Dandelion Lemonade
You’ll feel instantly energized when you drink this Dandelion Lemonade. It’s yellow glow is simply stunning, and the sweet petals add a subtle flowery taste. The gorgeous bright colour alone indicates how full of vitamins and minerals it is.
Dandelion is a rich source of phenolic acids (chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid), flavonoids (luteolin derivatives, quercetin), and terpenes (sesquiterpene lactones). It is also a strong source of vitamins (A, C, E, K, and B) and minerals (calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, silicon, zinc, manganese).
So Many Health Benefits
Hop on over to Healthline to read about some of the many potential health benefits of this “weed”.
They go more into detail about each of the following…
Dandelions are highly nutritious and contain potent antioxidants. They also may help fight inflammation, aid in blood sugar management, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, promote liver health, aid in weight loss, have anti-cancer effects, support healthy digestion and treat constipation, boost immune health, support healthy bones, and even be a useful skin care treatment!
Wow… I’m happy to have this awesome plant take root in my yard.
Gathering and Preparing the Dandelion Petals
I love spring when my lawn is blanketed with dandelions and violets. We don’t treat our lawn with anything. Always beware of where you are foraging your dandelions from. Always choose an area you know hasn’t been treated with chemicals of any kind.
When harvesting the petals, be careful to ensure you aren’t getting any of the green. The petals are sweet and delicious. The greens are quite bitter, and in my opinion, don’t at all make a desirable addition to your lemonade.
Texture
If you like a super smooth lemonade or have children that are sensitive to texture, you’ll want to strain the lemonade after its been blended. I personally don’t find the change overbearing… but I am a mom of five who has become accustomed to tea that has been warmed up in the microwave 10 times… so it will come down to your own personal preference lol. I also like to get all the benefits I can from the petals so I don’t mind the slight change in texture.
Servings
There are two different recipes at the end of the post. One for 1 serving and the other for 8 servings.
Below I’ve also provided some additional serving conversions for you. The measurements are so simple, I’m sure you can make any amount of servings you desire.
1 Serving: 2 tablespoons dandelion petals, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
2 Servings: 1/4 cup (or 4 tablespoons) dandelion petals, 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
4 Servings: 1/2 cup (or 8 tablespoons) dandelion petals, 4 cups of water, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of sugar.
8 Servings: 1 cup (or 16 tablespoons) dandelion petals, 8 cups of water, 1/2 cup of lemon juice, and 1/2 cup of sugar.
Dandelion Lemonade - 1 serving
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp dandelion petals
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- It took about 5-6 flower heads to yield 2 tablespoons. So gather the flower heads you need.
- Carefully remove the PETALS ONLY. This is an important step because the greens will make it bitter and ruin the delicious flowery flavour.
- Combine all the ingredients in your blender and blend for 1-2 minutes until well combined and a gorgeous yellow.
- Strain if desired. I definitely would for my kids because they are sensitive to texture. But I enjoyed it as is and want all the health benefits that the petals offer.
- Garnish with a flower and enjoy!
Dandelion Lemonade - 8 Servings
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup dandelion petals
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions
- It took about 5-6 flower heads to yield 2 tablespoons of petals. So gather the flower heads you need - approximately 80-100 dandelion heads. Don't worry its not as hard as it sounds! haha
- Carefully remove the PETALS ONLY. This is an important step because the greens will make it bitter and ruin the delicious flowery flavour.
- Combine all the ingredients in your blender and blend for 1-2 minutes until well combined and a gorgeous yellow.
- Strain if desired. I definitely would for my kids because they are sensitive to texture. But I enjoyed it as is and want all the health benefits that the petals offer.
- Garnish with a flower and enjoy!
