10 Top Dandelion Tea Benefits + Health & Side Effects

Dandelion Tea Benefits and some interesting facts about these pretty weeds/herbs/flowers – plus how to make dandelion tea and a look at it’s health and side effects.

Dandelion Tea Benefits

All you need to know about dandelion tea benefits

I was always fascinated by dandelions when I was little. Their vibrant yellow, complex daisy-like head, standing tall out of the lawn, on a milky filled stem.

I was always fascinated by dandelion flowers when I was little. Their vibrant yellow, complex daisy-like head, standing tall out of the lawn, on a milky filled stem. I never considered them though when I though t about herbal teas or ways to tackle free radicals or high blood pressure caused by oxidative stress.

Dandelion leaves and dandelion root extract are a new consideration in my quest for health where dandelion root tea is now something I absolutely adore. I never considered  it a pesky weed but little did I know it was a great source of vitamin c and a great way to ward off heart disease. 

My mother always told me “don’t pick the dandelion or you’ll wet the bed”. An odd warning, even as a child. But I suspect its origins come from the one of the many benefits that the dandelion has, the roots being a mild diuretic. If you feel bloated an take water pills talk to your health care provider and see if dandelion tea benefits could provide the medicinal properties you need But, why is it considered a weed at all?

We will be looking at a study of dandelion tea benefits shortly, being a  natural diuretic is one of them – so don’t over indulge too close to your bedtime or you really will regret it and your sleep will not be smoothly uninterrupted! Drink much earlier if you are going to have it in the evening and its very unlikely but do be alert for an allergic reaction. Dandelion supplements  and dandelion coffee contain the same anti-inflammatory properties but I don’t think they are half as nice as a cup of dandelion tea. . 

Watch and learn 

Our weedy friends & dandelion tea benefits

The dandelion, officially known as Taraxacum officinale, is a very hardy, perennial weed. Its deep tap root make is difficult to remove and its smothering, low growing leaves compete for space with other less aggressive neighbours.

After flowering, its head forms fluffy ball made of a collection seeds attached to lightweight helicopter-like feathers, that carries the seeds effortlessly, with the help of a slight breeze, to another location in the garden. Just when you think the reign of the dandelion is over, more spring up all over the place.

It is unsightly in our gardens, springing up in our beautifully manicured lawns, in defiance of our attempts to control it.

Is a dandelion a herb?

But, in reality, it really should be referred to as a herb. Its benefits as a medicine, date back to 10th and 11th century. The roots of dandelions have long since been used to treat ailments of the liver. It has also been used to treat: infections, gallbladder problems, pneumonia and as a laxative, to name but a few.

Dandelion Tea Benefits are plentiful and it is really useful to know quite how powerful and helpful this ‘weed’ is…it is superpowered, no?

Dandelion Tea Benefits – Oh wow there really are just so many!

The leaves are high in potassium and can be taken as a tea to counteract the loss of potassium, when we pass urine. But its nutritional benefits don’t stop there. It is also high in vitamin A,B,C and D as well as being a source of various minerals, including magnesium and calcium. The leaves can be eaten directly, they are a little bitter, but go great in a salad!

The commercial Natural Health community recognize this “weed” as a benefit to general well-being and it is now possible to buy tablets made from the roots, particularly for a part of a detoxification programme. It can also be taken for helping clearing your head and for sore throats. I always remember by mother making dandelion and burdock as a health drink for us when we were growing up and oh my goodness it was absolutely delicous too. 

I will always cheer on the humble dandelion – weed indeed! Ancient herbal medicine has always had it’s place.

