Use the fresh, barely open flowers of the ubiquitous dandelion to make a delicious and tonic dandelion wine. This wine is simple to make at home, healthy, and very delicious if you like wine.
Dandelions are a common spring flower in many areas. While many classify the hardy plant as an invasive weed, and detrimental to lawns, the plant is full of nutrients, minerals, and general spring tonic helpfulness. Dandelion wine is a fun and interesting way to take advantage of the sweet flavor of dandelion blossoms, while still getting the benefits of dandelions. If wine isn’t your thing, check out these recipes and ways to use dandelions.
Even little fingers can get involved in harvesting dandelion blossoms for wine, it is a great early morning activity to burn off excess energy. This recipe also contains orange and lemon, making it a good light tonic drink for helping avoid seasonal colds. Harvesting the dandelion blossoms, for wine, also cuts back on the dandelion clocks that can re-seed the area. Dandelions are a great source of pollen for bees, so even if you don’t plan on using the flowers wait till the flowers are finished before cutting them down.
Growing up, we let the dandelions grow freely, until after we had harvested enough blossoms for wine. Our immediate neighbors sometimes complained, as they would use weed killer on their dandelions and felt we were just propagating the “problem.” I prefer dandelions to perfectly manicured lawn, myself. Once they realized we did cut down the dandelions, before “clock” work started, they were happier. So, buckle up and find your dandelion patch as this dandelion wine is seriously amazing.
If you cut dandelions before the clocks fully mature, they will send up flowers throughout the summer season. Even if your area is already over dandelions, you may still be able to convince some to blossom for this project. If not, bookmark it, and try this recipe next year.
How to Make Dandelion Wine
Description
Make this slightly sweet, tonic wine from young-fresh dandelion flowers.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon young, organic, dandelion flowers
- 3 organic oranges, chopped, including skin, seeds, and juice
- 3 organic lemons, chopped, including skin, seeds, and juice
- 1 cup of organic raisins
- 6 cups of honey or white sugar
Instructions
- Gather 1 gallon of young, open, dandelion flowers in the morning
- In a large bucket, sterilized before hand, put the dandelion flowers. Cover with 2 gallons of boiled, still hot water. Cover the bucket with a cheese cloth and let sit for 3 days. Strain out the golden liquid.
- In a large pot, bring liquid to the simmer.
- Dissolve honey or sugar completely, simmer for 30 min. Take off of heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm.
- Strain liquid.
- Add 2 packages of champagne yeast to 1 cup of the liquid. Once dissolved and active, return to vat. Stir well.
- Add 1 package yeast nutrient and stir well.
- Bottle in 2 glass 1 gallon jugs. (I used glass jugs that apple cider comes in). Place wine fermentation lock.
- Allow to ferment for 4 weeks or until fermentation stops. Decant and bottle in clean, sterilized wine bottles.
- Cork. Store for 4 to 6 months before using.
Notes
This wine is a medicinal wine. Especially good for winter colds, flu, and general malaise. It is tonic, rich in vitamins, and detoxifying.
green spring lawn with dandelion flowers and daisies
Dandelion Wine Recipe
Gather 1 gallon of young, open, dandelion flowers in the morning
In a large bucket, sterilized before hand, put the dandelion flowers. Cover with 2 gallons of boiled, still hot water. Cover the bucket with a cheese cloth and let sit for 3 days. Strain out the golden liquid. In a large pot, bring liquid to the simmer and add:
- 3 organic oranges, chopped, including skin, seeds, and juice
- 3 organic lemons, chopped, including skin, seeds, and juice
- 1 cup of organic raisins
- 6 cups of honey or white sugar
Dissolve honey or sugar completely, simmer for 30 min. Take off of heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. Strain liquid. Add 2 packages of champagne yeast to 1 cup of liquid. Once dissolved and active, return to vat. Stir well. Add 1 package yeast nutrient and stir well. Bottle in 2 glass 1 gallon jugs. (I used glass jugs that apple cider comes in). Place wine fermentation lock. Allow to ferment for 4 weeks or until fermentation stops. Decant and bottle in clean, sterilized wine bottles. Cork. Store for 4 to 6 months before using.
This wine is a medicinal wine. Especially good for winter colds, flu, and general malaise. It is tonic, rich in vitamins, and detoxifying.
Optional: before making the dandelion flower solution, you can chose to remove the dandelion petals from the green caplet. The caplet is slightly bitter, but does not significantly impact the flavor of the wine. However, if this is being used as a tonic it will be sweeter without the green, but more potent with it. Dandelion flowers can also be used in cosmetic products, like bath bombs, and salves.
Your Turn:
How do you enjoy your dandelions?
The entire dandelion plant is edible and can be used in a multitude of way. Dandelion roots can be used in an herbal tea,or as a coffee substitute. Dandelion leaves make amazing pesto, and salads, as well as functioning well as a cooked herb. If you use dandelion leaves as a cooked green, discard the cooking water to reduce the bitterness and serve with lemon and butter.
How do you like using dandelions? Leave a comment.
Learn to use garden herbs to make inspiring botanical beverages
For more recipes that can help you beat the heat check out my Inspiring Botanical Drinks course. Inside this class you’ll learn how to use your garden herbs and produce to create elixirs, drinks, and cold treats that are healthy, full of antioxidants, and will help you stay cool all summer long. You’ll also learn healthy ways to beat the soda habit, make your own coffee shop drinks, and craft specialty beverages that are lovely and giftable. Learn more here.
Leave a Reply