Lemon Tart with Chamomile Crust

Evoke springtime with this easy lemon tart recipe made with chamomile tea pastry and a dusting of chamomile-infused powdered sugar.

Commissioned recipe.

I love the beginning of spring, when the days grow long.

As the daffodils burst from beneath the thawing soil, I want to switch from stew to salad, from heavy spiced foods to zingy bright lemon.

This classic lemon tart (tarte au citron) is rich, flavourful and full of zing.

To highlight the sweet/sharp lemon filling, I've added some chamomile tea buds to the pastry. They add lovely floral notes that work beautifully with the lemon.

 It's simple to make and bursting with zingy lemon against the fragrant subtle chamomile notes.

To further enhance the subtle taste of the fragrant chamomile, I've made a quick and simple chamomile-infused powdered sugar to dust the top with.

Simply whiz a few tablespoons of granulated sugar in the blender with chamomile for a flowery scented sugar.

How to make homemade pastry

Don't be put off by making your own pastry.

I promise that it's really easy. With just a few store-cupboard ingredients and a few minutes, you can quickly and easily make your own.

You will need: 
Plain flour
Sugar
Salt
Cold butter
Egg yolk
Cold water
Chamomile tea (bags or buds)

You can easily make it by hand by rubbing the cold butter into the flour and then mixing in the yolk that has been stirred into the water.

However, my preferred method is by using a food processor. I like that I can just add all the ingredients and whiz until it comes together.

No sticky fingers! The advantage of using a food processor is that your hands don't warm the butter too much.

With pastry making, you want to keep things cold.

Another great part about making your own flaky, buttery homemade pastry is that you can add flavours, like this chamomile.

I also like to add cinnamon, chai spices and I even make vegetable pastry for desserts, like beetroot pastry.

What are the health benefits of chamomile tea?

- naturally caffeine free
- calming
- sleep-inducing properties
- relaxes muscles
- soothes anxiety

I infused the shortcrust pastry for this recipe with Chamomile tea from We Are Tea.

Why choose We Are Tea's chamomile infusion tea?
Our whole chamomile flower tea comes from the Egyptian plains and we use just the head to deliver the best tasting brew. These delicate chamomile flower heads are easily damaged as they are hand-picked, packed, transported etc. which inevitably leads to some dust. To minimise this, we recommend you treat your chamomile tea gently.

Did you know that “chamomile” derives from Latin and Greek and is less common than the French-derived “camomile”.

How to make the perfect cup of chamomile tea

Step 1: Use one whole leaf tea bag per cup or 1 teaspoon of loose buds in a stainer.

Step 2: Use freshly drawn boiled water. All herbal infusions can take full heat!

Step 3: Decide whether you want to leave your bag in and add ginger, lemon, or honey for a chamomile twist

Baking with tea

I love baking with tea. The rich aromas and flavours are perfect to add depth to all manner of desserts.

Check out my rooibos millionaire shortbread or beet chocolate truffles with smoky lapsang souchong tea.

How to make Chamomile Lemon Tart

1: crush the chamomile tea in a mortar and pestle

2: rub the butter into the flour until it forms crumbs, then add the yolk/water and mix with a knife until it comes together. Roll out on a lightly floured surface.

3: Line the pastry tin with the pastry, chill for 30 minutes, then line with baking paper and baking beans (or uncooked rice) and blind bake.

4: Whisk the eggs and sugar until smooth, mix in the cream then the lemon zest and juice. Pour into the pastry case and bake until just set.

Disclosure: This chamomile lemon tart recipe was commissioned by We Are Tea. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to write this food blog.

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