Benefits of dandelion tea

I am not saying this is strictly medical advice (I have no qualifications ) but all  my research has led me to see other potential health benefits of dandelion tea on people include

1. dandelion tea weight loss is another of the Dandelion Tea Benefits
2. lower blood sugar levels
3. positive blood pressure impact – Wards off cardiovascular disease
4. Dandelion tea benefits liver function too and general liver health
5. Less caffeine
6. Lovely taste
7. positive impact on skin
8. This medicinal plant has a diuretic effect
9. Prevent urinary tract infections which can help with kidney problems by improving kidney function
10. You can make it yourself

There are just so many Dandelion Tea Benefits how can you NOT be drinking dandelion tea on a regular basis really? Studies show it is excellent for a healthy body.

Folk medicine vs traditional medicine doesn’t have to be a ‘thing’ why not just give this a try?

How to Make Dandelion Tea & Dandelion Tea Benefits

Please do take a moment and have a look at the recipe below – it is super easy and you will be so pleased you have done this this is one tea recipe you will definitely be sharing with both friends ad generations to come. 

How to make Dandelion tea recipe ( packed with dandelion tea benefits)

Dandelion tea benefits are vast - here is how to make it

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups water
• 6 cups dandelions

Instructions

 

• Put water and dandelions into pan and bring to boil
• Allow tea to infuse for a minimum four hours
• Sieve off dandelions and keep the liquid for your tea

Notes

Delicious iced with lime or can be heated up or drunk as is!  I am sure you will enjoy the dandelion tea benefits too.

Do tell everyone how to make dandelion tea it is delcious and free!

Keyword dandelion, tea

If you make this best dandelion tea recipe do let me know! Dandelion and ginger is delicious too

Which bit of the dandelion to use for Dandelion tea benefits?

You may delight in dandelion tea benefits but wonder which bit to use. Well, you can use the roots flowers and the leaves! Dandelion tea recipe if free and fabulous and your dandelion are to be found everywhere.

I always think using items directly form nature works to connect you with the earth and makes you feel more authentic somehow – do you feel like this when you go foraging?

Even if you are a coffee drinker I’d urge you to give this a go the whole process of forging making and drinking is a delight. Sure can go and buy tea bags formt he helaths tore but nope not the same.

Dandelion seeds are the prettiest things!

Dandelion Tea Benefits – the prettiest of all the weeds don’t you think?

Dandelion seed location

Did you know there are about 15,000 seeds produced by each and every dandelion plant. There are usually 150-200 seeds per flower. Isn’t that just a huge amount! The seeds,  are produced on the flower stalk. Each seed is actually one of florets in the flower head.

Dandelion Tea Benefits for farmers?

Dandelion tea benefits also help farmers. Its deep roots help to bring nutrients such as calcium to the surface. Earthworms like hanging around the vicinity of dandelions, as easy channels are created for them, to move around in

So the next time you take your fork to this unsightly appearance in your lawn, consider that you are about to destroy one of nature’s many beneficial wonders and that there is so many better things you can do with it than that. I always find the wilder things are the more precious somehow they are – maybe it is because we have not tamed them?

A dandelion poem

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

—Mary Oliver

Dandelion Tea Benefits have inspired many poems

Let me share a couple with you here, poets and singers have long been inspired by the humble dandelion – its just so pretty and so very special 

The First Dandelion

                                         Simple and fresh and fair from winter’s close 
                                                    emerging, 
                                        As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, 
                                                   had ever been, 
                                       Forth from its sunny nook of shelter’d grass— 
                                                  innocent, golden, calm as the dawn, 
                                      The spring’s first dandelion shows its trustful 
                                                  face 

Walt Whitman ( Oh how I love this poet, I was first introduced to him in ‘dead poets society’ – did you see that? I wonder if he knew about Dandelion Tea Benefits ?)

Dandelion by the Rolling Stones (I don’t think they are talking about dandelion tea benefits quite how I am!) 

