Our yard and gardens have loads of dandelion crops, and we put them to good use. The seeds, flowers, leaves, and roots are edible and medicinal. As a substitute of attempting to eradicate it, we needs to be celebrating its resilience and plenty of makes use of. I hope these dandelion root tea recipes will encourage you to understand this humble natural ally.
Earlier than you make your tea…
For those who’re harvesting your personal dandelion roots, make sure that they arrive from an space freed from pesticides and pollution. Ideally, the realm the place you harvest needs to be herbicide free for no less than three years. I like to assemble them from my backyard beds, the place the roots develop deep and fats.
It’s greatest to reap roots when the crops usually are not in flower. Late summer time and fall roots have extra medicinal compounds. Early spring roots are a bit sweeter. Clear them totally to take away any dust.
These recipes are for Frequent Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale. For those who need assistance with dandelion identification, take a look at our major dandelion article. For extra particulars on harvesting, cleansing, and drying, see “Harvesting and Utilizing Dandelion Roots“.
This straightforward natural tea helps liver perform, flushing toxins out of the physique, which in flip promotes clear pores and skin. Dandelion is a sparing diuretic, as a result of it comprises excessive ranges of potassium. Most pharmaceutical diuretics deplete potassium ranges within the physique.
Consuming dandelion tea gently stimulate mucus membranes, which additionally helps to attract out toxins. Inulin and levulin discovered within the roots aids digestion and helps the physique to control blood sugar. You should definitely drink loads of good, clear water along with your tea, particularly if you happen to drink bigger quantities. This helps the cleaning motion work extra successfully.
Learn how to Make Dandelion Root Tea
Teas made out of roots are sometimes ready as “decoctions”. A decoction makes use of water and additional warmth, and is usually used for robust supplies like roots and bark. Leaf and flower teas are sometimes “infusions”, the place boiling water is poured over the herbs and left to take a seat, with out addition warmth.
Components
- Recent or dried dandelion root items (2 – 3 teaspoons per cup of water)
- Water
- Optionally available: Sweetener like honey, or a slice of lemon for taste
Step-by-Step Directions
Put together the Roots: If utilizing contemporary roots, chop them into small items. For dried roots, you should utilize them as they’re or roast them for a nuttier taste. (See under for roasting directions.)
Simmer the Roots: In a small pot, add the chopped or dried roots to the water. Cowl and produce to a boil on medium excessive warmth. Scale back the warmth to low and let the roots simmer for 10-Quarter-hour.
Pressure and Serve: Pressure the tea right into a mug. Compost the spent roots, or feed them to your chickens. (The roots plump up throughout cooking.) Add sweeteners or lemon, if desired.
Take pleasure in Heat or Chilly: You possibly can take pleasure in dandelion root tea heat, or let it cool and serve it over ice.
Sip this easy therapeutic tea to assist digestion, promote urination, and as a normal tonic. Devour it repeatedly, as much as three cups per day, for essentially the most advantages.
Adjusting the Taste
Personally, I moderately benefit from the taste of plain dandelion root tea. It’s earthy, with a mineral style, and fewer bitter than some medicinal herbs. That stated, I discover it extra nice to sip on separate from a meal. Mixing it with meals accentuates the bitterness.
In case you are one of many individuals who can’t tolerate bitter, there are a number of choices to make your dandelion root tea style higher. Simmer for under 10 minutes for a milder brew. (Longer cooking and extra warmth = stronger taste.)
Add somewhat honey, ginger honey, or maple syrup, for easy sweetness. Strive a scant pinch of salt with the honey, or a squeeze of lemon, for a extra complicated taste. Simmer with a little bit of ginger root or cinnamon to boost the brew and add a warming twist.
Roasted Dandelion Root Tea Recipe (Dandelion “Espresso”)
To make an natural espresso substitute, begin with dried dandelion roots. Chop or break into small, even items, roughly 1/4″ throughout. (You need to use contemporary roots, but it surely’s tough to get them cooked by means of and keep away from scorching.)
Unfold on a roasting pan and bake in a heat oven (200°F, 93°C) for round 4 hours. Stir sometimes to advertise even roasting. Alternatively, you’ll be able to roast the dried root bits in a forged iron pan, stirring always, till they’re darkish brown.
The dandelion roots needs to be browned and dried utterly by means of. Cool roots utterly earlier than use or storage.
Grind and use as you’ll common espresso, or place 1 heaping teaspoon of floor root in a cup of sizzling water. Steep for 10 minutes and pressure. For stronger taste, gently simmer the bottom roots with water in a small pan for 5-10 minutes earlier than straining.
