"Dandelion Tea should be of high quality"
"Dandelion Tea should be ethically grown"
"It should be harvested correctly and stored correctly"

Where Does Dandelion Tea Come From?

Many of us know dandelions as that pretty little weed that is often the bane of gardener’s existence but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to dandelions. For centuries, across various cultures, dandelions have been used for their medicinal purposes. Growing predominately in the Northern hemisphere, it is thought that travellers from Europe were responsible for the spread of this plant to other countries like India and China. While the first recorded histories of using dandelion tea are during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, it is believed to have been used much longer than that. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Arabian physicians, Welsh medicines, Indian medicines and even in the ancient Greeks, Ancient Romans and the Anglo-Saxon’s have thought to have used dandelions, or flower species very similar, in different ways. Often used as a tonic, the roots and leaves of the dandelion were found to have fantastic benefits on the body. While there is a vague history around the use of dandelion tea, there is no doubt that many traditional and ancient physicians, botanists and herbalists alike have a strong understanding of the benefits of dandelion tea. While some governing bodies and gardeners still treat dandelions as a weed, which is not surprising by the way they are able to easily grow and take over lawns and grass, there is a long list of uses for this seemingly humble plant. More than just it’s pretty petals and its ability to grow unmonitored, dandelion tea is worth considering adding to your diet today.

Benefits of Dandelion Tea

Long before scientists were studying the health benefits of certain herbs and plants, dandelion tea was being used for centuries in various cultures to treat different issues such as kidney, stomach and liver issues as well as a host other ailments like skin irritations, heartburn, fevers, arthritis and constipation. With what we know now, using dandelion tea or a dandelion tonic to treat these type of medical issues makes sense as dandelion is a natural diuretic. These properties help with fluid retention and help flush out the system, thus relieving some of the side effects that can come with kidney, stomach and liver issues. The anti-inflammatory properties that have also been suggested are just another benefit that this type of tea has to offer, hence why physicians of the past may have used it to treat conditions like arthritis. Dandelion tea is also known as a rich source of Vitamin A, a vitamin that is necessary for eye health, can help with skin issues, supports your immune system and aids the body in healthy growth of cells. This is why it is thought to also help with acne and eczema, as well as being a natural way to strengthen immunity against the flu. While it cannot completely stop flu, the properties of dandelion tea can help the body fight and relieve symptoms of the flu by helping boost the body’s natural immunity. For those who are looking to lose weight and/or even quit coffee, replacing other drinks with this hot beverage is considered a great way to facilitate these two endeavours as dandelion tea has a stimulating effect but it is not as harsh on the system as caffeine. Another reason it has been suggested for weight loss is that it has shown to possibly also lower cholesterol and possibly containing an enzyme that changes the way the body absorbs fat. There has been so many different benefits associated with dandelion tea that you do not have anything to lose in giving dandelion tea a try.

Recipes for Dandelion Tea

While there are different ways to use dandelion, tea is the classic and best way. You can use the flower, the leaves and the root to make the tea, the root either being fresh or dried. For the flowers, boil enough water for a cup of tea in a saucepan. For one cup of tea, take around ten flowers and separate the petals from the green on the bottom. Using a tea ball, place the petals in the ball and put it in the cup. Once the water is finished boiling, pour it into the cup and allow the petals to steep for approximately twenty minutes. Once steeped, you can add any of the other things like sweetener to your taste. With the leaves, you follow a similar process but you only need about six leaves per cup of dandelion tea. This time, you do not have to use a tea ball as you can leave the leaves in the cup once steeped or strain the tea. If you are using the root and it is freshly dug from your garden, separate the root from the rest of the plant and boil about a quarter of a saucepan full of water. Wash the root with cold water, dry and then chop into chunks. Using two teaspoons of root per cup of tea, once the water is boiled place it into the saucepan, cover the pot and lower the heat. Allow to steep on the burner for one minute, then remove the pot off the burner and leave too steep for about forty minutes. Then strain and enjoy your dandelion tea! This works for both dried and fresh roots.

Ways to Change Up Your Dandelion Tea

Dandelion tea on its own, or with a little sweetener is a great way to enjoy it but if you find yourself getting bored or wanting to change it up then there are some interesting flavours to add to really enjoy your dandelion tea. Using it in place of other teas to make iced tea is great for the summer months, just simply steep the tea using a little hot water and stevia leaf to your taste, then add in the cold water afterwards. For an extra kick, you can add some lemon or lime juice to really make it refreshing. If you are using dandelion tea to replace your coffee, then preparing it like a latte will help satisfy those coffee cravings. Warm your milk of choice in a saucepan, and then add it to a blender with the already steeped tea and your choice of sweetener to create a frothy, coffee-like treat! To really mix it up, add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Dandelion tea is a versatile beverage that can really bring a lot of benefits to your life and by getting creative, you can really make it a tasty treat without any of the problems that come with other beverages you may be regularly drinking.