I’m always a little sad when people spray their yards to get rid of dandelions. I’ll agree that they’re kinda ugly in the last days of their spring fling but not only are they very beneficial to bees but they are purported to have health benefits for humans. This site says they “may” have health benefits and list 13 of those “maybe” benefits. While I can’t say for certain that they do or do not have health benefits, they’re free for the picking so why not?
Last year I made dandelion jelly and still have enough that I’m not making it again this year. Yes, I know . . add enough sugar and any health benefits that might have been there are probably overpowered by the bad sugar!
Yesterday before Vince cut the grass, we picked dandelions and I had enough to make three jars of dandelion infused vinegar.
Every morning Vince and I drink a little apple cider vinegar in water. Most days, I add a bit of honey to mine. Sometimes during the day we will we will add a bit of ACV to our water – not every glass and not every day but when we think of it.
Apple Cider Vinegar also is purported to have some health benefits. Do I know that for certain? No but so long as we don’t drink too much of it and damage our teeth, it’s worth trying. I remember when we first started and I thought it was kinda hard to drink. Now I look forward to it.
I figured . . we have the dandelions, why not infuse come ACV with them. I’ll put these jars in the basement pantry and let them sit for six weeks, strain them and see what we think.
PatSC says
Is this just the blooms? Do you heat the vinegar?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Some of the green is there. I didn’t spend a lot of time getting it off since it’s healthy too. Did not heat the vinegar. Just washed the dandelions, soaked them for a bit in vinegar/water to get bugs off, packed them in jars, poured vinegar over and will let them sit for 6 weeks, then strain out the flowers.
Heather Watts says
We are mad enough to grow Dandelions in pots! We don’t have enough flowers to collect, but I collect the leaves as a special treat for my Budgerigars. Great health benefits for them and they go mad over them
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Good for you! We have a bumper crop in the spring but they don’t last long enough.
Cilla says
For the jelly did you keep that little green part attached? I never have as Gramma said it was bitter? Thoughts? As it’s time to make more. Thank you.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I removed all the green for the jelly. It was a pain to do it. I just kinda closed the flower with my fingers and pinched the green part off with my nail.