Make this dandelion burdock bitters recipe using foraged herbs and the bright flavors of cacao and sweet orange to create a bitter drink mixer or herbal remedy that supports good digestion and helps with stomach aches, heartburn, and gas.
Dandelion roots and Burdock roots support the liver and are detoxifying.ย They are both mildly bitter and can help with indigestion, the digestion of fats and proteins, and supporting detoxification, improving skin issues like eczema, and increasing overall health.
This dandelion burdock bitters recipe uses the mild bitterness of both dandelion and burdock roots, along with the pleasant flavors of sweet orange and cacao for a bitter aperitif that is at home in the bar, as well as the home apothecary.
Why you need bitter flavor
Bitters need to be tasted to aid in digestion.ย When the tongue tastes a bitter flavor a cascade of digestive actions begins.ย The stomach secretes more digestive juices in readiness for food, the stress reaction is calmed down as the body shifts gears to prepare for digestion.ย The liver and gall bladder secrete bile to digest the fats and proteins that are coming through shortly.
As food is thoroughly digested stomach pain, indigestion and flatulence are relieved.ย The body is functioning optimally as food is converted to energy, and the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are moved through the body to bring health.ย It all began with a little bitter taste.
Bitter tastes, it turns out, are much harder to come by today, than they were just 200 years ago.ย The natural bitterness in foods like lettuce, kale, and parsnips has been bred out of the plants in favor of more bland and sweet flavors.ย The result is a population that suffers from stomach and bowel ailments, almost universally.
Where to find dandelion and burdock
The ingredients for this dandelion burdock bitters recipe may be found in your own back yard or the wild places near your home.ย Always make an identification using at least 3 independent sources before harvesting plants in the wild that are unfamiliar to you.ย The roots of both these plants are mildly bitter with spring roots being less bitter than fall roots.ย With burdock, use the fall roots for first-year plants, as these have the most potent energy.
You can also purchase dandelion roots and burdock roots from online suppliers. Cacao nibs and oranges may be found at the grocery store or online.
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Dandelion & Burdock Bitters Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
Description
Use this dandelion burdock bitters tincture 20 minutes before a meal to improve digestion and well being.ย Use a few dashes in a cocktail to add more complex flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dandelion roots, dried or 1 1/2 cups fresh dandelion roots, cleaned and chopped
- 1 cup burdock roots, driedย or 1 1/2 cups fresh burdock roots, cleaned and chopped
- 1/2 cup cacao nibs, raw
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 3 cups brandy
Instructions
- Place dandelion roots, burdock roots, cacao nibs, and orange zest in a 1 quart Mason jar.ย Cover with brandy.ย Cap tightly.
- Shake the jar to evenly distribute the brandy among the herbs.ย Add more brandy if needed to completely cover the herbs in the jar.ย Set the jar aside in a cool, dark place.
- Shake the jar once a day or as often as you think of it.ย After 21 days stain the jar, discarding the herbs and reserving the liquid.
- Bottle the bitters tincture in amber glass bottles with dropper lids.
To use:
- Add 10 to 15 drops to a cocktail.ย Place 10 drops on the tongue about 20 minutes before a meal.ย Use when you have indigestion, stomach pain, or nausea.
Notes
If you are on prescription medication, gall bladder or liver disease, or if you are pregnant talk to your health care professional before using bitters to aid digestion.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10 - 25 drops
Health Benefits of dandelion root and burdock root
Dandelion root and Burdock root are often paired in herbal remedies. They are both detoxifying. Both support liver health. They are both mildly bitter. They both grow in the same areas and are likely to be found growing near each other. Both are harvested in the fall, after the first mild frost.
According to Colleen Codekas, author of Healing Herbal Infusions, Simple and Effective Home Remedies for Colds, Muscle Pain, Upset Stomach, Stress, Skin Issues, and More (Page Street, 2018)ย Burdock root is anti-fungal, antibacterial, and strengthens and supports the liver.ย Dandelion root is a powerful liver detoxifier, blood purifier, and diuretic.ย Both burdock and dandelion are rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that support the body’s own healing powers.
More about Healing Herbal Infusions
Colleen Codekas’ book is a bold home remedy recipe book that stands out in the crowd of herbal materia medicas and heavy herbal books steeped in technical jargon and complicated compound medicine formulas.
Healing Herbal Infusions is divided into 8 chapters based on what part of the body needs extra care and healing.ย There is a chapter for immunity, a chapter for pain, one for digestion, and one for emotional well being.ย Colleen has even offered healing herbal infusions to support pregnancy, lactation, and childcare.
This book will help you save money by making tested and effective home cures for many common ailments, avoiding harsh chemicals and drugs.ย With 75 DIY recipes for herbal remedies, this resource will support your whole family’s natural wellness journey.
Like all Page Street Publishing books this one is a work of art.ย ย The photography, layout, and typography are gorgeous and uncompromising.ย Each herbal recipe has a full-page illustration in color on the opposite leaf so you know exactly what your remedy will look like before you begin.ย The recipes are simple, with many having only 3 or 4 ingredients, so you won’t be waiting for a mail-order delivery before you can get started actually making herbal medicine.
This book is a great addition to your herbal library.ย It is full of wise herbal advice and easy to make herbal recipes that support the body’s own natural healing superpowers.
If you’ve been sitting on the fence wondering if herbal remedies really work or if they will work for you, use this book to get started today.ย Because it isn’t enough to know which herbs work for which health issues.ย You actually need to make the recipes and DIY with your herbal allies to get to know them well.ย This book will help you do that faster and easier.
This is definitely a recipe book and not a material medica resource.ย You’ll need another resource with more specific information about individual plants as a companion to this book.
This book is a beginner book for those who are just getting started making herbal remedies and learning about herbs.ย If you are a seasoned herbalist, you will recognize many of the recipes as being variations on common herbal themes.ย This book would be a good one to pass on to your clients and family members.ย It makes herbal remedies easy to make and removes the shroud of mystery around herbs and herbal medicine making, by breaking it down into its simple form — the infusion.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Healing Herbal Infusions from Page Street Publishing for review.ย This represents my honest opinion of this book.
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