How To Make Dandelion Tea

Dandelions may be best known as a weed, but they have been used in cooking and medicine for centuries. You can find small yellow flowers dotting fields and lawns in many countries. I'm excited to show you how to make dandelion tea to enjoy a great wild edible.

But did you know there is more to dandelions than meets the eye? This dandelion tea recipe is a good start if you want to learn more about wild foods!

What is Dandelion Tea?

What is dandelion tea, you ask? Well, it's a drink made from the leaves of the dandelion plant. It has been brewed for centuries and has been part of traditional medicine in many cultures worldwide.

Foraging for Dandelions

If you plan on foraging for your own dandelions, You'll need to get to your closest (and pesticide-free) green space!

Dandelion leaves are best when harvested before the flowers open, but if you only have access to flowering dandelions, don't worry—your tea will still be tasty!

Instructions

Once you master this method, experiment by adding flavors like honey and ginger or brewing with other herbs like mint and lemon balm.

Prepare your leaves

Rinse the leaves thoroughly. Remove dirt, sand or other particles by rinsing the leaves in cold water. You can rinse them in a colander or under running water. Use your hands to remove any remaining grit. 

If you want to ensure they are completely clean, place the dandelion greens into a bowl of cold water and stir them around with your hands. The debris will sink to the bottom of the bowl, and you can skim off any remaining debris from the top before continuing with the recipe.

Spread out your leaves in an open space to air dry them or dehydrate them on the lowest setting until the leaves are brittle. This tutorial for how to make mulberry leaf tea is a good resource for drying leaves for tea.

Brewing dandelion leaf tea

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Meanwhile, measure 1 cup of dried dandelion greens into a large heatproof pitcher. If using dandelion roots, you will only need ½ of a cup. Pour the boiling water over the leaves (or root).

If you have a tea ball or reusable tea bag, place your dried dandelion leaves inside and steep as normal.

Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain the tea into mugs and enjoy it as is, or add honey and/or lemon juice to taste. You can also let it cool down before serving it over ice cubes.

Recipe Variations for dandelion tea

Drink plain if you like the taste or add honey, lemon juice, and/or mint (lemon helps with digestion). A variety of other herbs can also be added to dandelion tea.

If you love the taste of dandelion tea it's okay to drink it plain, but if you find it a bit bitter, consider adding lemon juice or honey. Honey balances out bitterness and adds sweetness without calories.

FAQ

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Yield: 2 servings

Dandelion Tea

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of dried dandelion leaves
• 2 cups of water

Instructions

1. Pull the dandelion greens from the roots, discard any that have started to turn brown, and rinse them thoroughly. Air dry or dehydrate leaves until brittle
2. Bring to a boil 2 cups of water
3. Add the dandelion greens to your mugs, add hot water and steep for about 5-10 minutes
4. Drain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer or remove tea ball.
5. Add honey or sugar to taste (optional). Cool and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

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