Chamomile tea is not alkaline. It falls in the pH range of 6 to 7, making it slightly acidic to neutral. For context, pure water sits at a pH of 7 (perfectly neutral), and anything below that is acidic. So while chamomile is one of the least acidic teas you can drink, it doesn’t cross into alkaline territory.
Where Chamomile Falls on the pH Scale
The pH scale runs from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly alkaline), with 7 as the neutral midpoint. Chamomile tea typically lands between 6 and 7, which places it in the “very mildly acidic” category. That’s considerably gentler than black tea (pH 4.9 to 5.5) or green tea (pH 7 to 10, depending on preparation), and far less acidic than coffee, which usually falls between 4.8 and 5.1.
Chamomile, mint, and fennel teas all share this same 6 to 7 pH range, making herbal infusions as a group some of the most neutral beverages available. Because chamomile sits so close to neutral, it’s unlikely to irritate acid-sensitive tissues in the esophagus or stomach the way more acidic drinks can.
Why People Ask About Alkalinity
Most people searching this question are either following an alkaline diet or managing acid reflux. In both cases, the goal is the same: avoid foods and drinks that are too acidic. The good news is that chamomile’s near-neutral pH makes it a safe choice for either situation, even though it’s not technically alkaline.
If you’re concerned about acid reflux specifically, chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that may help ease digestive discomfort when you drink it after meals or before bed. It won’t neutralize stomach acid the way an antacid does, but it can help with reflux symptoms driven by inflammation or stress. That said, there’s no strong clinical evidence that chamomile directly treats acid reflux itself.
Tea Won’t Change Your Body’s pH
One important thing to understand: no tea, alkaline or acidic, will meaningfully shift your blood pH. Your body maintains blood pH in a tight window of 7.35 to 7.45 through constant adjustments in breathing and kidney function. Drinking a slightly acidic cup of chamomile, or even a highly alkaline glass of water, won’t move that number. The “alkaline diet” may have benefits related to eating more fruits and vegetables, but those benefits don’t come from literally making your blood more alkaline.
How Additives Change the Picture
What you add to your chamomile tea matters more than the tea itself when it comes to acidity. A squeeze of lemon juice (pH around 2) will drop the overall pH noticeably, making your cup more acidic. Honey is mildly acidic as well, with a pH between 3.4 and 6.1 depending on the variety. If you’re trying to keep your drink as close to neutral as possible, plain chamomile with nothing added is your best bet.
Milk, on the other hand, has a pH of about 6.5 to 6.7, which is close to chamomile’s own range. Adding a splash won’t shift the acidity much in either direction.
Chamomile Compared to Other Teas
If you’re choosing a tea specifically because you want something low in acidity, here’s how the options stack up. Black tea is the most acidic of the common teas, typically falling below pH 5.5. Green tea varies widely depending on how it’s brewed but can range from neutral to slightly alkaline. Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and fennel cluster together in the 6 to 7 range, making them the gentlest options overall.
For anyone with a sensitive stomach or esophagus, chamomile is one of the safest tea choices precisely because it hovers so close to neutral. It’s not alkaline in the strict chemical sense, but it’s about as close to water’s pH as a flavored beverage gets.