It may be small, but it packs a big flavor. Pineapple weed, or wild chamomile as many call it (it's technically not) is a great wild herb anyone can learn to use. Like the name implies, it has a taste reminiscent of pineapple and chamomile. Most know it as an herb to use for tea, but there's a lot you can do with this plant.
Native to Northeast Asia, pineapple weed is a common, invasive perennial across North America in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It's common in disturbed areas, yards and gardens. It likes poor compacted soil, so I usually see it around gravel driveways.
This plant is common in urban areas, but make sure you harvest from a place you know is clean. The wild edges of bike trails and an old logging road are two examples of places I harvest from.
The most common scientific name is Matricaria discoidea, but it's also known as Chamomilla suaveolens. It's related to Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) used to make chamomile tea and fragrances, as well as German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).
Below: a bowl of wild chamomile flowers will pack more flavor than just sprigs.
How to Identify Pineapple Weed (Wild Chamomile)
Unlike its cousins, pineapple weed lacks white ray flowers, they only have a compact, single cone-shaped flower head made of green disk flowers that bloom from June-July.
The stems are tough, and the dark green leaves are finely divided and frilly looking. The flowers, leaves and stems all have a pleasant pineapple smell when crushed, with the dome-shaped flowers being the most potent.
Pineapple Weed Uses
With its pleasant, fruity flavor and lack of bitterness, pineapple weed is one of the easiest wild herbs to cook with for beginning foragers.
The flowers, leaves and tender stems can be added salads. I had a pastry chef who made pineapple ice cream and sorbet. But, like its cousins, most will know is as an herb for tea.
The aroma of the flowers is also soluble in sugar alcohol, and can be made into syrups, drinks, cordials and liqueurs.
To harvest, cut the plant with scissors, then bring it inside and refresh in cold water for 15 minutes. Drain well, then roll in a towel and store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Pineapple Weed Syrup
A fresh syrup that tastes like chamomile with a subtle note of pineapple for using in drinks and desserts. Take 3 oz (3 cups) of fresh pineapple weed (or ½ cup dry) and mix with 1 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar.
Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from the heat and cool. Allow to infuse overnight, then strain and store in jar in the fridge. Makes about 2 cups.
Salad with Pineapple Weed
Adding the flowers to salad was the first way I served this plant in a restaurant. Toss whole flowers into a salad, dress with oil and a sweetened vinegar like fruit scrap vinegar, salt and pepper. You can also add a touch of maple syrup.
The bursts of pineapple flavor are delicious, and, as you might guess, are also good in fruit salads.
Pineapple Weed Lemonade
A perfect cold drink for the summer when the plants are readily available. Make a large batch of pineapple weed tea from fresh or dried plants. Start with 1 cup of flowers per gallon or 3-4 cups leaves and flowers.
Season the tea to taste with pineapple weed syrup and fresh squeeze lemon juice. You can also just add fresh flowers, gently squeezed to release their aroma, to your favorite lemonade recipe.
Pineapple Weed Tea
The most classic pineapple weed recipe is tea (technically a tisane as it isn't made with Camellia sinensis). It's delicious, tastes slightly of pineapple, and is so easy a recipe is hardly necessary. It's one of the best wild herb teas I know.
Pineapple Weed Tea
Equipment
- 1 Tea pot or steam kettle
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8oz) boiling water
- 1-2 tablespoon pineapple weed flowers or small sprigs including stems
- 1 teaspoon Honey, to taste optional
Instructions
- Put the flowers in a mug and pour the boiling water over.
- Allow to infuse for 5-10 minutes. Sweeten to taste with honey if you like, and take time to enjoy the floral aroma as you enjoy it.
- Some strain the tea but I hardly find it necessary.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Pineapple Weed Medicinal Uses
Growing up occasionally having chamomile tea I know it as a mild sleep-aid or sedative. On paper the plant isn't held to have medicinal properties, but many people will compare its uses to those of chamomile.
Chamomile chamomile has been used as a mild sedative, a treatment for stomach cramps and as a digestive aid. Probably the most interesting thing I've found is that it's been used as a natural mosquito repellent, with research isolating and verifying the active compounds, according to Sam Thayer's field guide.
April Love
I'm sorry. It wasn't a YouTube Video, it was a blogspot. http://hickeryhollerfarm.blogspot.com/2012/05/cutworms.html
April Lynn Love
I recently (well, last summer) found another very significant use for pineapple weed. From hickory holler farms, (a you tube video i found on the internet when looking up cutworm problems), I discovered that pineapple weed tea is that gardener's first choice for getting rid of them in his vegetable garden. As cutworms have always in the past destroyed my new bean seedlings in our vegetable garden and I prefer natural solutions, I decided to give it a try. I tried it and it worked beautifully! Best bean crop ever!
Alan Bergo
Very cool April. Thanks for sharing. 😊
April Love
You're very welcome!
Griffin
I've been looking around to see if anyone's had experience with making gummy-like or other solid candies with pineapple weed as a flavorant; I've always been a massive fan of artificial pineapple flavor and considering how frequently I find these flowers, it would be a great way to get a consistent supply. Please let me know if any of y'all have any knowledge on this.
Alan Bergo
Hey that's a fun idea. I have limited knowledge of sugar work, but I do have some. I would start by heating, pureeing, and straining unfiltered apple juice with as much pineapple weed as possible. Then I'd proceed with a basic recipe for pate de fruits.
Susanna
I'm having trouble finding canning recipes for pineappleweed syrup; is there a reason that it wouldn't can as well as so many syrups? Do you have any suggestions for a shelf-stable storage option (for gift purposes)?
Alan Bergo
This can be waterbath canned just fine. treat as pickles. The FDA doesn't like it, but you can also treat it like maple syrup, pour the boiling hot syrup into jars, adding 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice per cup of syrup. Screw on the lids and turn them upside down and wait for them to seal.
Amy
Thanks for raising the profile of pineapple weed, and uses beyond tea! Found a big healthy patch yesterday and picked a bunch. Then found a huge puffball on a meadow walk this morning so making puffball burgers (cooking in garlic butter and Montreal steak spice) and serving with ‘salsa’ of cucumber red onion and pineapple weed (and vinegar salt oil). Camping so options are limited but fun! Wish I could send pic
Alan Bergo
That sounds delicious Amy.
Jan Wirth
I infuse heavy cream with pineapple weed when making posset. Lovely served with fresh berries.
Alan Bergo
Thanks for sharing Jan. My pastry chef would puree them in cream after simmering for ice cream. Worked well, but I'd like to run a basic infusion too-sounds great.
Laura
Pineapple weed is also wonderful in natural ferments. I have one going right now with spruce tips and I always add it when I make tepache, the Mexican drink of fermented pineapple rind.
Alan Bergo
That's a great idea.
Dan F
I go way back with this one. I used to gather it on campus when I was in college. I was familiar with chamomile tea, and discovered one day that these flowers growing along every social trail through the campus lawn smelled just like the tea I was drinking, so I assumed for years that that is just what it was. Me and pineapple weed are old friends.
Alan Bergo
Such a nice tea. Made a few gallons for an event yesterday and everyone loved it.
Hannah Bahler
I have two gallons on pineapple weed tea brewing currently. I will mix it with a rhubarb syrup and vanilla (also maybe seltzer water) for a delicious spring drink. It grows all over here, around the edges of gravel parking lots etc
Alan Bergo
Yes it’s just great. I made two gallons for a private event this morning sweetened with Angelica syrup. An hour before serving I’ll add a bunch of bruised anise hyssop.