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| This post on Dandelion Coffee was featured at the Good Neighbor Blog Hop |
It's that time of year, again, when the frost is on the pumpkins and I sprinkle sunflower seeds on the deck rail...
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| Carolina Wren |
For the greedy, early morning visitors. I could sit and watch them for hours, but alas, there are other things to be done.
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| Titmouse |
Cut the tops off and washed the roots...
Cut them in 1-2 inch pieces then...
Whizzed them in the food processor until they resembled brown rice according to the directions in the youtube video mentioned in the post by The Deliberate Agrarian.
Then I dried and roasted the roots to a rich, dark brown (darker than the photo below) according to the directions on the video. The chopped dandelion roots can be dried naturally for a few days or in the oven at 220 degrees for about an hour then roasted at 350 degrees until dark and just beginning to smoke. See video.
This photo shows the color much better. Four good sized roots yielded 1 cup of roasted dandelion root. It should stay fresh for several months if kept in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
Time for the moment of truth. Is it palatable or not? I'm an avid coffee and tea drinker so I think I'd be a decent judge of whether it's drinkable or not. The first thirty minutes in the oven they had smelled like green beans do while they're cooking so I wasn't sure they'd make a good coffee... O.O
However, I'm not one to chicken out so I added 2 tablespoons of the "coffee" to 24 ozs. of hot, but not quite boiling water, and let it steep for 5 minutes.
I strained it into a cup with sweetener and a bit of milk to soften the bitter taste I'd heard it has.
*sips* ....
I'm not sure it needed the milk and sweetener. It IS actually pretty good - it has a roasted, slightly caramel bouquet. Goodman and I were pleased that it wasn't weedy or weird. BUT the good part I haven't even mentioned yet... Dandelion root coffee is LOADED with vitamins A, B complex, C, and D as well as a host of minerals. It aids digestion by breaking down fat and helps your body rid itself of harmful toxins. O.O
Not bad for a pesky yard weed I say. I hope you will try dandelion coffee as it is a powerhouse of vitamins. Also, in this uncertain economy we may not always be able to purchase our favorite normal coffee. I love my regular coffee and plan to drink it still, but dandelion coffee is far and away better for our bodies so I'm adding a cup in mid afternoon for the health benefits. Cheers...
The socks are coming along slowly as I'm practicing the organ for a couple of hours each day. I've learned two songs - When The Saints Go Marching In and Ode To Joy/Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.
Linking to... Homestead Barn-Hop, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Encourage One Another, The Thankful HomeAcre Hop, Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days, Real Food Fridays, Farmgirl Friday, The Art Of Home-Making Mondays
ode to Joy is a favorite of mine-good for you for practicing! Your knitting is beautiful-so even! Not sure I could substitute my real coffee9but it looks good:0
ReplyDeletethe tea sounds like a lot of work, but it also sounds really good! i drink fresh-squeezed lemon juice for much the same reason - aid to digestion, burning fat, vitamins, etc. :)
ReplyDeleteElaine, I'm still going to drink my regular coffee, but with 24 hours in a day I plan to squeeze dandelion coffee in there, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmazing that a weed everyone wants to get rid of can make a tasty and healthy beverage! Your socks are looking good. How lovely that you are learning songs on the organ. I love playing the organ and listening to someone else play!
ReplyDeleteLove this, Toni. I'm not likely to make dandelion tea...I never learned to like coffee, and I'm not particularly fond of hot tea. But I commend you for the effort you put into eating (and drinking) healthy foods. You're inspiring me to begin practicing on my electronic keyboard. :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I wish I would have known all this last spring when I was uprooting all those dandelion plants in my backyard. I am sure they will be back. Ha-ha!
ReplyDeleteI am curious. How did you roast the ground up roots? Looks good to me.
Have a good week, K.
Kay, I was thinking the same thing - I've dug up my weight in dandelion roots just to throw them on the compost heap when I could have been making coffee with them. I added a bit about drying and roasting the chopped roots to the post.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial!
ReplyDeleteLaura
What a lovely bird.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice monday! RW & SK
This is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you shared you Dandelion Coffee. I have thought to find me some other avenues to supplement my love of coffee. Between the high cost and the fact it could so easily not be on the shelves. My mother and I was talking about different teas and such a while back but the only thing I did was talk about it. This is a great tutorial and there is no shortage of dandelion here. I now have no excuse. Thanks so much for sharing this on the Good Neighbor Hop.
ReplyDeleteI must say, I am quite fascinated by the idea of using dandelion roots for coffee - I have never heard of such a thing :)My husband and I enjoy our coffee so maybe next Spring I will make some of this coffee and give it a try. We already have snow here so I don't think I will find many dandelions right now :) Thanks for sharing and for your honest input. Have a beautiful week.
ReplyDeleteHi Toni! Very interesting. I'm not a coffee drinker or hot tea, although I love a rich cup of hot chocolate. :) I wouldn't be against trying it; sounds like something my daughter would love to try. Love your catchy title. :)
ReplyDeleteToni, as I imagine you on the organ, I wonder if I have any nice long roots to use for the roasted dandelion! I had one last year that was almost 36" long. In this post is a photo: http://www.deeprootsathome.com/dandelion-herb-detox-for-winter-collect-now-part-3/
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite birdies is the titmouse! They are so perky!
Have a beautiful week, dear friend!
