Among health circles, dandelion tea is all the rage. It is often served lightly sweetened with a natural sweetener such as stevia. Believe it or not, dandelion tea is often referred to as dandelion coffee. Dandelion tea has a texture and appearance that is very similar to coffee. When brewed, however, it produces a golden yellow liquid with a classic tea taste. While dandelion tea can be found in grocery stores, it’s beyond easy to make by gathering up flowers from your own backyard!
Benefits
The verdict on the health benefits of dandelion tea are still out there. Proponents of the tea claim that dandelion tea is the perfect remedy for everything from indigestion to joint pain. It also acts as a natural laxative, and can aid in bowel movements for the elderly. Caution must be taken when consuming dandelion tea however. Not much is known about its effects during pregnancy. Because dandelion is technically a weed, those who are allergic to weeds such as ragweed may experience a severe reaction when consuming dandelion tea. However, moderation is key. The occasional dandelion tea indulgence is likely harmless.
Making the tea
How does one make dandelion tea? The first thing you need is dandelions. You can get these from your own yard! Keep in mind however that you yard must be pesticide free, or you run the risk of taking in nasty chemicals. To be sure, wash off the dandelions you have gathered before use. Using water with a slight amount of vinegar added should do the trick. Simply dunk them in the mixture a few times, and then rinse them off in the sink to get any left over vinegar off.
Once you have gathered your dandelions, there are three ways you can craft you tea! All three parts of the dandelion flower can be made into tea: the flower itself, the leaves, and the roots. In order to make tea out of the flower, simply put the flower petals in a cup of hot water, and let it steep for twenty minutes. You can then strain the flower petals out, or you can even eat them!
To make tea out of the leaves, take some of the younger leaves farther down the stem on the flower. Chop them up, and let them steep for around ten to fifteen minutes. The longer you let them steep, the more bitter the final product will be. Finally, you can even make tea out of the roots! In order to do this, you need to make sure the roots are extremely clean. Thoroughly wash them a few times to get any dirt and soil that will undoubtedly be on them off. Once you’ve cleaned them off thoroughly, chop them up into little pieces and put them on a cookie sheet in the oven. Bake them at 300 degrees for two hours. The roots should come out dark brown, looking almost like coffee beans. After this, simply put it in some hot water and let is steep for ten minutes!
