What is Dandelion Honey and How to Make Your Own

While bees make traditional honey, dandelion honey is entirely different. This sweet syrup comes from the dandelion flowers in your garden and sugar through a straightforward process you can do right in your kitchen. Here’s what you need to know about dandelion honey and how to easily make your own.

What is Dandelion Honey

Since becoming vegan, I have become more conscious about everything that nature produces. But unfortunately, so many medicinal herbs and plants are reduced to nothing more than simple weeds.

I’d say the same is true for the dandelion flower. While my kids love picking these bright yellow flowers for mom, they are also significant in the lives of pollinators, including bees.

Healthwise, dandelion infused honey is a much better alternative for your home sweetener. Whether you choose to consume the dandelion flower naturally or extract its most potent properties for a healing salve, cleansing soap, or regenerating lotion, it deserves recognition as a medicinal herb.

After my daily morning runs, I use a dash ofvegan dandelion honeyto top my favorite overnight oats, homemade protein bites, and fruity granola.

Dandelion Honey Recipe in 8 Easy Steps

Here’s how to make dandelion honey in a few simple steps:

• Use dandelion flowers you have picked during the day to ensure that they are in full bloom.
• Soak the freshly picked dandelion flowers in cold water for several minutes, allowing for any pests to exit into the water.
• Remove the flowers from the water and give them an extra rinse.
• Gently remove the petals and discard both the stem and center of the flowers.
• Add lemon slices to a pot of water and add the dandelion flower petals. Once brought to a boil, allow to simmer for 25-30 minutes.
• Next, let the concoction steep for several hours.
• Finally, strain contents through a cheesecloth.

At this point, you have yourself freshly brewed dandelion tea. But, to create honey, there is one more step to go:

• Return strained dandelion tea to a clean pot and bring it back to a boil. Gradually add granulated sugar until dissolved. Let simmer for approximately 1 hour for consistency to thicken up (remember, as it cools down, your honey will thicken up even more).

_{Dandelion Honey Benefits}

Dandelions are so much more than a simple lawn weed. The honey derived from these cute yellow flowers delivers a broad range of health benefits.

Healthlinereports that “from root to flower, dandelions are highly nutritious plants loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.”

Some of the various health benefits include:

1. Promotes healthy bacteria that support digestion.
2. Supplies antioxidants to your body’s multiple cells and tissues.
3. Reduces inflammation brought on by either injury or sickness.
4. Supports healthy skincare.
5. Improves robust bone maintenance.

Yellow Flower Power

Since researching the many benefits of dandelion honey (not to mention how delicious and easy it is to make), I have never looked at those tiny yellow wildflowers the same.

My kids and I now love skipping through our yard with our favorite wooden basket sparing as many dandelion flowers as we can from the wrath of our garden equipment — maybe now, you’ll do the same.