Dandelion Products

There are more than 1,000 species across Europe. Dandelion belongs to the family of Asteraceae. It is a very hardy perennial plant, with long taproots, and long, jagged, dark-green leaves rising directly from the ground in a radiating fashion. Very small golden-yellow flowers collect together into a composite flower head, with hollow stalks filled with nectar that bees love. Almost the whole plant can exude milky white latex from wounds.

Believed to have originated in Central Asia, it is now found in many places all over the world.

Dandelions are thought to have evolved about 30 million years ago in Eurasia and have been used by humans for psychic properties, food, and healing for much of recorded history.

Dandelions are a well-known food source. The flower petals, along with other ingredients like citrus, are used to make dandelion wine or can be added to cakes, salads or fried in butter. The young buds are high in protein. The ground, roasted roots can be used as a caffeine-free dandelion coffee. Dandelion was also used to make the traditional British soft drink of dandelion and burdock.

Dandelions also have famous healing properties. Culpeper says, “It is of an opening and cleansing quality.” First mentioned in China in the Tang Materia Medica of the 7th century. It was also recommended to restore health by the Arabian physician, Avicenna in the 11th century, who is attributed with first calling it dandelion. According to the Doctrine of Signatures (like treats like) dandelions are “signed” in yellow to cure diseases of yellow hues (i.e. jaundice). In the Catholic tradition, the plant is sacred to St. Bridget.