Who's Eating Dandelions!

[Stina]

I know it's advised to eat dandelions before they flower. But is there any reason I can't pick the greens and the flower, other then the bitterness? I'd like to toss them into a blender with fruit and stevia, so I don't think the bitterness would matter- I'm hoping. Just thought I'd double-check before I experiment.

[fruitcake]

I've never heard this before.
I've never tried them raw, but last summer I picked a lot of them to boil for teas. Many of the ones I picked had flowered. I couldn't tell the difference, have to pay more attention to that this year, see If I notice it.

[trinity082482]

Not me. Have mine!

[eatyourbroccoli]

everytime i see them in open fields around here i think about how natures just throwin them at us trying to get us to eat em..arent they good for liver detox?

[RowanC]

It's fine to eat them. But by this time they are VERY bitter and stringy!
The flowers are nice and sweet. You should not eat more than 5 raw at a time.

Pick the flower, hold the place where the flowers come together at the bottom of the bud, squeeze and twist with your fingers and the petals will release. They're pretty in salad and taste sweet as honey.

[KatK]

I harvest some from my yard almost every day. I don't mind the bitterness. Haven't tried the flowers.

[Chocolate'cado_pudding]

Yes they are very good for liver detox, also a duretic (sorry, not good at spelling). I know ppl who eat it after it flowers without a problem, just bitter:)

[garden granny]

Whenever I see them in my yard, I pick the greens and put in my next smoothie. I haven't tried the flowers but I'm going to next time.

[FirstGarden]

Those dandelions are like gold. Dandelion is an herb with medicinal value, and also mentioned in juicing books.

http://www.alternative-healthzine.com/html/0201_2.html

Also..

Dandelion juice: rich in potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and iron, raw dandelion juice alkalizes the bloodstream and provides a blend of organic nutrients of specific benefit to the nervous system, of which the optic nerve is the busiest component; mix half/half with carrot juice, 1-2 pints daily.

[Solace]

In the David Wolfe semminar I watched last week he said ' Isn't it interesting how dandelions grow only around area's were people live suburbs and city and between the cracks in the side walks - maybe they-"the dandelions" are trying to tell us something":) People living especially in polluted cities NEED to Eat/juice fresh dandilions at least one month out of every year to help with the toxins in your liver;) But NO i personally have not picked much yet:rolleyes: i ate a flower:p

[Petals]

there is a very good recipe for creamed dandelion greens in Gabriel Cousen's book " Rainbow green live food cuisine"


i put them in smoothies allot with sweet fruit such as bananas and mangos and it is not bitter to me....

[Bredelly]

What about honeysuckle flowers? Those are the best smelling things on the planet. Are they edible? Unfortunately it's about a week or two too late to harvest them, but they are all over around here.

[misslinda]

Yes! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy

I grew up watching my mother pick premature dandelions and make them into a side dish with asian hot red bean paste when we were growing up.

The dandelion is one of the few "herbs" that can be taken more frquently b/c of it's gentleness. The root is much more potent.

Dandelion being that it is a bitter, helps with sluggish bile! Those with poor ciruclation should have it with something warming like ginger since it is cooling in properties.

[Lay-Lay]

I love them and eat them too :p

[Chocolate'cado_pudding]

Does anyone know if we can eat it? It is just perfect timing here now:)

[misslinda]

Here is a table with edible flowers ;)

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8513.html

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Here's the deal, as I just saw Peggy this weekend and we just had this discussion yesterday (wierd!) as a result of her conversation with Victoria about this exact matter.....

Dandelions throw all of their nutrition into the flower once it flowers. So the leaves greatly reduce in nutrition, as it is totally collecting it in the leaves to use to support the flower... So you can eat the leaves post-flowering, but it's not so much a superfood then.

Dandelion roots go 250 feet down into the earth (!!) My friend tried to grow a field, but they didn't do so hot. They PREFER and THRIVE IN land that is like untilled, with old hard dirt, since they are accustomed to growing in more challenging conditions, instead of fresh soil, all prepared for new seeds, etc. So, she was doing it all wrong by making the land all inhabitable and comfy for the seed - lol!

[jaurequi]

Thank you for that information, SchoolOfRawk, that's very helpful.

When I have used more than one bunch in a smoothie, I get diarrhea; so be careful. If I juice it, it's worse.

Best,