What microbiological standard applies to chamomile used in EU food and beverage products?

EU Regulation 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs is the primary compliance reference. For dried chamomile as a food ingredient, suppliers should declare Total Aerobic Count, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, and confirm Salmonella absence in 25 g. These parameters should appear on the batch CoA from an accredited laboratory.

What Brix should I specify when purchasing chamomile concentrate for a ready-to-drink beverage?

Chamomile aqueous extract concentrates are typically supplied at 4–8 °Brix for direct-use applications, or 12–20 °Brix for dilution-to-specification formulations. The target Brix should be written into your purchase specification along with the extraction solvent (water, glycol, or blend), so the CoA can confirm the declared value refractometrically per batch.

Can TANDOR supply EU-Organic certified chamomile, and what documentation is provided?

Yes. TANDOR sources chamomile certified under EU-Organic Regulation 2018/848. Documentation includes the current operator certificate from an accredited EU control body, the transaction certificate (TC) for the specific lot, and the batch CoA. Buyers should verify that the operator certificate scope covers the specific product category and processing step.

What is the realistic minimum order quantity for food-grade dried chamomile through a sourcing intermediary?

For dried chamomile flower heads at food grade, MOQs through an intermediary typically start at 100–500 kg per origin batch. IQF chamomile and liquid concentrates carry higher minimums due to cold-chain and production run economics. TANDOR can advise on the current MOQ per origin and form based on active supply availability.

Chamomile for Food & Beverage | EU Sourcing – TANDOR

Which Chamomile Form Is Right for Your Production Line?

The correct chamomile format depends on your process: infusion blending, beverage manufacturing, or functional food formulation each demands a different physical and chemical profile.

Dried Chamomile Flower Heads

Dried flower heads (whole or cut-and-sifted) remain the dominant form for herbal tea blends and dry beverage mixes. Key food-grade specifications include:

Moisture content: ≤ 12% (consistent with European Pharmacopoeia monograph guidance and standard trade practice for stable shelf life)
Total ash: ≤ 12% (indicative of mineral load and processing hygiene)
Essential oil content: typically ≥ 0.4 ml/100 g for flavour-active material, though this varies by origin and harvest year
Particle size: declared by sieve fraction (e.g. cut 1–4 mm for teabag fill; whole flower for premium loose-leaf)
Foreign matter: ≤ 2% by weight, stems and non-floral material declared separately

For EU food use, dried chamomile must comply with Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 microbiological criteria. Relevant limits include total aerobic count, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella (absent in 25 g), and E. coli. Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins are controlled under Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (as amended). Pesticide MRLs are set under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

IQF Chamomile Flowers

IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) chamomile is the preferred form when the application requires intact flower morphology—premium RTD botanical beverages, functional shots, or garnish-grade formats. IQF processing locks aromatics and apigenin-glucoside content at harvest, reducing enzymatic degradation.

Blast-frozen at ≤ −30 °C core temperature within hours of harvest
Cold-chain maintained at −18 °C throughout logistics
Microbiological specifications apply post-thaw; Regulation 2073/2005 criteria remain the compliance reference
Declared net weight after glazing (if any) must be clearly specified in the purchase contract
IQF chamomile carries a higher unit cost and stricter cold-chain MOQ than dried; minimum volumes are typically pallet-level (≥ 300 kg net) depending on origin and season

Chamomile Extracts & Concentrates

For ready-to-drink beverage producers, liquid formats eliminate in-house extraction and standardise batch-to-batch flavour delivery.

Aqueous extract (infusion concentrate): typically supplied at 4–8 °Brix (refractometric soluble solids); higher Brix versions (12–20 °Brix) available for dilution-to-label-claim applications
Glycolic extract: used where alcohol-free and water-miscible carrier is required; declare carrier solvent and ratio on CoA
Spray-dried powder: water-soluble, instantised; moisture ≤ 5%, carrier (e.g. maltodextrin) declared; useful for powder beverage sachets and nutraceutical blends
Apigenin content (as apigenin-7-glucoside) should be declared per batch for functional labelling; standardised extracts quote this as a percentage of dry weight
All concentrates require full allergen declaration per EU Regulation 1169/2011 (Annex II); chamomile itself is not a listed allergen, but carrier solvents and anti-caking agents may be

Contaminant & Allergen Panel for EU Food Buyers

A compliant chamomile CoA for food and beverage use should cover, at minimum:

Microbiological: Total Plate Count, Yeasts & Moulds, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella spp. (per Reg. 2073/2005), E. coli
Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2; Ochratoxin A (per Reg. 1881/2006)
Pesticide residues: multi-residue screen per Reg. 396/2005 (minimum 200-compound panel recommended for EU retail supply chains)
Heavy metals: Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic (per Reg. 1881/2006 and buyer-specific limits)
PAHs: Benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 sum where smoke-drying cannot be excluded
Allergens: cross-contact risk statement; Asteraceae/Compositae family sensitivity is relevant for end-product labelling even though not an EU Annex II allergen

TANDOR provides a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) per batch, referencing the accredited laboratory that performed testing. This is non-negotiable for EU food-grade supply.

Certifications That Matter for Food & Beverage Sourcing

EU Organic: Certified under Regulation (EU) 2018/848, with operator certificates issued by an accredited control body (e.g. Ecoinspect, Ecocert, LACON). The certificate must cover the specific product code and operator; TANDOR can supply the current operator certificate alongside the CoA.
ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000: Processor-level food safety management; confirm certification scope covers botanical processing
Kosher / Halal: Available on request from specific supply partners; declared on CoA
BRC / IFS: Relevant where downstream retail customer mandates it; confirm with processor

Origin, MOQ, and Processing Realities

Chamomile for EU food use is commercially grown primarily in Egypt, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Argentina. Origin matters for:

Pesticide profile: EU-origin material is grown under EU MRL rules by default; non-EU origin requires import control and explicit pesticide screen
Harvest season: Northern hemisphere dried material is typically available July–September; Southern hemisphere (Argentina) offsets this
Processing traceability: From which farm or cooperative, which dryer type (belt vs. tunnel), and at what temperature—all affect residual moisture uniformity and essential oil retention

Practical MOQs for food-grade dried chamomile are typically 100–500 kg per origin per batch for intermediary-sourced material; IQF and extract formats carry higher minimums. TANDOR consolidates multi-origin offers to let buyers compare specifications before committing volume.

Why Source Through TANDOR?

TANDOR is a Romania-based EU sourcing intermediary specialising in botanical raw materials for food, beverage, and nutraceutical producers.

Multi-origin access: Single point of contact for EU-origin and third-country chamomile, with simultaneous CoA comparison across origins
Batch-level CoA: Every shipment is accompanied by an accredited laboratory CoA matching the specific lot; no recycled documents
EU-Organic supply chain: Operator-certified under Reg. 2018/848; documentation chain from farm to warehouse
Specification alignment: TANDOR reviews your internal spec sheet and matches it against available material before any sample or order commitment—reducing reformulation risk
EU regulatory alignment: All offers are pre-screened for Reg. 2073/2005, Reg. 396/2005, and Reg. 1881/2006 compliance as a baseline

Chamomile for Food & Beverage Producers | EU Sourcing