Retailer roasted roots in an hermetic glass jar and grind simply earlier than use for greatest taste.
Dandelion Tea Mix Recipes
Listed here are two blended dandelion tea recipes from Dandelion Drugs. These mix decoctions (lengthy cook dinner) and infusions (steeped brews). This ebook is a treasure trove of dandelion lore and recipes, and one in every of favourite “weed” references.
I’m-Sick-of-Cellulite Dandelion Tea Mix
Assist your physique metabolize fat and enhance elimination of wastes with these cleaning herbs.
First, make the infusion. Begin with 1/2 ounce every (dried), or 1 ounce every (contemporary):
Cowl the leaves with 1 cup boiling water. Put a lid on an steep for no less than Quarter-hour, after which pressure.
Then, make the decoction. Begin with 1/2 ounce every (dried), or 1 ounce every (contemporary):
Place the roots in a pan with one cup of water. Convey to a boil, cowl, and simmer for 20 minutes. Pressure and compost the spent roots.
Mix the dandelion leaf infusion and the dandelion root decoction to make the anti-cellulate tea. Serve the tea heat or chilly, with a touch of honey for sweetening. Refrigerate any leftovers and use inside a number of days.
Decongestant Tea
This dandelion root tea mix helps the physique to clear phlegm and open the lungs and sinuses.
First, make the infusion. Begin with 1/2 ounce every (dried), or 1 ounce every (contemporary):
Cowl the leaves with 1 cup boiling water. Put a lid on an steep for no less than Quarter-hour, after which pressure.
Then, make the decoction. Place 1/2 ounce dried dandelion root or 1 ounce contemporary dandelion root in a pot with one cup of water. Convey to a boil, cowl, and simmer for 20 minutes. Pressure and compost the spent roots.
Mix the leaf infusion and the foundation decoction to make the decongestant tea. Greatest served heat, with a little bit of honey or lemon.
Well being Advantages of Dandelion Root Tea
Dandelion root tea has an extended historical past as a folks treatment, and trendy science helps these makes use of.
- Helps Digestive Well being. Dandelion root has delicate laxative properties and may stimulate urge for food and digestion. It helps promote the manufacturing of bile, aiding within the breakdown of fat and bettering general digestion.
- Detoxifies the Liver. Historically, dandelion root has been used as a pure liver cleanser. It might assist enhance liver perform by selling cleansing and decreasing liver irritation.
- Wealthy in Antioxidants. Dandelion root comprises excessive ranges of antioxidants, which might help neutralize dangerous free radicals, decreasing oxidative stress and supporting general mobile well being.
- Helps Kidney Well being. As a pure diuretic, dandelion root tea might help flush extra fluids and toxins from the kidneys. This will likely scale back water retention and assist kidney perform.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties. The compounds in dandelion root could assist scale back irritation within the physique, which is linked to many power ailments.
- Could Assist Regulate Blood Sugar Ranges. Some research counsel that dandelion root could assist stabilize blood sugar ranges. This makes it a possible ally for individuals managing diabetes or prediabetes.
- Promotes Pores and skin Well being. By aiding liver cleansing and offering anti-inflammatory advantages, dandelion root tea may additionally contribute to clearer, more healthy pores and skin.
Cautions and Contraindications
Whereas dandelion root tea is usually protected, some individuals could expertise allergic reactions or digestive discomfort. Begin with small quantities to see how your physique responds. Keep away from consuming it proper earlier than bedtime, except you wish to stand up to pee within the evening.
As a diuretic, the tea could flush drugs by means of your system extra rapidly. All the time seek the advice of your healthcare supplier in case you are on prescription drugs. A cup of tea needs to be fantastic, however bigger quantities could have surprising unwanted side effects.
Last Ideas
Dandelion root tea is easy and nourishing. We frequently collect the crops whereas getting ready backyard beds for cultivated crops, getting two harvests from one plot. We depart some younger crops at backyard edges to fill out for later harvest.
In ‘The Wild Knowledge of Weeds”, the creator quotes a good friend, noting, “Dandelion can be a uncommon plant if individuals knew it’s well being potential.” It’s time to revive these treatments to make use of, and with them, hopefully restore our well being.
Extra Dandelion Recipes
Edible from high to backside, this versatile wild plant packs plenty of vitamin. Take pleasure in these dandelion recipes:
This text is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie is a lifelong learner with a ardour for pure treatments and holistic therapeutic. She’s efficiently improved her eyesight and cleared her psoriasis.
