Feverfew

Why we love this botanical

F everfew opens with a pronounced, dry-herbal scent that instantly reminds one of sunny field edges. The floral undertone is subtle, while a fine bitterness gives the whole character without becoming hard. The herb feels mature and precise: a botanical accent that offers tension and clarity to an infusion. Feverfew invites attentive tasting, with a flavor that is both slender and layered.

When feverfew steeps, the profile shifts from fresh floral to a precise, dry spiciness with an elegant bitter tone. The infusion remains light in structure but clearly gains more length. In blends, feverfew acts as a refiner: it makes sweet botanicals slenderer, gives floral elements direction, and brings citrus more focus. This creates an infusion that feels mature, clear, and invitingly balanced.

Habitat & Origin

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a traditional European garden herb from the hilly regions of Southeastern Europe. The plant grows best in sunny, dry spots with calcareous, well-drained soil. In early summer, countless daisy-like flowers appear with a fresh, field-herbal scent. For infusions, mainly the young flowering tops are harvested, after which they are loosely dried to preserve bitter substances and aromatic oils. Maison Tisane selects feverfew based on leaf purity, flower intensity, and a bright, green nose—so that the infusion remains refined without harsh edges.

Active compounds

Feverfew contains a distinct profile of sesquiterpene lactones (including parthenolide), bitter compounds, and aromatic oils. Together, they give the herb its dry, tonic spiciness with a wildflower-like undertone. The bitters ensure a long, precise aftertaste, while the aromatic fraction adds a fine, spicy floral hint. In infusions, feverfew acts as a mature, refining touch that makes sweeter or softer botanicals feel just a bit slenderer and sharper.

The Tanacetum parthenium, pure and in full growth

Ayurvedic approach

Feverfew has a cool, sharp-floral signature that mainly relieves Pitta and gives Kapha a light movement, while Vata is approached softly due to the dry bitterness. In European herbal traditions, it was called 'garden bitter': a plant symbolizing clarity and alertness. Energetically, feverfew feels like a streak of fresh wind in an open field: precise, slightly astringent, and ordering without heaviness.

Thermal energy (Virya) cooling

Pitta

Balancing

Increasing Balancing

Effect: strong balancing

Vata

Increasing

Increasing Balancing

Effect: light increasing

Kapha

Balancing

Increasing Balancing

Effect: light balancing

Flavour profile & Blending

Intensity

Strong

Accessibility

Accessible

Character

bitter, lingering, vegetal, resinous

Role in the blend

Very strong herb (1–2.5%): only small amounts are needed, as the herb can quickly become overpowering.

The indicated percentage refers to the approximate weight proportion of this herb within the total blend, but it can of course be adjusted to give the herb a more dominant or more subtle role.

Feverfew contrasts by making floral and sweeter botanicals sharper and more precise through its dry, tonic bitterness. It brings up the honey tone of chamomile, gives lemon verbena more arc of tension, and tempers the warmth of sage or thyme. In combination with yarrow, a mature, clear herbal profile is created that gives blends structure and direction. Feverfew functions primarily as a refiner: it makes complex blends slenderer, more attentive, and less sweet without losing aromatic richness.

Feverfew works particularly well with dishes that benefit from a tonic, fresh-bitter accent: citrus tarts, grapefruit compote, light goat cheese, salads with fennel or radicchio, and spicy vegetable preparations. The subtle bitterness cuts through fat and sweet, making flavors feel tighter and more precise. In desserts, it tempers excessive sweetness and adds a mature gastronomic touch.

More flavour details

Selection guide (aroma directions)

Intensity

Freshness

Citrus

Fruity

Floral

Spicy / Herbal

Earthy / Woody

Food pairing (structure)

Sweetness

Sourness

Bitterness

Astringency

Body

Aftertaste length

Sharpness / Pungency

Blending notes: vegetal (6/10), resinous (5/10)

Experience Feverfew

Discover the versatility of this botanical in our blends, or use it as the foundation for your own creation in our Blendstudio.

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Why we love this botanical