Dandelion Root latte

This dandelion root latte is a healthy, caffeine free alternative to your favorite traditional coffee latte. Ground dried dandelion root is used in place of ground coffee beans, and is a wonderful way to enjoy a highly nutritious dandelion. Just add your favorite raw local honey, or this vegan dandelion honey.

You can enjoy all parts of the dandelion in so many ways. Frolic and fare has many dandelion recipes, including dandelion lemonade, dandelion salad, and dandelion tea. However this dandelion root latte is made from dandelion roots, which contain a considerable amount of inulin. Inulin is a type of prebiotic soluble fiber found in plants that supports the growth and maintenance of healthy intestinal flora.  Inulin has anti tumor, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic properties. They may also promote antiosteoporotic activity, which appears to improve mineral absorption and balance.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons finely cut, dried and roasted dandelion roots (15 grams)
• 16 ounces water
• ¾ cup whole milk, frothed

I recommend just buying dried roasted dandelion root, as fresh dandelions are very seasonal, and you may not be able to harvest as many as you need for this recipe. However, if you want to, here is how to forage and treat dandelion root for brewing.

Harvesting + Cleaning your dandelion root:

Dandelions are easily identifiable and abundant. They’re notoriously easy to harvest and simple to clean and use. The entire plant is edible from flowers, and leaves, to root.I like the harvest my dandelions from my own garden.  We’re lucky to have a garden where they grow abundantly, without fertilizer, however we also don’t have pets. Make sure you’ve located a safe space that’s free of fertilizer and that is not visited by dogs.

• To harvest the entire plant from root, use a weeding fork. I have and can recommend this one. Angle the fork about an inch into the soil to loosen the root, and then carefully pull the entire plant from the ground. Shake free from dirt and remove any damp or slimy leaves.
• Run dandelion crowns and green through water, while carefully opening their crowns to be sure you’ve removed any dirt and pests. Save greens for Fresh Dandelion Greens Salad with Dandelion Dressing and the flowers for Fresh Dandelion Flower Tea.

If you’re using fresh dandelion root, peel the “skin” as if it were a carrot, and clean it well.

Drying + Roasting Dandelion Root

Roasting the dandelion root decreases the bitterness and helps give it a rich flavor, similar to coffee.

• Once you've cleaned and peeled your roots, finely chop them and let them dry. We use this air drying rack, but just placing them on a plate uncovered will allow them to dry as long as you aren't in a very humid environment.
• Once dried, place them on a roasting sheet over parchment paper. Roast them at 350 F (176 C) for about 15 minutes, checking them frequently to prevent burning. You could also roast them in a dry cast iron pan on low heat, stirring frequently. They will take on a darker shade of brown and smell aromatic when they are done.
• Once roasted, store them in a sealed airtight container in a dark, cool space.

Preparing a dandelion root latte:

The nutrients and inulin in dandelion root is extracted best when simmered. I brew it like coffee by grinding it in my coffee grinder. This is the exact one we use at home, but any quality grinder should work fine. If you have purchased your dandelion roots instead of mincing them yourself, please note they may be quite large. I typically give them a quick grind in my manual spice grinder, then move it to my coffee grinder for ease and speed. Probably totally unnecessary, but I try to take good care of my appliances so they work long enough to pass them down to my children. 🙂