For the Love of Dandelions



When some people hear the word dandelion, they immediately think WEED. And while that may be true, there's so much more to the dandelion! When I was interested in adding it to several of my tea blends, I knew very little about the dandelion except that there was more to it than meets the eye. Dandelions, or taraxacum officinale, are good in salads (either the leaves or the buds). The leaves are also good for tea blends as well - I find that they add an earthy yet faint sweet taste to my tea blends. According to the website The Spruce Eats, the roots are good as an addition to coffee! I think it's neat to see them suddenly appear in a grassy area. Seeing them in a yard or in a park is a reminder that Spring is coming or already here, as each blossom looks like the face of the sun smiling at you. And of course, there's the wine, although I will admit that I've never had it before. I might need to change that really soon! According to a recipe on allrecipes.com, you need 1 quart of the blossoms well rinsed, boiling water, yeast, sugar, a sliced orange, and slices of lemon. If you do try to make some of the wine, please let me know how it turns out. In becoming a tea specialist, I spent several years learning about the camellia sinensis and the different teas that come from it. Thanks to moving to Colorado and coming into my own sense and style of mindfulness, I want to know more about what's growing right in front of and around us. The dandelion seemed to be an excellent starting point. So, the next time you are thinking of spraying weed killer on those dandelions, pause and take a moment to enjoy them and their many uses! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Crows

Image
  (tea leaves photo by me) The old crow flew down from the skies and perched next to me. Of all the times when I flew, he said in a gravelly voice, I wished to be on the ground. He cocked his head at me and waited for my reply. Instead, I set a small tin cup before him and filled it with my morning Tea. He cawed once, then lowered his beak into the warm liquid. Conversations are always important, I replied while he drank. That's why we are lost without them. The crow continued to drink the Tea. Just then, a woman with red hair and dressed in all black, walked up to us and sat down on the other side of me. I've forgotten how to think, she said in a singsong voice. The crow raised his head and cawed - then how are you talking now? His black beady eyes focused on her crooked smile. She closed her eyes and transformed into another crow. I stared off at the clouds and wondered if our thoughts betray us, or if we are the result of them. I then poured Tea into another cup and gave it
Read more

Tea Is A Good Friend of Mine - Celia Carmen Aceae

Image
Here's another great interview - meet Celia Carmen Aceae! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Hi! My name is Celia Carmen Aceae and I live in Montreal, QC, Canada How long have you been drinking tea? What’s the story, morning glory? I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember. In my house, we never drank water and there was no rule against children consuming caffeine at all! I’ve only recently realized that the reason my sister and I were always labeled as crazy, wild and hyper at school, was probably because my mom sent us to class every day with a giant jug of tea. We were constantly caffeinated! Tea also means more than just Camellia sinensis for me. I’ve been reading about medicinal herbs since I was eight. My mother forbade all forms of medication in our household, so I learned at a young age how to cure small ailments with plants and tisanes. My sister was very prone to headaches and anytime she started to get one, I would hop on my
Read more

A Flash of Jazz - Acoustic Bicycle

Image
  When Abby declared that she was now the proud owner of an acoustic bicycle, I rolled my eyes and congratulated her on finally getting that last badge that would claim her to be a Black Hipster. She looked at me as though I had just told the funniest joke. You're just jealous that you didn't know the term, she laughed. At that moment, I wanted to leave but instead replied with - I've heard that snarky ass term before, thank you very much. In fact, I added with my own spoon of snark as I leaned forward on the table, I first heard it when I hung out with that really cool singer-songwriter, you know the one? Now she rolled her eyes at me, giving me full permission to continue on my soapbox. Yeah, yeah, the one who talked about planting wildflowers every time someone purchased her CDs. THAT one. So, Abby replied, I guess you're now going to save the planet, stop eating burgers, and plant a fucking tree every time someone farts? How very original, Wendell . The way she said
Read more