“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” - A quote from the 19th Century American Poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here at the Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, we couldn’t agree more. Alas, Dandelion is no longer just a lowly weed frustrating gardeners across the world. Its incredible health benefits are now known after centuries of consumption of this brew, and are likewise well documented following numerous scientific studies in the last decade alone.
Dandelion Tea is the answer to a great number of common ailments prevalent in Western society and beyond, including its capability to offer relief from bloating and liver dysfunction, as well as reducing the risks of diabetes and, perhaps most famously, providing astounding diuretic properties. This has been proven. Aside from its ability to improve your day-to-day way of life, Dandelion Tea boasts wonderfully earthy aromas and flavours coupled with surprisingly minty undertones.
The dandelion plant is botanically known as Taraxacum. It belongs to a large genus of flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. The name ‘dandelion’ comes from the French phrase ‘dent de lion’, which means ‘lion’s tooth’, owing to the toothed shape of the leaves that surround the bottom of the plant’s stem. It can grow to heights of up to 30 centimetres (11 inches), and is easily recognised by its miniature yellow flowers known as ray florets.
As dandelions mature, their flowers develop into ‘blowballs’ (occasionally known as ‘clocks’ in both British and American English). These blowballs consist of a multitude of single-seeded fruits called achenes. For many, a fun childhood venture is to pick these developed dandelions and blow their contents into the winds. However, these seeds need no assistance when it comes to widespread germination. Attached to a pappus of fine hairs, achenes are able to disperse themselves by distances of up to 5 miles when aided by windy conditions.
Originally native to Europe and evolving then spreading over the course of 30 million years, the dandelion is considered one of the hardiest plants in existence. It can grow freely almost anywhere with adequate sunlight, populating meadows, grasslands, forest edges, gardens, and lawns around the world. It would have likely arrived in North America on the Mayflower ship in 1620, not as a stowaway, rather brought with the early English colonists for its medicinal qualities.
Almost every single part of the Dandelion is known to offer health benefits; leaves, flowers, and even the roots. Some of the earliest references of dandelion’s usage for health promoting properties date back to the tenth and eleventh centuries. This was uncovered in a number of works compiled by Arabian physicians of the period. These properties were also known to the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In the British Isles, there are also references to it in early Welsh medicine.
In the New World, many centuries later, the English Puritans eventually passed their knowledge down to the Native Americans tribes following colonisation. The Iroquois ate boiled dandelion leaves along with fatty meats to avoid indigestion, while the Ojibwas drank Dandelion Root Tea for heartburn. The Mohegans, meanwhile, drank dandelion herbal tea (exactly like this particular brew) as a tonic to keep energy levels high and to offer relief from stomach aches and constipation.
Today, Dandelion Tea is also used to great effect in the struggle for weight loss. It is endorsed by American fitness guru and television personality, Jillian Michaels, who confidently recommends consuming it at least 3 times a day. To find out more information on this incredible herbal tea, please see our Health Benefits section below.
Type of Tea: Herbal Tea.
Ingredients: Dry Dandelion Leaves.
Brewing Instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes.
How to Serve: Looking to make those minty undertones minty overtones? You guessed it, add more mint! Honey may also be considered, depending on personal tastes. However, The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company recommend it is best served as it is.
Tasting Notes: A potent floral aroma wafts around the room and entices your palate long before you take your first sip. A new admiration for this ‘weed’ is almost guaranteed as you embrace smooth, earthy flavours with delightfully herbaceous (and yes, minty) undertones. Dandelion Tea will finally leave a lovely, refreshing aftertaste long after you have drained your cup.
Colour in Cup: Yellow liquor, light in tone.
Benefits of Dandelion Tea: According to Margaret Grieve, who in the 1970’s published the critically acclaimed encyclopedia, A Modern Herbal, believes dandelion is: “diuretic, tonic and slightly aperient. It is a general stimulant to the system, but especially to the urinary organs, and is chiefly used in kidney and liver disorders”. She wasn’t wrong. In a 2009 study published in the ‘Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine’, participants given two doses of Dandelion Tea Benefits showed a significant increase in the frequency of urination.
Water weight levels, meanwhile, were likewise reduced in the body. Dandelion Tea is also rich in many vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants, including Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, calcium, potassium, and most important of them all, flavonoids. This particular antioxidant compound has the ability to combat free radicals found in the body. This can help in reducing oxidative stress which, in turn, can lead to reduced inflammation, improved blood circulation, and even balanced blood sugars.
