Wild Dandelions: How to harvest and dry flowers for herbal tea.

The Dandelion plant is a bright and versatile wild edible with a long list of health benefits. These little beauties are all over the place this time of year. They were growing all over the yard and since today was mow-the-grass day, I decided to harvest and dry them for use in some yummy dandelion tea!

farmers field in PA

The entire Dandelion plant is edible and highly nutritious. The roots can be chopped up and boiled like carrots, making a hearty side dish. Alternatively, you can dry, roast and powder the root to use like coffee...minus the caffeine. The leaves work wonderfully in salads, steamed like spinach, or added to a smoothie. The flowers are perfect for making tea or dandelion fritters. 

Dandelion Health Benefits:

• high in calcium
• rich in iron
• low in calories
• loaded with antioxidants
• cleanses and purifies the liver
• soo many minerals
• lots of protein

Begin by harvest bright, healthy flowers around noon on a bright day, if possible. Make sure to clean the flowers of insects and debris. 

I used a simple cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to dry these dandelions. If you plan to eat the flowers fresh, or cook with them, use them immediately after harvest and cleaning. If you want to dry them for future use in herbal tea, lay them out in a single layer on a sheet and place it outside in the mid-day sun until dry (or place in oven on the lowest temp setting and dry slowly for about 2 hours, turning and tossing the flowers half way through).  Oven temps vary so keep a close eye on your flowers!

dandelions drying in the sun and crystals charging in purified water

Dandelion flowers after 2 hours of sun-drying

When the flowers are completely dry, store them in a glass jar that seals air tight or in sealed plastic bag. If stored properly, dried dandelion flowers have a shelf life of about 1-3 years.