Chamomile is fairly ubiquitous, so I won't dwell on the basics too much. A number of species have chamomile in their common name, but as you'd probably assume, I'm going over the plant used in herbal tea, Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile.
Famous as a drink and herbal medicine, chamomile is used all across the globe, especially in Europe. As with many traditional medicines, its efficacy is unclear, with certain common applications, particularly insomnia, being challenged in scientific literature.
Unlike some other herbal medicines, however, chamomile is no snake oil. It contains many active constituents, such as apigenin, which binds to the GABA-A receptor. This is the same receptor that alcohol and benzodiazepines primarily act on, likely explaining chamomile's relaxing effect. While the pharmacology is not understood in-depth, chamomile does show some promise as an anxiety treatment, especially considering the low potential for abuse or withdrawal.
Chamomile also possesses antioxidant and anticoagulant properties due to its coumarins and flavonoids. It is also potentially worth noting that it contain daphnin, which is believed to be somewhat toxic, though it shouldn't be harmful in the amounts used in tea.
Quite fascinating, yes? With the science covered, I'll next be detailing my own thoughts and feelings.
Chamomile tea is interesting, to say the least. Or, perhaps, to say the most? What can be said? Well, the taste of chamomile is bitter, vegetal, and overall has a somewhat refreshing quality, though it's not exactly a light and smooth taste I could sip down all day, like green tea.
True to its utility, I'd describe chamomile as having a "medicinal taste". The experience of drinking chamomile invokes a nostalgic echo of being sick as a child, throat too sore to get down any beverage but warm tea. A feverish but oddly spiritual experience.
That being said, while chamomile on its own is far from a favorite drink of mine, I do find it a good base for admixtures. Chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm in particular is a combination I'm quite fond of. With a smooth, flowery taste, and pleasant aroma, it's a nice drink now and then for when you're just chilling. Lemon balm can also be substituted for another member of the mint family, such as peppermint, for a soothing coolness.
You can also mix it with green tea, white tea, various other herbs like hibiscus, the possibilities are endless. I'd love to describe the taste of all this in-depth but it wouldn't be very interesting. I'm no sommelier, I don't really have the right vocabulary for it all.
I would also like to discuss the psychoactive effect of chamomile. I think this aspect is generally underrated or overlooked due to chamomile being such a pedestrian substance. It's thought of as a food product, generally. It's on the FDA's generally recognized as safe list, it's approved in some form in various other countries, and there's no place I know of where it's banned.
Though, as mentioned earlier, chamomile does act on a receptor commonly targeted by drugs of abuse, and since the pharmacology is not fully understood, it could have other yet-unknown effects on the brain.
The relaxing effect of chamomile tea, even in normal amounts, is certainly noticeable, and does well to ease some anxiety while retaining a mostly-sober clearheadedness. This effect becomes especially pronounced when using higher dosages. While I've never had looseleaf chamomile flowers, and thus can't tell you anything specific about dosage, I will say that in my own experience, using two or three tea bags in one cup and allowing it to steep long enough to absorb fully (5+ minutes), the resultant effect can easily be described as intoxicating.
Absurd as it may sound to the uninitiated, high-dose chamomile is really not dissimilar to a weed high. I would say that in contrast, chamomile has a greater sedative and anxiolytic effect, and lacks the quasi-psychedelic aspect of strong cannabis, thus resulting in no risk of paranoia and an overall less volatile experience. That aside, however, the headspace or overall "vibe" if you will is quite reminiscent.
Chamomile can even be smoked. This ROA requires much less material to achieve a "high", and tastes rather pleasant in my opinion, though it has a lower ceiling and a shorter duration.
I wouldn't really endorse smoking it though, or anything really. Not just saying that as a legal disclaimer, either. Smoked chamomile is actually pretty irritating to the throat, especially in high quantities, and smoking anything is unhealthy. Tea is the way to go.
So, to summarize: 7.7/10. Pretty good tea herb, but too bitter on its own for my taste. Decent remedy for minor afflictions, and a surprisingly interesting recreational substance if you're weird or want something really really cheap.