Are dandelions edible?

Are dandelions edible?
Essortment

Dandelions: these edible plants, also known as Taraxacum Officinale, are a herb often used as a detox for the blood.

The early colonists came to the Americas prepared. Just like tourists take aspirin with them on vacation, the colonists brought their dandelions with them as a food and a tonic.

How did they prepare it?

The leaves were either eaten raw or boiled in water to make a decoction, like a tea, which is known to strengthen and purify the blood. The leaves are also a good diuretic. The roots were chopped and boiled for a detoxifying drink. Add a pinch of baking soda to remove the bitterness. They also ground the roots to make a coffee-like drink. Its close relative chicory is still used today for a coffee substitute.

A name is just a name.

The word “dandelion” originated in France. The English translated the French word Dent de Lion to dandelion, which means “lion’s tooth.” Whether it is named this because of its jagged leaves or jagged yellow flower is unknown.

Can I really eat it?

The dandelion’s official name is Taraxacum Officinale. This simply means ‘the official remedy for disorders.’ The whole plant is actually edible. Check with your doctor before ingesting it though. You can make a salad out of the greens and flower, make a drink out of the root or make a cooked veggie out of any part, although I think I will leave the puffball for the birds. Most people try to poison their dandelions with chemicals that are harmful to humans, so don’t gather from lawns treated with chemicals. Keep in mind; dandelion parts are sweetest from lawns with taller grasses.

Wildlife love it.

Geese, ducks, and quail often eat the flower and seed heads. Blackbirds and sparrows love the seeds, while deer, moose, elk, black bears, grizzlies, chipmunks and prairie dogs eat the plants.

Interesting facts:

· A cup of raw greens has the same calcium as ½ of a glass of milk. It also has 14,000 i.u. of Vitamin A, plus 19 milligrams of thiamin, 26 mg. of riboflavin and 35 mg. of ascorbic acid, your body changes it into vitamin C. That’s more than most multi-vitamins.

· Some herbalists say the milky substance from the stem treats warts. Apply once a day for up to 5 days. Hey, it may not work, but the bugs will love you. But, be careful. It can cause an allergic
rash in some people.

· The Chinese use dandelion root for relieving Tonsillitis. They slowly cook one ounce of the root, chopped, in two cups of water until only half of the liquid remains. After it cools, they sip this syrup, sometimes sweetening it with juice.

· The French grow Dandelions to eat much like we grow lettuce in our gardens.

A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered says the late Ralph Waldo Emerson. To many people, a dandelion is a pesty weed that spoils the look of their lawns. Now we know that a dandelion isn’t a pest at all. Spread the word.

Recipes:

Salad

Toss together:

Lettuce leaves

Dandelion leaves

Bacon bits or imitation

Salad dressing

Dandelion Facial

Bowl

Dandelion flowers

Boiling water

Place flowers in a bowl, pour 1 –2 cups of boiling water over them, and let them steep for 5 – 10 minutes. Place your face over steaming bowl and tent.

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