Harvesting dandelions offers a myriad of possibilities. The leaves are tasty in salads and delicious brewed for tea. The flowers can be made into a wonderful syrup. And the roots? Perfect for making coffee.
Dandelion coffee is also delicious served hot on a cool night around a campfire. Spike it with a little piece of dark chocolate stirred in and some orange zest. Then add warmed milk. So gooood!
Healthy hit
Dandelions have been advocated to support health in myriad ways:
- very high in calcium
- good source of iron, zinc, and potassium
- filled with vitamins such as A, C, D, and B
Harvest dandelion— not just any old weed
- Choose mature plants, which make for bigger roots. Be sure your plants are from areas that are organically clean and free from pesticides.
- Use a pitchfork and drive it firmly into the ground, taking care not to spear the dandelion root.
- Tip pitchfork backward to lift and loosen soil around the root.
- Then, using your hands, gently pull up plants from the stem, gripping below the leaves.
- Gently shake off excess soil and soak roots in water.
- Use a vegetable brush to scrub roots clean.
- Trim and wash leaves and flowers, and store in refrigerator for another use.
