I can’t sing high enough praises for how much I appreciate having roasted dandelion root coffee (also referred to as tea) in my life! I have recently starting making my own fresh roasted dandelion coffee every day, and it is resonating with me so well! The dandelion coffee I am making is rich, full bodied, and has a natural sweetness with hints of caramel, without any sugars added. It doesn’t taste exactly like coffee, and that is okay, because I now like it so much more than coffee.
And here is how I got turned on to it. For the past few years I was a fan of Dandy Blend, which is a coffee substitute made with dandelion root, chicory, and a few other ingredients that are processed, freeze dried and turned into a powder that makes a pretty decent instant latte, without any actual coffee in it. But I had run out of Dandy Blend and thought maybe I finally would try making my own dandelion coffee. And oh my, was I missing out!! And while I liked the taste of Dandy Blend, I wasn’t experiencing any of the amazing health benefits like I get from roasting the root myself.
After my first glass of fresh roasted dandelion root coffee I was hooked. And I started to crave it! And I noticed that my body, mind and spirit were feeling especially energized after a week of drinking it. So I went on the internet to read more about this elixir I was making. And I found pages, and pages of stories, studies, and testimonies of extraordinary things that happened when people drank dandelion root tea! Initially I started drinking dandelion root coffee purely for the sake of having a tasty beverage as I can no longer tolerate coffee. I wasn’t expecting any added health benefits from my home brewed dandelion lattes. But I was experiencing benefits, no doubt about that! Below are just a few of the amazing things I have recently discovered about dandelion root tea!
Also note: the whole dandelion plant is quite beneficial, including the bitter leaves, but the root actually gets a lot of credit for helping to heal the body as well!
Dandelion root can help detoxify the liver and promote increased bile production. And it can help with the digestion of fats. This is why I think Dandelion Coffee makes an Excellent base for Bullet Proof Coffee too – I will put up a post for a Bullet Proof Dandelion Coffee too!
Dandelion is a natural diuretic and can help the kidney clear out excess water, waste and salts. The root helps one shed excess water from the body, and is also credited with reliving symptoms of PMS.
Dandelion is credited with helping relieve the symptoms and swelling around the joints from arthritis and gout.
Dandelion root is credited with promoting good colon health. Dandelion root has a mild laxative effect, and can help one stay regular and help treat constipation.
Dandelion has been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can relieve pain and swelling. I have personally noticed an added pain relief benefit from drinking my dandelion coffee daily!
Here is a link to information on a cancer study that was funded to explore the use of dandelion root to kill cancer cells. Excerpt from article: ” His team’s first phase of research showed that dandelion root extract forced a very aggressive and drug-resistant type of blood cancer cell, known as chronic monocytic myeloid leukemia, to essentially commit suicide. Researchers then discovered that repeated treatment with low dose dandelion root extract was effective in killing most of the cancerous cells.”
I also find myself being more inspired and in tune with the world around me when I drink this tea daily. In my next life I plan to open up a cafe called the The Dandelion Cafe and serve dandelion coffee and serve cakes made with the dandelion petals. That is how much I am in love with this plant! I recently had a profound shift in my approach to a large project I am working on (which is my cookbook!). Was it because spring had finally arrived and my yard was full of dandelions? I think it’s more than a possibility. ♥
The only thing that first concerned me about adding dandelion root to my daily diet is that the root is high in inulin. Inulin is a prebiotic non-digestible fiber that feeds certain good bacteria in the large intestine, but is also known to feed klebsiella, a gram negative bacteria believed to be at the root of an auto-immune condition I live with called ankylosing spondylitis. But I have only had great results from adding dandelion root to my diet. Maybe it has just the right amount on inulin my body needed to function in better health? I still avoid concentrated manufactured sources of inulin found in products like agave and many probiotics, but I have always tolerated foods like garlic, onions, and asparagus well which also contain inulin. I can’t make any guarantees how others will respond to dandelion root.
So I couldn’t help but search for any information linking dandelion root to ankylosing spondylitis. Because I personally felt a nice improvement in my health after adding it into my diet. And I found this testimony of a man who had severe AS, much like myself, who found a major benefit in drinking the tea!
You can obviously read endless testimonies about various drugs, supplements, treatments that people find benefit in to treat disease in their body. And results always vary by person. I am just sharing something that is definitely working well for me, in addition to my low starch diet. ♥
Dandelion Root Coffee
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
1 to 2 Tablespoons of dried dandelion root pieces (see notes about roots below**)
2 cups water
1/4 cup coconut milk
optional: 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
optional: 2 glasses full of ice
Directions:
I like to roast the roots fresh when I make the coffee.
Set a small dry saucepan on the burner over medium high heat.
Turn the oven fan on, this will get a little smokey.
Add the dandelion root pieces to the saucepan, and stir them for a few minutes as they toast.
When they start to turn dark brown and smoke a little, pour in 2 cups of water. (You can add in 3 cups of water if making 2 servings of “hot” dandelion coffee instead of iced.)
Let the water simmer for a few minutes.
Pour into a glass jar, using a strainer like this to separate out the root pieces. (After straining, I usually add additional cup of water to the roasted roots, let it sit in the saucepan together for a few minutes, strain again, and extract additional coffee to enjoy iced later.)
You have just made fresh roasted dandelion root coffee! You can enjoy this beverage hot or cold. I like to serve it over ice, with a splash of coconut milk and a little vanilla extract. If you want to sweeten it, add in honey before pouring over ice.
This recipe makes two cups. You can share with a friend, or put the second cup in the fridge to chill for later.
**Okay, listen here! The quality of the root you use can make a world of difference in how much you will enjoy the coffee. I have tried roots from a variety of sources, and the only roots I love the taste of are the dried (un-roasted) roots from Mountain Rose Herbs. Get this, I also tried the pre-roasted dandelion root from Mountain Rose Herbs, but it made the most bitter cup of coffee for me, I didn’t care for it. If that had been my first experience with the dandelion coffee, I would have likely never tried it again! I also tried Traditional Medicinal’s Roasted Dandelion Root Tea in the baggies, and eh, not really a fan. So I really recommend ordering the plain dried roots, and roasting them yourself!! Or you can dig them up in your yard and dry them following these directions here. But don’t be fooled by all of the false dandelion and dandelion look-a-likes in your yard. Make sure you are actually picking dandelion which has smooth leaves (no fuzzy hairs), the leaves form pointed lobes much like “lion’s teeth”, the yellow flower is growing on a single stem (not branched with other flower buds), and each flower is attached to a hollow plant stem that can be used as a straw.