Home / Herbal / Turkey / Linden Flower

Herbal (tisane) · Ihlamur

Linden Flower

Lime blossom, tilleul, ıhlamur, Tilia

7.2/10 editor's score

Dried flowers and bracts of linden (lime) trees make a sweet, floral tea. In Turkey, ıhlamur is one of the most popular herbal teas.

Caffeine-freeFloralTurkish
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this herbCompare

Tisane, not from Camellia sinensis. Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dried linden flowers, top-down

What you need

2 g dried flowersLinden Flower
250 ml water100°C
Steep 5:002 steeps
InfusionPale gold
Served inMug or cup

At a glance

Dried flowers and bracts of linden (lime) trees make a sweet, floral tea.

CaffeineCaffeine-free
Beginner fit9.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestEarly summerFlowers picked in early summer [2].
Pairs withHoney, Lemon, SimitLess good with strong spice
Grown asLowland and hill forestsVarious regions, Popular as ıhlamur
Served inMug or cupA general choice

About Linden Flower

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe linden flowers as strongly scented and very attractive to bees 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it is grown

Various regionsPopular as ıhlamurTURKEY
Plant
Tilia, the linden or lime tree 1
Flowers
Yellow-green, strongly scented, in early summer 12
Bees
An important honey plant 1
In Turkey
Ihlamur is a popular herbal tea 3

More from Various regions and Turkey.

History and culture

In Turkey, linden flower (ıhlamur çayı) is one of the most popular herbal teas with visitors 3.

Editor's score

7.2/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the plant, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 6.0Origin & heritage: 6.5Availability: 8.0Value: 9.0Beginner-friendliness: 9.0Versatility: 7.0Flavour 6.0Heritage 6.5Availability 8.0Value 9.0Beginners 9.0Versatility 7.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Linden Flower0 mg

Linden is caffeine-free. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

A short early-summer harvest. Tap a month or a season.

The plant

Tilia trees, including the small-leaved lime, Tilia cordata 2.

How it is made
01Picking

Flowers and bracts picked 2.

02Drying

Dried in shade.

Dry herb and infusion
Dry flowersPale green bracts with small dried flowers.
LiquorPale gold.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft bracts and flowers.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Honey
  • Lemon
  • Simit

Best avoided

  • Strong spice

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and moisture.
  • Dried flowers and leaves lose aroma within about a year.
  • Buy small amounts and keep away from spices and coffee, which taint the smell.
Quality and buying

Whole flowers with bracts are best.

Buying tips

  1. Should smell sweet and floral.
  2. Store dry and dark.
FAQ
Is linden the same as lime?

Yes: in Britain linden trees are called limes, unrelated to the citrus.

Find it inHerbal infusionsTeas from TurkeyVarious regionsCaffeine-freeFloralTurkish

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Tilia". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilia
  2. Wikipedia, "Tilia cordata". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilia_cordata
  3. Wikipedia, "Tea in Turkey". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_in_Turkey
  4. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.