Prince or pauper, beggar man or thing
Play the game with ev’ry flower you bring
Dandelion don’t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion

One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock, four o’clock chimes
Dandelions don’t care about the time
Dandelion don’t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Tho’ you’re older now its just the same
You can play this dandelion game
When you’re finished with your childlike prayers
Well, you know you should wear it

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailors lives
Rich man, poor man, beautiful, daughters wives
Dandelion don’t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Little girls, and boys come out to play
Bring your dandelions to blow away
Dandelion don’t tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries

Blow away dandelion, blow away dandelion

Pin how to make dandelion tea & dandelion tea benefits for later

dandelion tea benefits

O dandelion, rich and haughty,
King of village flowers!
Each day is coronation time,
You have no humble hours.
I like to see you bring a troop
To beat the blue-grass spears,
To scorn the lawn-mower that would be
Like fate's triumphant shears.
Your yellow heads are cut away,
It seems your reign is o'er.
By noon you raise a sea of stars
More golden than before.

Vachel Lindsay

Dandelion Wine

“About this grass now. I didn’t finish telling. It grows so close it’s guaranteed to kill off clover and dandelions-”
“Great God in heaven! That means no dandelion wine next year! That means no bees crossing our lot! You’re out of your mind, son”
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine

More ways to use dandelions & dandelion tea benefits 

Have a look at this great vlog on more ways to make dandelions and how to clean and forage for them – so interesting and so many awesome ideas on how you can make the very most of these pretty yellow wildflower/weeds

Why Dandelions fly?

Did you know as well as providing a host of dandelion tea benefits dandelions also do many amazing things. One of these things is parachute – yes, really! 

Plants such as dandelions often use wind to transport seeds. Each dandelion seed comes with its own individual parachute. This device works very well and only a slight wind will carry seeds high into the sky. As there are so many adult plants in one place there is no space for the next generation of plants to grow. (BBC) 

Dandelion Tea Benefits

Dandelion Tea Benefits – will you try it?

I hope you have found this post on Dandelion Tea Benefits to be useful – have you tried this drink and did you enjoy it? Or are you perhaps tempted to give it a try?

Once you have explore a full range of dandelion tea benefits you will find lots more of my recipes over at my foodie blog Eat Simply 

Other uses for dandelions

Dandelion heads can simply be eaten tossed with a green salad the old heads can be bitter so the younger ones are best to use

Dandelion honey can be delicious – take a look here for a lovely vegan recipe

How about give dandelion greens and eggs a try

Why not give dandelion pumpkin seed pesto a go?

Fried Dandelions are packed with Dandelion Tea Benefits

 Do you think thee sound weird, disgusting perhaps or very interesting?

Time to get foraging folks! Fried dandelions have to be tried! They will certainly get your guest s talking won’t they! Would you think about trying these or would it be a culinary experiment too far for you?

How to make fried dandelions

• You’ll need 2 cups of dandelion heads . The stem is very bitter so get rid of that . You’ll also need 1 egg, cup of milk, 1 cup of seasoned flour and 1 cup of olive oil.
• Wash and dry your found dandelions. Heat up the olive oil then beat together egg, milk and seasoned flour.
• Dip each head into the batter using tongs and drop into oil only after it is hot. Fry to a golden brown and place on paper towels. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy hot!

What do you reckon fancy trying fried dandelions for your tea? It would most certainly be something new at our house.

Look what my little girl made for me – isn’t that the cutest bunch of flowers you ever saw. I think i had a tear – so touching. Heartfelt gifts like these really are the best ever gifts to cheer you up arent they and perfect to give for a small child to give on Mother’s day – simple inexpensive and so very pretty. You could even go ahead and make your own tea with it!

Over to you – do dandelions appeal to you?

Do you think you might give these a go – they are a great way on making sure you get all those important dandelion tea benefits inside you ?

Give dandelions a chance!

Before you write of this most beneficial of weeds do please explore it’s uses and especially dandelion tea benefits I think you really will be most pleasantly surprised by all it has to offer you and your palate and of course your health.

Further reading

Do check out 2021 healthline media where Debra Rose Wilson provide medical advice on dandelion extract and its benefits to the immune system

 You mihhttps://eatsimply.co.uk/edible-flower-desserts/gt also like my post on edible flowers