The Dandelion Flower Fairy Tea Blend
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Dandelions are one of the few foraged plants where all parts (root, leaves, and flowers) are edible. This makes dandelions a perfect ingredient for all sorts of recipes in the kitchen, from savory to sweet. One of the easiest ways to enjoy dandelions is by brewing them into a soothing honey-flavored tea. In this post I am sharing a delicious Dandelion Tea Blend that is inspired by one of my favorite fantasy creatures - the flower fairies!
The dandelions are poking their little heads out of the ground and showing off their bright sunny petals. It is such a lovely sight after a long, cold winter. As one of the first foods for pollinators to forage on, dandelions are a welcome wildflower on the farm. They are also incredibly beneficial for people to eat as well!
the dandelion fairy:
Who is The Dandelion Fairy? The Dandelion Fairy is a flower fairy that is bright and sweet as honey. The dandelion has long symbolized the sun and the moon, as it bursts brightly and then quickly fades into a white puff of fluffy seeds. We imagined the Dandelion Fairy as a newly blossomed baby fairy.
Whether you believe in herbal folklore or not, it is fun to learn new things about your favorite plants. Personally, I am a big fan of The Language of Flowers, a tradition that the Victorians loved to use to send each other secret messages with gifted flowers! According to the Victorians, the dandelion symbolizes love, wishes, and faithfulness among other things.
In more fantastical folklore, dandelions have been called fairy clocks as the petals open and close with the sun. Of all of the things said about dandelions, one of my favorites is that they symbolize resilience. Dandelions tend to grow in places that are least expected, like the crack of a sidewalk, and they continue to grow even after they have been hacked away.
My mom, Jill, illustrated a beautiful image of The Dandelion Flower Fairy, and we turned it into a delightful print and labels for your homemade tea bags! We thought this would be a fun little series to work on throughout the year. You can find the print for sale in our online shop, and we thank you deeply for supporting our art.
the benefits of dandelions:
Dandelions are a wonderful antioxidant and detoxifier. In ancient times, they were believed to purify the blood. Today, with scientific advances, we know that they can help to support liver health, stabilize blood sugar, help your stomach to absorb more minerals, reduce inflammation, and can improve cellular health.
Of course, be cautious with any foraged plants you may consume. For those with allergies towards ragweed, the dandelion should be avoided. If you are taking medications that are for kidney function, certain types of antibiotics, or diuretic medications you should consult with your healthcare practitioner. Please take any all holistic medicine or herbal foraging advice with a grain of salt, especially from a website that is not professionally approved - like ours!
HOW TO BREW LOOSE LEAF TEA:
To brew a cozy homemade loose leaf tea blend at home, there are some general rules to follow depending on the ingredients in your tea blend:
Begin with Filtered Water. If you can, filtered water tastes the best when brewing tea at home. The water you are using can affect the taste of your tea, but this is not a necessary step to make an excellent cup! Bring the water to a boil over the stove in a small saucepan or a kettle.
Place the Tea into the Kettle. Once the water has just started to boil, scoop your tea into your kettle. A good rule of thumb for measuring how much tea to use is around 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 oz (240 ml) water. Then, close the lid to let the tea steep. The amount of time the tea needs to steep will depend on the type of tea that it is.
Green and White Teas: 2-3 minutes
Black Teas: 3-5 minutes
Oolong: 4-8 minutes
Herbal and Floral Teas: 8-10 minutes
Strain the Tea. If you are using a kettle, you can simply serve the tea into your cup of choice. If you would like to use a tea pot, you will transfer the brewed tea to the tea pot and then serve.
ingredients in my dandelion flower fairy tea blend:
I am a big fan of black tea, so I decided to make a bit of a spiced blend. Many herbal teas with dandelion are made with green tea, which is also tasty! For this Dandelion Flower Fairy Tea Blend, I used a few ingredients that make a delightful flavor combination. They are also quite good for you, too!
Oolong or English Breakfast Tea. The base of this tea is made with an oolong tea or English Breakfast. You can use either option or a different type of black tea, but I prefer oolong. Oolong, in particular, is neither a black tea nor a green tea. It is full of antioxidants and helps to reduce inflammation.
Dandelion Root. Dandelion root has a bitter, cooling flavor. It has been described as being “nutty” or “toasty.” It’s wonderful for supporting liver health, urinary function, and is a mild diuretic.
Ginger Root. I love putting ginger root in my tea blends as it is wonderful for digestion and it can help to relieve an upset stomach and nausea. Ginger root adds a bit of a fiery kick to this tea, and it’s quite comforting!
Cardamom Pods. For this recipe, I used dried cardamom pods to bring even more spice to the mix. Cardamom is a unique spice with a peppery, floral flavor. It has even been described as giving off citrus hints.
Nettle. Nettle is a wonderful herbal addition to tea, as it helps to support upper respiratory health and is a mild diuretic. It has a mild flavor and grassy flavors, which combines nicely with dandelion.
Fenugreek. This herb should be used with caution if you are pregnant, nursing, or on certain medications. Fenugreek is helpful in aiding digestion. This seed also has a nutty flavor that is said to taste like maple syrup or brown sugar!
storing your homemade tea blend:
After mixing all of your lovely Dandelion Tea Blend ingredients together, it’s time to store them. The easiest way to store herbal tea blends is by placing them in an container with an airtight lid. This could be a mason jar or plastic tupperware container.
If you are wanting to share your tea blend as a gift, I suggest packaging them in a little muslin drawstring bag! This is an adorable way to send your tea off to someone special or travel with it. Finish off the tea bag with our Dandelion Flower Fairy Print as a little tea label! You can write the ingredients on the back, too.
final thoughts:
As spring continues to change the world around us, I hope that this Dandelion Flower Fairy Tea Blend brings you some much needed sunshine and brightness. This lovely herbal tea blend combines the honey-flavored sweetness of dandelions with delicious oolong or black tea and spicy, maple syrup hints. It’s the perfect tea blend for spring! Enjoy, dear.
xoxo Kayla
DISCLAIMER: Please speak with a qualified healthcare professional before ingesting herbs and always research each herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or take medications.
The Dandelion Flower Fairy Tea Blend
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp (8 g) Darjeeling tea
- 2 tbsp (16 g) dried dandelion root
- 2 tbsp (16 g) dried ginger root
- 2 tsp dried cardamom pods
- 2 tsp dried nettle
- 2 tsp fenugreek, optional
- 2 cinnamon sticks about 4-inches (10-cm) in length, crushed
- 12 to 16 dried whole cloves
- 1 tsp grated nutmeg
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Darjeeling tea, dandelion root, ginger root, cardamom pods, nettle, fenugreek (if using), cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Toss together to evenly distribute all of the ingredients.
- Store the tea blend in a container with a lid that has an airtight seal. Keep the container with the tea in a cool, dry, and dark place like a pantry cabinet. The tea should last for several years, depending on the freshness of your ingredients.
- To brew the tea, use 1 tablespoon (X g) of mix per 8 oz (240 ml) hot water. Steep for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Notes
- CAUTION: Fenugreek is not for use in pregnancy, unless otherwise instructed by a qualified healthcare professional. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on an medications.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
10Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
