I’m sure you’ve noticed your beautiful green lawn speckled with yellow this time of year. I, personally, have a love/hate relationship with these feline flowers that eventually burst in thousands of whimsical, sneeze-inducing seeds in just a few short days. Yes, folks, we’re talking dandelions. Love them or hate them, they’re always going to be there.
Dandelions are often one of the first visible signs of spring. The grass gets a little greener as the temps warm and these little flowers start to pop up everywhere. Then my eyes get itchy and the sneezes seem to never stop, but I digress. Dandelions are some of the first food for emerging honeybees and they are very nutritious for us, as well!
I remember my grandma talking about her daddy (she always called him that, even into her 90’s) making dandelion wine and using dandelion greens for soup and salad. There’s free, nutrient-dense food that grows in your yard every spring! Let’s take a look inside:
Calcium: Dandelions are high calcium, which is great for helping keep bones strong.1
Vitamin C: Dandelions are rich in antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the immune system and for supporting collagen synthesis which essential for healthy skin and joints. 2,3
Liver health: Dandelion leaves and roots are great for flushing out toxins in the liver and keeps it functioning in tip-top shape.1
Pancreas health: Dandelions stimulate the production of insulin and can help regulate blood sugar.1
Urinary tract health: Dandelions are a natural diuretic which helps flush out toxins and bad bugs from the urinary tract.1
And so much more!
Tara drinks this dandelion root tea as a daily detoxifier. I love dandelion root tea as a coffee substitute with a little collagen or coconut creamer when my belly just isn’t up to drinking coffee. Dandelion root tea has a more roasted flavor than most teas and this makes it a suitable substitute for coffee. I say “suitable” because it’s certainly not coffee (I mean, c’mon, only coffee is coffee), but it will do when you have an upset belly—it might even help ease your symptoms!
One of my favorite spring treats to have with the kids is dandelion iced tea. I have them run out and pick a bowl full of the prettiest, yellowest dandelions around. It’s totally a game to them with a sweet treat at the end. We leave plenty for the bees, of course. Then, we give them a good rinse, pour over some piping-hot filtered water, and let it steep for about 30 minutes. Once steeped and cooled a little, we add lemon juice and our favorite local raw honey. Then, pour into a pretty glass with lots of ice and enjoy this bountiful springtime treat with added health benefits!
Just a word of caution: please do not use dandelions from an area where herbicides, pesticides, or any other chemicals may have been sprayed. Those do not belong in your tea!
References:
- https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/23891/20190925/10-health-benefits-of-dandelions.htm
- https://www.gaiaherbs.com/blogs/herbs/dandelion
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c-supplements-89083
Dandelion Tea
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups dandelion flowers
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2-4 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2-4 Tbsp raw honey this one is good if you can't find local raw honey
- 1 cup ice plus extra for serving
Instructions
- Rinse and drain dandelion flowers, then place in a glass pitcher or 4-cup glass measuring cup. Pour boiling water over dandelion flowers, give a quick stir, and let steep for about 30 minutes. Add lemon juice and honey, starting with the lower amounts and adding more of each to suit your taste. We like it on the upper end of both the lemon juice and honey. Add ice (it will melt pretty quickly). Pour into an ice-filled glass and enjoy!