Dandelion cordial

Annpan · Post: # 99312Post **Annpan** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:54 pm

Has anyone ever tried to make a Dandelion cordial?

I have found a recipe here but I just wondered if anyone has tried it and how it tastes... I don't want to let the dandelion flowers go to waste and I haven't got into wine making yet.

Martin · Post: # 99317Post **Martin** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:10 pm

think it pertinent to mention that one of it's old names was "pissabed" - it's a very effective diuretic.........

and being a fan of trivia - it's better known nomenclature comes from the French "dent de lion" - literally the teeth of the lion

Annpan · Post: # 99321Post **Annpan** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:24 pm

Excuse my ignorance but... does that mean that it makes you pee yourself, or does it give you the runs?

Perhaps one glass a day wouldn't cause a big upset

red · Post: # 99325Post **red** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:40 pm

sposed to make you wee

but some regard tht as a good thing in moderation..

Annpan · Post: # 99327Post **Annpan** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:44 pm

But doesn't all liquid make you pee

Ordinary tea makes me pee loads as does cold water.

... or does it inflate some odd part of your anatomy that means that you want to pee but can't?

I am most confused...

If it makes you pee then does that mean it is a good detoxing thingimy?

red · Post: # 99329Post **red** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:48 pm

well if someone was prone to 'water retention' - as in fact most women are just before their period, then it can relieve the symptoms
but if you use diuretics regularly.. your body compensates for this and then there is no gain.

I have no idea how much dandelions are diuretic. coffee and tea are.. some say elderflowers and elderberries are.. never noticed an effect with elder but there you go...

all things in moderation and no harm done.. I reckon. plan on making dandelion wine this year.

Annpan · Post: # 99335Post **Annpan** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:29 pm

So I guess I am not going to notice any difference if I drink a little bit of dandelion cordial... since I have several hundred cup of tea in a day I am already functioning on a high diuretic diet

I really want to get into wine making but I just feel I have enough on my plate... and it is another thing to learn from scratch... I have a few of my dads old books (alas, he died 23 years ago, so asking him for advice would be somewhat useless)

I really want to make wine but for now it is cordials.... I will give E a bucket and send her to pick flowers after her nap

Her first useful chore... at 19 moths, thats not bad

Green Rosie · Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:01 pm

Martin wrote:think it pertinent to mention that one of it's old names was "pissabed" - it's a very effective diuretic.........
and being a fan of trivia - it's better known nomenclature comes from the French "dent de lion" - literally the teeth of the lion

The french name for dandelion is Pissenlit - literally P*ss the bed. I have yet to try and explain to a french speaker why I find this word quite difficult to say

I was thinking about giving dandelion jam a go - anyone tried this before? Recipe link

frozenthunderbolt · Thu May 01, 2008 8:53 am

Ive made it before and it came out more or less how they smell - slightly bitter and earthy while also being a little sweet - i like it, but then i drink hopp tea and love bittter marmalade so i dont know if that counts as a valid opinion

red · Post: # 99917Post **red** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:17 am

Annpan wrote: I really want to get into wine making but I just feel I have enough on my plate...

yeh there is no hurry. I have a vast list of things to get around to trying.. it is nice to know there are still many more adventures to be had

Post: # 99934Post **MKG** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:51 am

Annpan - strange, isn't it? I always thought of it the other way around. I always wanted to make cordials but thought I'd stick to wine because (I thought) it was simpler and there's only so much time ...

Annpan · Post: # 99950Post **Annpan** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:17 pm

MKG wrote:Annpan - strange, isn't it? I always thought of it the other way around. I always wanted to make cordials but thought I'd stick to wine because (I thought) it was simpler and there's only so much time ...

Thing is I don't have the demi-johns, bottles, corking wotsits, etc.... my sister is going to see if she has any for me and I'll ask on freecycle.

But for cordial, all I need is a sieve and some screw top plastic bottles... which I do have.

I do really want to make wine, as I want dig out all my dads old recipes (which I have kept hold of) but yes it is nice to know that there are still things I have to look forward too

Green Rosie · Mon May 05, 2008 2:48 pm

I've just made 5 jars of dandelion jelly and it is yummy

red · Post: # 100743Post **red** » Mon May 05, 2008 7:15 pm

Green Rosie wrote:I've just made 5 jars of dandelion jelly and it is yummy

from the flower heads?

sounds good... mind you I still have bruised fingers from all the de-greening of 4 pints of dandelion heads for my wine...

Annpan · Post: # 100792Post **Annpan** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:48 pm

I didn't have nearly enough when I tried to collect them the other day... it is my mission tomorrow.

How do you make dandelion jelly GR?