I've tried dandelion root tea and I have to say, it wasn't exactly my cuppa tea! However, I'm impressed with your homemade version and I'm sure yours was way more tastier than the tea bags that I had.
ReplyDeleteI love the visits you receive in your back yard. Such a cutie!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I have never tried dandelion root tea or anything similar before! Now you made me really curious about it and I'll have to do a little research and ask around our herb stores.
Still waiting for some rain here -- 2 months and 15 days since last storm. Too sad!
Have a great week!
What a great idea! I love having alternatives to the store bought stuff in case of hard times… Thanks for sharing this. I am going to give this a try… I am assuming it lasts a while in your pantry since it is dry?
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking this post up! I remember loving this idea when you first shared it!
DeleteLovely blog Magnolia. I'll follow you with much pleasure.
ReplyDeletehave a nice time.
mimma
Great pictures, Mum! I think the wren is my most favorite of all of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I'll be out with a hand shovel tomorrow, gathering dandelion roots!
Your socks ate looking great. I love the color. I should try dandelion coffee next spring. We always have a yard full of them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Toni. I'm not a coffee or tea drinker, but I would try this. You can't beat the price! Now if I could get someone to pay me for pulling up their dandelions…and then sell the 'beans'…:)
ReplyDeleteLove the doily under your socks. I presume you made it. Your are seriously practicing the organ. Let us know when you're ready to give us a concert :) Glad I checked in today. Did the snow come your way? Ours is still on the ground from yesterday. Joyce
Very interesting post, thanks for sharing on Tuesdays with a twist blog hop. Amazing how many wild plants have edible parts.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, it is getting cold here too and time for the birds to start begging. :) The dandelion coffee really looks yummy! We have only used the petals to make "honey". We will have to give it a try sometime. Your socks are coming along nicely!
ReplyDeleteHave a great evening.
:)Vicki
Wonderful - thanks for the inspiration!! We shared with our FB readers at homesteadlady.com.
ReplyDeleteDandelion coffee sounds good and healthy. The color of the socks is beautiful. You are so talented. I wish I could knit.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting "tea" and sounds worth trying. I'm working on a pair of socks too, but top down not toe up. Looks like they're coming along nicely.
ReplyDeleteToni,
ReplyDeleteI thought I would mention that I made a tincture out of dandelion root if you have any more. It was a vodka based tincture, and I steeped it for 7 weeks. It smells earthy and is powerful for my immune system..I haven't been sick with flu or a cold for a long time (other things, but not a cold).
I hope Goodman loves his sausage! do let me know :)
Good night!
Thanks for the tutorial! I learned some as I made this years ago but didn't use my food processor to cut up the roots. Thanks for highlighting dandelion too - it's a very valuable herb/weed to have around!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Ich habe noch nie von Löwenzahn-Kaffee gehört, aber ich finde es sehr interessant.
ReplyDeleteVielleicht probiere ich es mal aus.
Gruß, Anette
Danke Anette. Ich hoffe, dass Sie es mögen.
ReplyDeleteI have heard alot of great things about dandelions here in my part of Louisiana I have not seen any. I think maybe I will have to buy some seeds. Pinning to my healthy eating board, would love for you to share on Real Food Fridays. Followed you here from The Thankful HomeAcre Hop.
ReplyDeletehttp://yourlife7.blogspot.com/2013/11/real-food-fridays-13-link-up.html
Wow, this sounds interesting! I wonder if this could be mixed with coffee, maybe 1/2 and 1/2, so that the coffee is extended and yet there are more nutrients in that cup o' joe? Hmmm. I'm gonna have to try that! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVickie, you read my mind! I'm planning to mix my next batch half and half to see how that works for coffee.
ReplyDeleteWould love to sit back and watch the birds with some Dandelion Coffee. What a great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteJeanie Cullip ~ Twin Falls Mommy
http://www.examiner.com/motherhood-in-twin-falls/jeanie-cullip
Wow! I am impressed! Dandelion Root Coffee and homemade to boot! Thank you for sharing how you made it with the Farmgirl Friday blog hop. It does sound so healthy!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Thank you, I've got to try this!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Your Dandelion Coffe Post has been chosen to be featured on the Good Neighbor Blog Hop. I hope you join us again and swing by and grab your feature button. Thanks for joining us. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteI think I have found a place where I can get several nice dandelion roots...they are growing laterally under mulch, but not in the hard soil. Heavy black plastic has stopped them from going deep! Haha~! Blessings :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet shot of the bird. I have tried dandelion tea, it is pleasant tasting. I love the color of the socks!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! Congrats on being featured this week :)
ReplyDeleteSorry bad link.
ReplyDeleteYou were nominated for an award on my blog.
http://missyscraftymess.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/liebster-award/
I have been wanting to try this...your post is making me even more antsy for spring to come! Thanks for sharing on The Thankful HomeAcre Hop! I look forward to seeing what you share with us tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI can remember my grandmother using dandelion greens to cook, I think, but I don't recall her ever using the roots to make a tea or coffee. How interesting! Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy thanksgiving to you. And thank you for sharing such a nice post. I miss my grandmother who used to make so many type of dishes for me, nobody can prepare food like her.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Finn Felton
Kopi Luwak
I loved this post!! Thank you so very much for sharing - I am so excited to try my own...:-). Love, Kelly-Anne
ReplyDelete