The dandelion is a lot greater than a bothersome weed in your garden. Dandelion is regarded as initially native to the Central Asian area, however has grow to be naturalized in lots of elements of the world, together with North America as a result of it actually “grows like a weed” in virtually any soil and local weather.
All through historical past, it has been generally known as meals, drugs and drink. As soon as recognized in France as Dent de Lion (lion’s tooth), the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is usually now generally known as a weed. But, at one time, the dandelion was so prized as a meals and medicinal plant that it was deliberately delivered to America by European settlers.
How you can Use Dandelion
For the forager, there isn’t a a part of the dandelion that should go to waste. Within the early spring, earlier than the flower buds have begun pushing up from the crown, dandelion greens make a particular addition to meals, both uncooked in a salad or smoothie, or cooked in coconut oil, butter or bacon fats, like spinach. (The presence of the fats with cooked dandelions will make the vitamins in them much more bioavailable!)
As soon as the flowers start to bloom and the leaves grow to be bitter, you possibly can decide them for consuming, drugs, or wine-making (recipe under). Dandelion flowers could be added contemporary to salads, sautéed, fried or steamed with different greens, or made into a pleasant jam or syrup.
The lengthy taproot of the dandelion is mostly dug when the plant enters its second yr of life. Typically, roots are harvested in summer time for medicinal functions or in autumn for roasting and grinding right into a chicory-flavored espresso substitute.
Dandelion seeds could be harvested all year long and are have traditionally been taken as a complement to heal the physique of varied illnesses, in addition to to develop subsequent yr’s crop.
Dandelion in Natural Medication
The dandelion is a part of Asian, Center Jap, European and Native American conventional therapeutic practices in addition to up to date natural drugs. Traditionally, dandelion had a various vary of therapeutic makes use of however at the moment’s herbalists primarily use it as an urge for food stimulant and digestive help.
The fashionable French identify for dandelion is pissenlit, which just about means “moist the mattress.” That’s as a result of the leaves is usually a gentle diuretic, serving to your physique take away extra water.
Dandelion leaves could be concentrated in teas and tinctures, and used to treat conditions affecting the liver, kidneys and gallbladder. Dandelion additionally has anti-diabetic properties, and research suggests that it could be useful in enhancing cardiovascular system operate and selling coronary heart well being.
Dandelion seeds may also be used to help reduce inflammation in the body, and they’re being studied as a breast cancer supplement.
Extra Dandelion Recipes
However What In regards to the Bees?
Many individuals fear that harvesting dandelions for meals or drugs will deprive bees of an necessary early spring meals supply. Nevertheless, the reality is, in temperate areas of the Northern hemisphere, dandelions are not a most well-liked meals supply for bees, as they lack very important amino acids that bees want.
In reality, bees vastly favor willow, maple, cherry, hazel, Oregon grape, wild violets, henbit, purple lifeless nettle, floor ivy, and chickweed—all of which bloom earlier than or concurrently dandelions.
And like all annual flowers, choosing a couple of dandelion blossoms solely causes them to bloom much more prolifically inside a day or two, so paradoxically, one of the best ways to make extra dandelions for the bees is to select them!
Dandelion flowers, leaves, and roots have been an necessary meals and drugs supply for people for hundreds of years. So long as we’re harvesting responsibly, we should always not really feel responsible for using a plant that has been part of human historical past for thus lengthy.
Dandelion Wine
Dandelion wine tastes such as you put summer time right into a glass. Early spring is the time to make it. Do not spray your weeds—give this dandelion wine recipe a strive as a substitute!
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Dissolve the yeast within the 1/4 cup of heat (not sizzling!) water. Put aside.
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Wash the dandelion blossoms properly, then separate the flower petals from the bottom of the blooms (sepals) so there isn’t a inexperienced left in any respect.
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Put the petals in a big pot with 4 quarts of water, and the orange, lemon and lime juices.
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Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar.
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Carry to a boil and proceed to softly boil for an hour, stirring often.
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Switch to a non-reactive container made from glass, enamel or ceramic.
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Cool to room temperature.
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Stir within the activated yeast.
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Let stand, lined at midnight, for 3 days, stirring usually.
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Pressure totally right into a 1-gallon airlock fermenting jar made from glass or ceramic.
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Set the fermenting jar in a darkened place for 3 or 4 weeks, or till wine clears.
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Decant into bottles and cork, or just take away the airlock and seal the gallon jar.
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Permit the wine to age in a cool, darkish place for at the very least 3 months; the longer, the higher.
Serving: 8ozEnergy: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 1gFats: 1gSaturated Fats: 1gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 1gSugar: 76gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 14.6mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.1mg
Up to date April 24, 2023.
