From harvest to use

What is dandelion used for?

Almost all parts of the dandelion can be used. The toothed leaves give every salad bitter substances, which are important for digestion. Dandelion honey can be cooked from the yellow flowers and the roots can be used fresh or dried for physical health. It helps with digestive problems, has a diuretic effect and is blood-purifying, and it can also lower cholesterol.
The dried root used to be ground and brewed as a coffee substitute, so-called "Muckefuck". Some people still like it today.

Harvest dandelions

Leaves, flowers and roots can be harvested all year round. Make sure that the plant grows in unpolluted meadows and not directly on the roadside.
Before processing, clean the plant. Leaves and flowers are washed under running water, the roots are freed from soil.
The fresh leaves can be cut into strips and mixed with the salad. The sweet, edible flowers not only serve as a decoration on fruit salad, they can be made into dandelion honey, in syrup or in jams. Steam the fresh root like vegetables or use it to make tea.

Dry and use dandelion root

1. Dig up the root and let it dry in the sun for a day. Then the earth can be brushed off better.
2. Carefully rinse the roots clean under running water.
3. Now cut the root in half.
4. Hang the roots in an airy and dry place. A place above the heater or in direct sunlight is not suitable.
5. You can also cut the root into small pieces and dry them lying in plenty of fresh air.

Use the dried roots for a strengthening tea infusion. The tea has a healing effect on kidney, bladder and gall bladder problems. Due to the vitamins and minerals it contains, dandelion strengthens the immune system and also contributes to blood formation.
You can get a decaffeinated coffee substitute if you grind the dried dandelion root finely and brew it like coffee.