German chamomile tea is the cup most people picture when they say "chamomile tea": a caffeine-free herbal infusion brewed from the small, daisy-like flowers of Matricaria chamomilla (also written Matricaria recutita), prized for a gentle, sweet, apple-like flavor and a long tradition as a calming, wind-down drink. It is by far the most common chamomile grown for tea, and it is what fills almost all the chamomile tea bags on the shelf.
Its better-known relative, Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), looks similar and shares that apple aroma, but it is a different plant with a more bitter edge and a different role in the garden. This guide explains what German chamomile tea is, how it tastes, how to brew it, how it differs from Roman chamomile, and why Spanish speakers call it manzanilla. For the wider picture, start with our chamomile tea explainer.
What is German chamomile tea?
German chamomile tea is a herbal tea, or tisane, rather than a true tea. It contains no leaves from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, so it is naturally caffeine-free. The drink is made by steeping the dried flower heads of Matricaria chamomilla in hot water until the liquid turns pale gold and gives off its soft, honeyed scent.
The plant itself is a tender annual that grows upright, often reaching two to three feet tall, with branching stems and fine, feathery foliage. The flowers are tiny, with white petals around a domed, hollow yellow center. This is the chamomile most widely cultivated for tea around the world, which is why "chamomile tea" and German chamomile tea are, in practice, almost the same thing.
German vs Roman chamomile: the key difference
The German vs Roman chamomile distinction is the heart of this page. Both belong to the daisy family and both smell faintly of apples, but they are separate species with different growth habits and different best uses.
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an upright annual that must be sown each year. It is the variety grown at scale for tea, and its brew tends to be sweeter and rounder, with less bitterness. Roman or English chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low-growing perennial that creeps along the ground and returns year after year. It is often planted as fragrant ground cover or a "chamomile lawn," and is widely used in essential oils. Roman chamomile can be brewed as tea too, but it carries a more pronounced bitter, apple-skin note that many people find sharper than the German type. One more tell for gardeners: the flower center of German chamomile is tall and hollow, while Roman chamomile has a flatter, more solid center.
| Feature | German chamomile | Roman chamomile |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Matricaria chamomilla (syn. M. recutita) | Chamaemelum nobile |
| Plant type | Annual, grown from seed each year | Perennial, returns every year |
| Growth habit | Upright, branching, 2-3 ft tall | Low, creeping ground cover, 3-12 in |
| Flavor in the cup | Sweeter, mellow, apple-honey | More bitter, sharper apple-skin note |
| Typical use | The classic tea chamomile | Essential oils, lawns, ground cover; sometimes tea |
In short: if you are buying chamomile to drink, you almost certainly want German chamomile. If you are planting a fragrant path you can walk on, Roman chamomile is the one to reach for.
Why chamomile is called manzanilla
You will often see chamomile tea labeled manzanilla, especially in Spanish-speaking kitchens and markets. The chamomile tea manzanilla connection is simply language: manzanilla is the Spanish word for chamomile. It comes from manzana, meaning "apple," and translates literally as "little apple," a nod to the soft, apple-like aroma the flowers give off. So a packet of manzanilla is, in nearly every case, the same German chamomile you would find under an English label. (Confusingly, "manzanilla" can also name a dry sherry, but on a tea box it means chamomile.)
What German chamomile tea tastes like
The flavor is light and floral, gently sweet, with a clean finish and that signature whisper of apple and honey. There is a faint herbal, hay-like quality underneath, but a good German chamomile should not taste harsh. Bitterness usually comes from one of two things: a steep that ran too long, or Roman chamomile in the blend. Brew it gently and it stays smooth and soothing, which is a big part of why it became the go-to evening cup.
Traditional uses and German chamomile benefits
Chamomile has one of the longest track records of any herb in the cup, and the appeal of German chamomile benefits is mostly about comfort. Traditionally, it is sipped to relax, to wind down before sleep, and to settle the stomach after a meal. These are long-standing folk associations rather than medical claims: chamomile may help some people feel calmer or more ready for bed, but effects vary from person to person, and a warm, caffeine-free drink is soothing for many reasons.
If you are curious about the research and the wider tradition, our guide to chamomile tea benefits goes deeper. Treat chamomile as a pleasant ritual, not a remedy, and speak to a healthcare professional about anything persistent.
How to brew German chamomile tea
Brewing is easy, and one small habit makes a real difference: keep the cup covered while it steeps so the aromatic oils stay in the tea instead of drifting off in the steam.
- Measure. Use about 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers, or one tea bag, per cup (roughly 8 oz / 240 ml).
- Heat the water. Bring water to just off the boil, around 200°F (93°C). Fully boiling water can scorch the delicate flowers and pull out bitterness.
- Steep, covered. Pour the water over the flowers, cover the cup or pot, and steep for about 5 minutes. Longer than that and it can turn bitter rather than stronger.
- Strain and finish. Strain out the loose flowers (or lift the bag). A little honey or a slice of lemon is optional but classic.
Loose flowers generally give a fuller, more aromatic cup than tea bags, which often hold finer, dustier pieces. If you want to buy and store the blooms well, see our notes on dried chamomile flowers for tea.
Is German chamomile tea safe? Cautions to know
For most people, German chamomile tea is a gentle, everyday drink. A few sensible cautions are worth stating plainly:
- Allergies. Chamomile belongs to the daisy, or Asteraceae, family, which includes ragweed. People with ragweed or related plant allergies should be cautious, as chamomile can occasionally trigger a reaction.
- Pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is best to check with a healthcare professional before drinking chamomile regularly.
- Medications. Chamomile may interact with some medicines, including blood thinners. If you take prescription medication, ask a pharmacist or doctor first.
None of this is medical advice, and chamomile tea is not a treatment for any condition. If a symptom is persistent or severe, see a professional rather than relying on a herbal infusion.
The bottom line
German chamomile tea is the everyday chamomile most of us already drink: Matricaria chamomilla, the sweet, apple-scented annual that the whole tradition is built around, sold under names from "chamomile" to manzanilla. Knowing it apart from Roman chamomile mostly helps you shop and grow with intent, and brew a cup that stays smooth instead of bitter. Treat it as a comforting evening ritual, brew it gently and covered, and enjoy a cup that has soothed tea drinkers for generations.