Midsummer Dreaming Premium Herbal Tea

The Botanicals in Midsummer Dreaming

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a small, daisy-like flower in the Asteraceae family, native to Europe and parts of western Asia, and one of the most widely used herbal infusions anywhere. Its dried flower heads are what goes into the blend, and it's held a place in European household herbal tradition for centuries — its common name in several languages translates roughly to "ground apple," a nod to its faint apple-like scent.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the Mediterranean and parts of western Asia. Its genus name, Melissa, is the Greek word for "bee" — the plant's flowers are strongly attractive to bees, and the name has stuck since antiquity. The leaf itself carries a bright, lemony aroma with no actual citrus involved, a traditional pairing with chamomile in evening infusions.

Mint (Mentha species) is another member of the Lamiaceae family and among the most widely cultivated herbs in the world, valued for the cooling sensation menthol gives on the palate — a useful counterpoint to chamomile and lemon balm's sweetness here.

Black currant leaves, harvested from Ribes nigrum (the same shrub that produces black currant berries), have a long history of household herbal use across parts of Europe. It's the leaf that's blended in here for its tart, lightly tannic quality — not the berry, which has a very different, sweeter flavor.

Sunflower petals (Helianthus annuus) are a less typical tea ingredient — most sunflower-adjacent infusions use the seeds, or skip the plant's flower entirely. Ray-floret petals appearing in a blend like this are mainly there for golden color and a soft texture in the dried mix rather than a strong flavor contribution.

All five botanicals are combined dry as a deliberate pairing of traditional European and garden herbs — there's no single-origin terroir story here the way there is for an unblended true tea.

How to Brew Midsummer Dreaming

Herbal blends like this one tolerate hotter water and longer steeps than true tea, since there's no tannic bitterness threshold the way there is with green or black tea.

Parameter	Guidance
Water temperature	Near boiling, 208–212°F (98–100°C)
Leaf dose	1 tsp (or 1 sachet) per 8 oz cup
Steep time	5–7 minutes
Caffeine	None

Because chamomile and lemon balm are both delicate florals, a longer steep generally deepens the flavor rather than turning it bitter — for a milder cup, pull the infuser earlier rather than using less leaf. This blend is naturally caffeine-free, so there's no reason to avoid it in the evening on caffeine grounds.

Did You Know

• Lemon balm's name comes from the Greek word for "bee." Melissa officinalis takes its genus name from melissa, and the plant's flowers are a well-documented favorite of bees — beekeepers have planted it near hives for centuries for exactly that reason.

• Chamomile's common name across several European languages translates to "ground apple." The plant's faint apple-like scent gave rise to that naming pattern long before it became a household tea ingredient.

• Black currant leaves and black currant berries come from the same shrub but taste very different. This blend uses the leaf specifically for its tart, herbal character — a different profile than the sweeter, fruit-forward berry most people associate with black currant.

• This is a caffeine-free tisane, not a true tea. None of the botanicals in Midsummer Dreaming — chamomile, lemon balm, mint, black currant leaf, or sunflower petals — come from the Camellia sinensis plant, so there's no caffeine to account for at all.

What is Midsummer Dreaming Herbal Tea?

A caffeine-free evening tisane blending chamomile, lemon balm, mint, black currant leaves, and sunflower petals — dried botanicals rather than Camellia sinensis tea leaf.

Is this tea caffeinated?

No. It's naturally caffeine-free, since none of its ingredients come from the tea plant — a classic evening choice for winding down before bed.

What's the difference between this and the bulk Midsummer Night's Dream blend?

They're the same botanical blend of chamomile, lemon balm, and the rest, just packaged differently. Midsummer Night's Dream Herbal Tea (bulk) is DABOV's larger-format version for drinkers who go through the blend quickly at home.

What does lemon balm taste like?

Bright and lemony with no actual citrus involved — a mint-family herb (Melissa officinalis) traditionally paired with chamomile in evening blends like this one.

Why are there sunflower petals in this blend?

Mainly for color and texture. The golden ray-floret petals add visual interest to the dried mix rather than a dominant flavor of their own.

How should I brew this tea?

Use water near boiling (208–212°F / 98–100°C), about a teaspoon per 8 oz cup, and steep 5–7 minutes — longer than a true tea, since there's no bitterness threshold to manage.