Chamomile Cinnamon Tea

If Chamomile Cinnamon Tea could be described in one word, it would be “cozy.” Soothing chamomile flowers are infused with warm cinnamon and rounded out with sweet vanilla and honey for a comforting cup to be enjoyed in the fall, winter, or as a wind down before bed any time of year.

We designed this herbal tea to be as functional as it is soothing. A 2024 meta-analysis concluded that chamomile can improve the ease of getting to sleep and staying asleep throughout the night,¹ with further research supporting its potential for reducing anxiety and treating generalized anxiety disorders.^2–3 In addition, cinnamon has been found to have numerous potential effects, including antibacterial and antiviral benefits.^4–5

Both chamomile and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory properties,^6–9 and, interestingly, both have shown improved markers in patients with metabolic diseases: a 2021 review argues that the polyphenols in chamomile have the potential to counteract oxidative stress that relates to obesity,¹⁰ and a 2021 meta-analysis suggests that cinnamon may reduce risk factors in people with metabolic disease.¹¹ Meanwhile, separate studies on chamomile and cinnamon intake each found improved glycemic status in those with type 2 diabetes.^12,13

When gathering your ingredients for this Chamomile Cinnamon Tea, we recommend using Ceylon cinnamon sticks if possible. Ceylon has greater health benefits than its mass-produced counterpart, cassia cinnamon, and contains smaller concentrations of coumarin, which may cause gastrointestinal upset in some people. Most storebought cinnamon or cinnamon marked Saigon, Chinese, or Vietnamese is cassia cinnamon.

Note: Chamomile is not recommended for people who are pregnant or on blood thinners, or for young children. If you’re unsure whether or not chamomile is safe for you to consume, consult with your healthcare provider first.

TIPS

• For more autumn flavors, take the discards (core, peel, stem) of an apple or pear and boil them with the cinnamon and honey in the first step.
• Add lavender for extra calming benefits.

References

1. Kazemi, A., Shojaei-Zarghani, S., Parham Eskandarzadeh, & Mohammad Hashem Hashempur. (2024). Effects of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 84, 103071–103071. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000591?via%3Dihub
2. Sogand Saadatmand, Foad Zohroudi, & Hadith Tangestani. (2024). The Effect of Oral Chamomile on Anxiety: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Clinical Nutrition Research, 13(2), 139–139. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38784853/
3. Hieu, T. H., Dibas, M., Surya Dila, K. A., Sherif, N. A., Hashmi, M. U., Mahmoud, M., Trang, N. T. T., Abdullah, L., Nghia, T. L. B., Y, M. N., Hirayama, K., & Huy, N. T. (2019). Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 33(6), 1604–1615. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31006899/
4. Zhang, Z., Zhao, Y., Chen, X., Li, W., Li, W., Du, J., & Wang, L. (2022). Effects of Cinnamon Essential Oil on Oxidative Damage and Outer Membrane Protein Genes of Salmonella enteritidis Cells. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 11(15), 2234. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/15/2234
5. Rahman, Md. M., Mosaddik, A., & Alam, A. K. (2021). Traditional foods with their constituent’s antiviral and immune system modulating properties. Heliyon, 7(1), e05957. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)00062-1
6. Dai, Y.-L., Li, Y., Wang, Q., Niu, F.-J., Li, K.-W., Wang, Y.-Y., Wang, J., Zhou, C.-Z., & Gao, L.-N. (2022). Chamomile: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Quality Control Studies. Molecules, 28(1), 133. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36615326/
7. Sah, A., Naseef, P. P., Kuruniyan, M. S., Jain, G. K., Zakir, F., & Aggarwal, G. (2022). A Comprehensive Study of Therapeutic Applications of Chamomile. Pharmaceuticals, 15(10), 1284. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36297396/
8. Valmy, J., Greenfield, S., Shindo, S., Kawai, T., Cervantes, J., & Hong, B.-Y. (2025). Anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile from randomized clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Pharmaceutical Biology, 63(1), 490–502. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40665590/
9. Schink, A., Naumoska, K., Kitanovski, Z., Kampf, C. J., Fröhlich-Nowoisky, J., Thines, E., Pöschl, U., Schuppan, D., & Lucas, K. (2018). Anti-inflammatory effects of cinnamon extract and identification of active compounds influencing the TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways. Food & Function, 9(11), 5950–5964. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30379176/
10. Bayliak, M. M., Dmytriv, T. R., Melnychuk, A. V., Strilets, N. V., Storey, K. B., & Lushchak, V. I. (2021). Chamomile as a potential remedy for obesity and metabolic syndrome. EXCLI Journal, 20, 1261–1286. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34602925/
11. Kutbi, E. H., Sohouli, M. H., Fatahi, S., Lari, A., Shidfar, F., Aljhdali, M. M., Alhoshan, F. M., Elahi, S. S., Almusa, H. A., & Abu-Zaid, A. (2021). The beneficial effects of cinnamon among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 1–19. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1896473
12. Hajizadeh-Sharafabad, F., Varshosaz, P., Jafari-Vayghan, H., Alizadeh, M., & Maleki, V. (2020). Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and diabetes mellitus, current knowledge and the way forward: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 48, 102284. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31987240/
13. Zare, R., Nadjarzadeh, A., Zarshenas, M. M., Shams, M., & Heydari, M. (2019). Efficacy of cinnamon in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Clinical Nutrition, 38(2), 549–556. https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(18)30114-6/abstract