisturizes and cleanses, but also tones the skin.
6. Chamomile tea calms the nervous system, helps relieve stress.

When and how best to harvest chamomile

To begin with, do not confuse a chamomile with a pharmacy and an ordinary one. The medicinal product differs in the structure of the flower: its petals are short, and the core is convex. It also has a characteristic odor - with a pronounced smack of honey. So she is interested in pickers, and not an ordinary field chamomile with a neat, small core and long, thick petals.

Where is better to collect

It is advisable to collect chamomile away from cities, railways and roads: here it does not absorb harmful substances and will only bring benefits. In any case, there should be at least 15 m between the flowers and the roadway.

When to collect

The optimal collection time is from mid-June to mid-August. Prior to this, the flowers have not yet managed to gain enough useful trace elements. And after the chamomile fades, it is very difficult to find inflorescences.

Harvesting is best done in the morning - shortly after the dew has fallen. Raw flowers are much more difficult to dry; the risk of mold increases dramatically. A warm, sunny day is a great choice.

How to collect

You need to cut not only the bud, but also a small piece of the stem - about 2-3 centimeters (if you are interested in exactly the flowers in which the highest concentration of nutrients). If you want to prepare a green mass, which is perfect for baths, you can cut off the entire upper part of the plant - about 30 centimeters. But not at the root and in different bushes! So that plants can recover, and not die.

Tip
To collect flowers, it is advisable to use a sharp knife or scissors. Do not just tear off the heads - as a result, you will cause serious damage to plants, and the speed of collection will be significantly reduced.

Proper drying

Chamomile is prepared in sufficient quantities. We pass to the next question - how to dry it properly?

Stems and leaves

If you collected the green mass, it is easiest to tie small brooms from it - about 2-3 centimeters thick - and hang it in a dry, ventilated place. For example, under a canopy, on a porch or on a loggia. A constant draft in good weather will quickly do its job - in a week you can safely remove the brooms and put them in storage.

Heads

It’s a little harder if you pick only the flowers. At home, they give moisture poorly, often covered with mold. The best solution, especially at high humidity (for example, in the Leningrad or Kaliningrad regions), is a household food dryer.

How to dry in a special chamber:

1. Lay out the flowers in a thin layer on a pallet.
2. Turn on the power + 35-40 degrees.
3. After 6-8 hours, take it out and put it into storage.

At a humidity not exceeding 60%, chamomile flowers can be dried in natural conditions. It is preferable to use special mesh pallets. Gauze is also suitable in 2-4 layers (depending on density) on top of absorbent material or cardboard with holes made.

How to act:

1. Spread in a thin layer, maximum 2 levels.
2. Place in a warm, well-ventilated, but shaded area (to preserve aroma).
3. Cover with gauze to protect from dust and insects, as well as to prevent flowers from scattering when someone passes by.
4. Ted the raw material daily so that it dries faster and is not wet.
5. When the flowers begin to crumble easily into dust under the fingers, everything is ready.

How to save a camomile

The next question is how to store a pharmacy chamomile. Brooms hang quietly in a dark, dry place - nothing will happen to them. The main thing is not in the garage, so as not to be saturated with the smell of gasoline.

Flowers will be correctly poured into canvas bags or a cardboard box. You can also use a glass jar, but in this case, close it not with a tight lid, but with a sheet of parchment.

With this method, the shelf life of chamomile is about 12-18 months - more than enough to wait for a new crop.

Gathering chamomiles is an excellent occasion to have a picnic with the whole family away from the bustle of the city and gas pollution. Drying does not require any effort. And the result of simple procedures is aromatic and incredibly healthy tea, infusions and decoctions that will support health and good mood in the gloomy season of the year.