This blog post also is available in German.
This Chamomile Lavender Fog is a sustainable and local alternative to the moon milk I introduced to you in the last article. The drink is completely dairy-free, is made from dried flowers of chamomile and lavender and promotes healthy sleep in a completely natural way. The preparation takes only 5 minutes. Furthermore, the Chamomile Lavender Fog not only promotes your sleep but also has a calming effect and helps with stomach upset. The perfect warm drink to start your bedtime ritual right now.
London Fog with chamomile and lavender
In my last article, I introduced the moon milk with ashwagandha as a natural sleep-inducing and calming drink. Ashwagandha – the main ingredient of moon milk – comes from India. It grows mainly in subtropical regions, ergo not here. In this post, I introduce you to a more sustainable and above all more regional option. It’s this London Fog with chamomile and lavender. Why exactly this combination I’ll tell you in the course of this article.
Chamomile Lavender Fog
Have you by any chance wondered what this fancy name is all about? If you look at the drink, you’ll probably get the idea of why it`s called London Fog pretty quickly. Exactly! This tea-based drink has something of fog and there`s quite a lot of that in London.
This drink, which originates from England, is mixed from Earl Grey, vanilla syrup and milk. But there are countless variations of the London fog. Some even with alcohol. Since my version contains dried chamomile and lavender flowers, I gave the drink the name Chamomile Lavender Fog.
Properties of chamomile and lavender
To put it bluntly, chamomile and lavender are not adaptogens. They therefore lack the properties to regulate the body’s resistance to stress. What adaptogens are and how they work, I explained in the last post. However, both plants have properties similar to those of ashwagandha, especially in terms of sleep-inducing effects. Now let me show you briefly how these two plants work.
Chamomile
The following properties and effects are ascribed to chamomile flowers:
- anti-inflammatory
- calming
- antispasmodic
- antioxidant
- antibacterial
- fungicidal
- helps with flatulence, stomach cramps and upset stomach
Chamomile tea not only has a calming and soothing effect on stomach problems, but also promotes sleep.
Lavender
The following properties and effects are ascribed to chamomile flowers:
- calming
- anxiolytic
- antidepressant
- antispasmodic
- disinfecting
Lavender flowers therefore have a calming, relaxing and anxiety-relieving effect by nature. This is why they help with inner restlessness, agitation, anxiety and sleep disorders.
The combination of both plants not only tastes delicious. The two plants complement each other perfectly in their characteristics. For this reason, this Chamomile Lavender Fog is also very suitable if you have trouble falling asleep in the evening or if you keep yourself awake with circling thoughts.
What about sustainability?
Compared to ashwagandha, lavender and chamomile are tea drugs that are much more likely to be sustainable. Both plants grow in Europe and are therefore more sustainable in terms of transportation way. In principle, I believe that the cultivation and breeding of lavender and chamomile are also sustainable as long as they are organic. Both plants can also be found regionally or even grow in your own garden.
To put it in one sentence; yes, lavender and chamomile are sustainable as long as you buy them in organic quality. However, it`s still best to ask where the plants come from if you buy them as open drugs in a pharmacy or drugstore. For example, I know that the chamomile from our raw material supplier in the pharmacy comes from Egypt. So it`s not regional. You might also find them at local flower or weekly markets and then you can dry the plants yourself.
Low Waste tips für Chamomile Lavender Fog
Standard instructions are followed by a few practical tips on how to prepare your Chamomile Lavender Fog with as little waste as possible.
- Don`t use teabags. Pharmacies and drugstores will be happy to fill your jar with the desired amount of loose tea. Your tea shop may even do this. Otherwise, you might find what you are looking for at markets or you can collect some flowers yourself.
- You can easily make the milk for the Chamomile Lavender Fog yourself. For example almond milk or oat milk.
- As a sweetener, you can use date paste, which you can easily make from dates with a high-performance blender.
Alternatives for used ingredients
You don’t like the taste of lavender or chamomile? Maybe even neither? No problem, there are other tea drugs with sleep-inducing or calming effects that are grown in our latitudes.
Here are a few options:
- Valerian (but smells a bit strong)
- Hops
- Melissa
- Hemp
It doesn`t matter which plant-based milk or sweetener you use for the tea. Take what you like and what you tolerate well. You don`t need to sweeten at all if you prefer!
Meal Prep
Some of you may like to prepare a pot of tea in the morning for the day. Afterward, you can drink it all day long. I like to do this in summer, à la homemade iced tea. I wouldn`t prepare this chamomile lavender fog in advance, but always fresh.
In addition, a certain bedtime ritual is supposed to be created and in my opinion, this includes brewing the tea and warming the milk. Tastes best and doesn’t take long in the end.
Kamille Lavendel Fog – why you should try it:
- dairy-free
- vegan
- only natural & plant-based ingredients
- no refined sugar
- healthy
- calming
- sleep-inducing
- helps to relax & reduce stress
- helps to develop a before going to bed ritual
- Low Waste
- tastes yummy
- quick & easily prepared
other yummy soothing beverages
- Moon Milk
- Latte in different pastel colors
- Cold Brew Coffee
- golden milk
- infused water for spring & summer
If you are trying this chamomile lavender fog, I would love your feedback here in the comments. If you share your creation of this recipe on Instagram, please don’t forget to link @velvetandvinegar and use the hashtag #velvetandvinegar. So my community and I won’t miss your contribution.
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Chamomile Lavender Fog
Equipment
- milk frother
Ingredients
- 200 ml water
- 100 ml plant-based milk of choice organic
- 2 tsp dried chamomille flowers organic
- 1 tsp dried lavender flowers organic
- 1 tsp sweetener of choice organic
- 50 ml plant-based milk foam organic
Instructions
- Heat water and milk in a small pan until it starts to boil.
- Add chamomile and lavender flowers using a tea-egg or tea sieve. Let steep for 10 minutes while covering your pan or tea cup.
- Froth the remaining milk in the meantime.
- Remove flowers, add sweetener and milk foam.
Notes
Do you have a Pinterest account? Then you can find me here and of course pin this picture!
This Lavender Chamomile Fog is the perfect way to start a relaxed day!
I totally agree with you Bianca.