If you are into culturing your beverages and food, and even if you are not, this is a great way to utilize those healing powers of dandelion with a refreshing beverage. If you are not familiar with culturing or fermenting, here is a great post from Nourishing Joy on why you should.
The Recipe
2 quarts boiling water
2 quarts dandelion flowers
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 thinly sliced orange (I used two mandarins since I didn't have an orange)
3/4 cup sucanat or sugar of choice
1 cup whey
2 quarts dandelion flowers
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 thinly sliced orange (I used two mandarins since I didn't have an orange)
3/4 cup sucanat or sugar of choice
1 cup whey
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I had the kiddos go outside and gather all the dandelion blossoms from the yard, rinse in a colander and then dump in a large jar or bowl. My friend's family goes through Costco pickles like crazy so she brings me all her used jars and they work perfect. Slice up the lemon and orange (or in my case the mandarins) and add to the jar with the dandelion flowers.
Measure the sucanat or sugar in a separate bowl and pour enough of the boiling water over the sucanat to stir and dissolve it and the rest pour over the citrus and dandelion mix. We are making an infusion with the dandelion mixture so you want to cover it and let it steep for about 15 minutes or so.
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Strain the infusion and pour in two cups of cold water and sucanat water, stir to combine and let sit until room temperature.
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Add 1 cup of whey and pour into a gallon glass jar or in two quart jars leaving an inch of head space. Screw on lid loosely or cover with a coffee filter and elastic band and let sit for 2-3 days. You know it is done when the color is a bit lighter and bubbles form around the top of the liquid, you can also just taste test. You don't want to go over three days because you don't want to end up with an alcohol instead of a soda.
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You are now ready to enjoy the healing benefits of dandelion along with the digestive enzymes and immune boosting properties of a cultured beverage. I like to drink this either before or after meals and have also noticed the thirst quenching properties it contains after working out in the garden. This will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks but may start to taste bitter after a week.
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