What is dandelion tea?
Dandelion tea (or also known as dandelion coffee) is a herbal coffee substitute made from the root of the dandelion plant. The roasted dandelion root pieces resemble coffee, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out on your morning brew.
What is dandelion tea good for?
Dandelion tea is rich in vitamins and minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Vitamin B and C, and is packed with all the anti-ageing antioxidants that coffee has, without the caffeine hit! As a natural diuretic [1], it purifies the blood and therefore cleanses the liver and kidneys in the process. It can be helpful for people who are prone to urinary tract infections. Dandelion tea can function as a detoxification process and have you glowing from the inside out. It can reduce bloating and help to clear your skin. It may be used as a weight loss aid as it can improve digestion, and as a diuretic it may help you to shed water weight [2].
How to make dandelion tea
For a quick dandelion pick-me-up, I love to brew the Edible Beauty Tea No.1 Green Goddess Detox. This delicious blend contains Dandelion Root plus Green Tea, St Marys, Schizandra and Ginger to aid in liver detoxification. I also find that it gives me an increase in stamina, which is always welcomed! To make a dandelion tea that closely resembles coffee, enjoy the delicious recipe below.
What you need to make dandelion tea:
Coffee plunger
Milk frother
Organic dandelion root granules
Organic almond milk
Organic cinnamon
Optional: organic raw honey or stevia for sweetness
Method
1. Place dandelion root granules in your coffee plunger (how much will depend on the size of your plunger, we used roughly 4-6 tablespoons in an 8 cup coffee maker).
2. Boil water.
3. Once your water is boiled, pour into plunger and let it sit for 1-2 minutes before pressing the granules.
4. Pour brewed dandelion tea into your mug.
5. If you’re choosing to add honey or stevia, add this now and stir to let it dissolve.
6. Using a milk frother, froth your almond milk to desired consistency, pour into mug and stir.
7. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and voila!
TIP: If you want to make a bulletproof coffee version of this, mix together the dandelion tea brew, almond milk, 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of organic grass fed butter with a bar mix until it reaches a creamy consistency.
For two weeks I trialled drinking dandelion tea recipe above, instead of my morning flat white. Although I did have a slight headache for the first two days, I felt no drop in energy. I also felt lighter and less bloated, plus my digestion definitely improved with the break from caffeine.
Sources: [1] The Diuretic Effect in Human Subjects of an Extract of Taraxacum Officinale Folium over a Single Day. [2] Progressive Health.
