Does Chamomile Tea Have Caffeine? [Excellent Benefits For You]

It’s the tea heralded as the epitome of health. A hot cup of Chamomile is said to help you relax (especially when coupled with a scented lavender candle and a good book).

And the tea boasts many physical and mental health benefits from reducing inflammation to lowering your blood sugar.

But if you are about to start drinking the stuff before bed, or hey, perhaps replacing your coffee with it in the morning, there is one thing you need to know. Does Chamomile tea contain caffeine?

Is there caffeine in Chamomile tea?

The short answer? No.

Chamomile tea contains no caffeine at all. Why? It is classified as a herbal tea which means unlike true teas (think black tea, oolong or green tea), it is NOT made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant which has caffeine content.

Herbal teas are made from the leaves, flowers, fruits, roots or seeds of plants and are generally caffeine-free.

So what is in chamomile tea?

So if chamomile tea has no caffeine, what does it have? Chamomile tea is an infusion made from dried chamomile flowers combined with hot water. Chamomile flowers are from the Asteraceae family and look a bit like daisies.

They create a mild-tasting tea with sweet and earthy herbal flavors. There are several different types of chamomile that can be used for tea, some of the most popular including German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile.

Teas can have different potencies and include different concentrations of chamomile. But as mentioned before, none of these varieties contain caffeine.

How does chamomile tea compare to other teas and coffee?

So if camomile tea has zero caffeine what about other teas? And what about coffee? How much caffeine are we avoiding by sticking to non-caffeinated drinks like camomile?

Caffeine in coffee

When we think of caffeinated drinks, coffee comes to mind first. But how much caffeine is actually in one cup?

In a standard 8oz cup of brewed coffee you can expect around 95 mg of caffeine. This can vary a lot based on the type, brand or size of coffee or coffee drink and could range anywhere from 1 mg to 500 mg.

Caffeine in true teas

True teas are the only teas that contain caffeine but which teas are these and how much do they have? Let’s look at the true teas and see which have the lowest or highest caffeine content.

• White Tea – In an 8 oz cup of white tea you can expect between 15 mg and 30 mg
• Green Tea – In an 8 oz cup of green tea you can expect between 30 mg and 45 mg
• Oolong Tea – In an 8 oz cup of oolong tea you can expect between 35 mg and 55 mg
• Black Tea – In an 8 oz cup of black tea you can expect between 40 mg and 70 mg

Other herbal teas

Like camomile, other herbal teas do not contain caffeine.

What are the benefits of chamomile tea?

Chamomile has been used for years in herbal and traditional medicine. Research shows that drinking chamomile tea can provide a number of beneficial properties for the mind and body.

Let’s take a look at what they are and see if you’re making the most out of chamomile tea.

It can help promote digestive health

Chamomile tea has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties (1). There is some evidence to support that chamomile tea can help promote digestive health and reduce the risk of some gastrointestinal conditions and illnesses such as diarrhea, cramping or even stomach ulcers (2, 3).

While this area of study still lacks a great deal of conclusive research, people commonly claim anecdotally that tea aids with digestive issues. It has also been used as far back as Ancient Egypt to treat digestive disorders. Therefore, there is a good chance a cup of chamomile tea might be just the thing to soothe your stomach.

It aids relaxation

Chamomile tea is well-known for helping people relax, therefore it makes sense that the tea is caffeine-free. But is there evidence to back up these claims?

Yes, chamomile tea contains apigenin, this is an antioxidant that has been shown to heighten sleepiness and even help reduce insomnia (4).

One study showed that 4 weeks of consumption of chamomile extract could also significantly improve sleep quality (5). Therefore if you have trouble switching off at night, or are constantly waking up during the night, a regular cup of chamomile might be exactly what you need.

It can soothe period pain

Many people suffer from menstrual cramps at ‘that time of the month’, but did you know chamomile tea might be able to help with that? Studies have found that chamomile extract can be effective at treating pain and even reducing menstrual bleeding (6).

The relaxing and antiseptic properties of chamomile can also be beneficial at reducing stress and inflammation during your period.

It can lower your blood sugar

Some research suggests that chamomile tea can help lower blood sugar and prevent it from increasing. A trial done on rats did find evidence that chamomile could prevent the increase of blood sugar levels (7).

This means chamomile can be a particularly effective tea for people with diabetes and could be effective long term at supplementing diabetes treatments.

It could even help treat and prevent cancer

There is even evidence to suggest that chamomile tea could help both reduce the risk of cancer and target cancer in the body. A study that tested the effects of chamomile on various cancer cells found that they could inhibit the growth of cancer cells (8).

While it seems that chamomile does have cancer-fighting qualities, the impact is mild and evidence is still inconclusive. But it could certainly be used preventatively and alongside other treatments.

Does chamomile tea make you sleepy?

Yes. Chamomile is widely recognized for its relaxing and sleep-inducing properties. And there are many studies that have found chamomile can help people feel sleepy, fight insomnia and get a higher quality of sleep.

This is particularly down to the antioxidant apigenin that is found in chamomile tea. Of course, the effects are mild so don’t expect to be out like a light in minutes. But chamomile can certainly be an effective way to switch off and get ready for bed. Especially as it is totally caffeine-free.

Is it OK to drink chamomile tea every day?

Yes, you can drink chamomile tea every day without any issues. In fact, drinking chamomile tea consistently each day can bring a whole host of health benefits and great choice for people with seasonal allergies. It may help maintain your blood pressure levels, keep a healthy gut, regulate sleep and prevent other ailments and illnesses.

Chamomile tea is ok to drink at any time of day, but many people prefer to drink it in the evenings or before bed as it can relax you and help you sleep.

Does chamomile have side effects?

So is chamomile all good or are there any risks associated with the household tea? Mostly, experts agree that chamomile is perfectly safe to drink in moderation. If taken in large quantities there are slight risks of vomiting or drowsiness.

If you are allergic to daisies, this tea could trigger an allergic reaction but this is highly unusual. Overall, unless you have any worrying underlying health issues or notice a reaction to chamomile tea, it is a healthy and safe option for pretty much anyone.

So there you have you have it, chamomile tea is caffeine-free. It is the ideal drink to stay healthy without caffeine. But if you find it sends you to sleep, maybe stick to having it in the evenings.

Resources

1) Miraj S, Alesaeidi S, A systematic review study of therapeutic effects of Matricaria recuitta chamomile (chamomile)., retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074766/

2) Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S, Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future., retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

3) Gohar AA, Zaki AA, Assessment of some Herbal Drugs for Prophylaxis of Peptic Ulcer., retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4177631/

4) Salehi B, Venditti A, Sharifi-Rad M, Kregiel D, Sharifi-Rad J, Durazzo A, Lucarini M, Santini A, Souto EB, The Therapeutic Potential of Apigenin., retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6472148/

5) Abdullahzadeh M, Matourypour P, Naji SA, Investigation effect of oral chamomilla on sleep quality in elderly people in Isfahan: A randomized control trial., retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470311/

6) Niazi A, Moradi M, The Effect of Chamomile on Pain and Menstrual Bleeding in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review., retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34222539/

7) Kato A, Minoshima Y, Yamamoto J, Adachi I, Watson AA, Nash RJ, Protective Effects of Dietary Chamomile Tea on Diabetic Complications, retrieved from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf8014365

8) Gupta S, Srivastava JK, Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of chamomile extract in various human cancer cells, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17939735/