What Vitamin is in Chamomile Tea and What Truly Matters for Your Health?

November 29, 2025 •

4 min read

While often consumed for its calming effects, a standard cup of brewed chamomile tea contains only trace amounts of vitamins, such as negligible levels of Vitamin A and certain B vitamins. Its primary health benefits largely stem from powerful plant compounds, not a significant dose of vitamins.

Quick Summary

Chamomile tea provides only trace levels of vitamins like folate and Vitamin A, with its key health benefits coming from potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like apigenin and flavonoids.

Key Points

Negligible Vitamins: A cup of brewed chamomile tea contains only trace amounts of vitamins, providing no significant nutritional contribution to your daily needs.
Rich in Antioxidants: The tea's main health benefits are derived from potent plant compounds like apigenin and flavonoids, not vitamins.
Calming Effect: Apigenin is a key flavonoid that binds to brain receptors, which helps promote relaxation and reduces insomnia.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Compounds like chamazulene and bisabolol contribute to the tea's anti-inflammatory effects.
Minor Mineral Source: Chamomile tea offers trace minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, but these are not present in high concentrations.
Benefit from Phytochemicals: The focus should be on chamomile's holistic benefits from phytochemicals rather than its insignificant vitamin content.
For a Vitamin Boost: A healthy, varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a much more effective way to get your vitamins.

Understanding the Vitamin Content in Chamomile Tea

When people ask what vitamin is in chamomile tea, the answer is often surprising. Contrary to being a vitamin-rich beverage, brewed chamomile tea typically contains only trace amounts of various vitamins. The nutrient profile is so minimal that it does not contribute significantly to your daily recommended intake for any vitamin.

For example, nutritional data indicates that a cup of chamomile tea may offer very small quantities of nutrients like Vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and B vitamins such as folate (B9). However, these amounts are usually so low that they are rounded down to zero or listed as a percentage of the Daily Value that is less than one percent. Therefore, relying on chamomile tea for a vitamin boost is not a practical approach.

The Real Stars: Antioxidants and Phytochemicals

The true health prowess of chamomile tea comes from its wealth of powerful plant compounds, known as phytochemicals, rather than its vitamin content. These active chemical compounds work synergistically to provide the calming, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects the tea is famous for.

Some of the most important compounds include:

Apigenin: This flavonoid is a key antioxidant in chamomile. Apigenin has been studied for its ability to bind to certain receptors in the brain, which may help promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia.
Flavonoids: A class of antioxidants present in chamomile, flavonoids contribute to the tea's anti-inflammatory properties and its potential positive effects on heart health.
Chamazulene: Found in German chamomile, this compound contributes to the herb's anti-inflammatory properties.
Bisabolol: Known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects, bisabolol is often used in topical skin care products.

Comparing Chamomile's Nutritional Profile to Other Teas

To put the nutritional content into perspective, let's compare the vitamin and mineral content of a cup of brewed chamomile tea to a cup of brewed green tea, a known source of antioxidants and certain nutrients. This comparison highlights why chamomile is valued for its unique phytochemicals rather than its standard nutritional metrics.


Nutrient	Brewed Chamomile Tea	Brewed Green Tea (Unsweetened)
Vitamins (Trace)	Vitamin A, Folate, Thiamin	Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Antioxidant Compounds	Apigenin, Flavonoids, Chamazulene	Catechins (EGCG), Flavonoids
Key Minerals	Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium	Fluoride, Potassium, Manganese
Caffeine Content	None	~28 mg
Primary Benefit Driver	Calming and anti-inflammatory properties	Antioxidant effects and metabolism support

As the table shows, while green tea offers a different set of benefits, neither should be considered a primary source of vitamins. Their health-promoting properties are driven by their respective antioxidant and phytochemical profiles.

Chamomile's Other Nutritional Contributions

While low in vitamins, chamomile tea does contain other trace minerals that are worth noting, even if their levels are not high enough to meet a significant portion of daily needs. These include small amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which contribute to overall mineral intake but do not make the tea a 'rich' source.

The most important takeaway is to appreciate chamomile for what it truly offers: a soothing, antioxidant-rich beverage whose benefits for sleep, digestion, and stress relief are well-documented, all powered by its unique blend of phytochemicals. The focus on what vitamin is in chamomile tea can be misleading and distracts from its real, and proven, therapeutic properties. For those seeking vitamins, a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods is a far more effective strategy.

Brewing the Perfect Cup

To maximize the health benefits of chamomile, proper brewing is key. Use fresh, high-quality dried chamomile flowers or a reputable tea bag brand. Steep the flowers or bag in hot, not boiling, water for 5 to 10 minutes. Covering the cup while steeping helps to retain the volatile compounds that give the tea its aroma and therapeutic properties.

For a deeper dive into the science behind chamomile's health effects, a comprehensive review of its traditional uses and chemical composition can be found on the National Institutes of Health website.

Conclusion: The Holistic View of Chamomile's Benefits

In summary, the question "what vitamin is in chamomile tea?" reveals a negligible vitamin content. The tea is not a significant source of vitamins, and those present are only in trace amounts. However, this fact does not diminish its value. Chamomile tea is a powerhouse of beneficial phytochemicals, particularly antioxidants like apigenin and other flavonoids, that provide genuine health advantages. From its well-known calming effects and aid in sleep to its anti-inflammatory and digestive support, the real benefit of chamomile comes from these compounds. Embrace chamomile tea for its true strengths, not for a minor and insignificant vitamin profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, a typical cup of brewed chamomile tea contains only trace amounts of vitamins like Vitamin A and some B vitamins, and is not a significant source of any vitamins.

The primary source of health benefits comes from potent plant compounds, including flavonoids like apigenin, which act as antioxidants and provide calming and anti-inflammatory effects.

Based on nutritional data, brewed chamomile tea typically contains no Vitamin C, with values often listed as 0% of the Daily Value.

Chamomile tea contains small amounts of minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, though not enough to be considered a rich source.

Neither chamomile tea nor green tea should be relied upon as a primary source of vitamins. Both are valued for their distinct antioxidant profiles and other health-promoting compounds, not for their vitamin content.

To maximize benefits, use high-quality dried chamomile flowers or tea bags and steep them in hot (not boiling) water for 5-10 minutes, covering the cup to retain volatile compounds.

No, chamomile tea is not a substitute for vitamin supplements or a balanced diet. Its vitamin content is negligible, and it is best appreciated for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties.