It seems that this week will end as it began – in the name of homemade drinks. My last post of the week is dedicated to my newest invention – it’s dandelion iced tea. This likable combination is the result of my current obsession with the healing roots of wild plants. In the last week I foraged roots of dandelion, chicory and comfrey. I must admit that I have come across the healing properties of these plants just this past summer and ever since I have read about them I have patiently waited for the autumn as it’s the best time to harvest them. Because when the plants are preparing for wintering they’re storing the medicinal substances in the roots. The common saying goes that all the wild roots should be picked in months that have the letter “R” in their name. So SeptembeR couldn’t come fast enough this year.
Today I’m talking about dandelion. You probably all know it. While some people treat it as any other weed and spent their time removing it from the garden, I enjoy everything that this “weed” has to offer. Early in the spring I eat its leaves as the first salad of the season. I admire the flowers and use them to make dandelion honey. And ever since I was a child I enjoyed blowing its seeds. It became a tradition that I still maintain. 🙂 From this year on I’m also using dandelion roots. That’s why I struggle to understand why anyone would want to get rid of such a versatile and undemanding plant from the garden.
Dandelion roots act as a diuretic and thus help the liver to eliminate toxins from the body. They also help regulate blood sugar, relieve digestive disorders and strengthen the immune system. So dandelion iced tea is not only tasty, but it’s also good for you. 🙂
Dandelion Iced Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- the root of one dandelion
- 0,5 dl of peach, apple or other juice
instructions
Dig up the dandelion root. Make sure to do it on a day that the soil is not too damp. If you use the biodynamic calendar you should forage the roots on root days.
Cut the greens of the root and rinse it thoroughly under running water. Don’t discard the dandelion leaves. They are great in salads. 🙂
Cut the washed root into pieces and spread over a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Place the tray in an oven that has been pre-heated to 200 ° C.Roast the root in the oven for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes remove the tray from the oven and check if the dandelion root pieces are dry. The easiest way to do this is to try to break them – if they break easily, they are dry enough.
If the root pieces are not dry enough, continue to roast them in the oven but check them every five minutes to make sure they don’t burn.
Grind the dried dandelion root pieces in a coffee grinder.
Soak the ground dandelion root in 3 dl of water for 24 hours (the same way as if you were preparing a cold brew coffee).
After 24 hours strain the soaked mixture through a cheesecloth or dense strainer.
Fill the glass with a handful of ice and pour over it 0,5dl of fruit juice. I used peach juice, but you can also make do with apple or even orange juice. The juice will provide sweetness to the iced tea. Carefully pour the strained dandelion root water on top of the juice and ice. Try your best to mix the layer of juice and dandelion as little as possible. Serve it with a slice of lemon, which can be squeezed in the iced tea before drinking.
Cheers! 😀
Dandelion Iced Tea
Ingredients
- the root of one dandelion
- 0,5 dl of peach apple or other juice
Instructions
-
Dig up the dandelion root. Make sure to do it on a day that the soil is not too damp. If you use the biodynamic calendar you should forage the roots on root days.
-
Cut the greens of the root and rinse it thoroughly under running water. Don't discard the dandelion leaves. They are great in salads. 🙂
-
Cut the washed root into pieces and spread over a baking tray lined with baking paper.
-
Place the tray in an oven that has been pre-heated to 200 ° C.Roast the root in the oven for 30 minutes.
-
After 30 minutes remove the tray from the oven and check if the dandelion root pieces are dry. The easiest way to do this is to try to break them - if they break easily, they are dry enough.
-
If the root pieces are not dry enough, continue to roast them in the oven but check them every five minutes to make sure they don't burn.
-
Grind the dried dandelion root pieces in a coffee grinder.
-
Soak the ground dandelion root in 3 dl of water for 24 hours (the same way as if you were preparing a cold brew coffee).
-
After 24 hours strain the soaked mixture through a cheesecloth or dense strainer.
-
Fill the glass with a handful of ice and pour over it 0,5dl of fruit juice. I used peach juice, but you can also make do with apple or even orange juice. The juice will provide sweetness to the iced tea. Carefully pour the strained dandelion root water on top of the juice and ice. Try your best to mix the layer of juice and dandelion as little as possible.
Recipe Notes
Serve it with a slice of lemon, which can be squeezed in the iced tea before drinking.
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