Dandelion Tea: Differences In Leaves, Roots And Flowers

Last Updated on 10/01/2023 by Desmond

A gentle breeze softly carries away the dandelion seeds – a scene often depicted in literature and cinema to evoke a tranquil tableau. Yet, gardeners harbor a profound aversion to them; their formidable capacity for dissemination and proliferation greatly disrupts the garden’s aesthetics, hence regarded as a weed. However, it is a treasure for herbal tea lovers, as dandelion tea can bring numerous significant health benefits.

What Is Dandelion Tea

Dandelion, scientifically known as Taraxacum officinale, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It enjoys widespread popularity in both Eastern and Western traditional folk medicine for treating common ailments and maintaining health. During China’s historical periods of food scarcity, dandelion even served as a wild edible, filling hungry stomachs. To this day, it remains a common ingredient in many cuisines.

What sets dandelion apart from most other herbs used for tea is every part of the dandelion, from its leaves and roots to its vibrant yellow flowers, can be harnessed for tea-making, offering a convenient and direct route to reaping its health benefits.

Dandelion Leaf Tea

Unlike the West, in the Eastern countries, there’s a fervent enthusiasm for brewing tea with dandelion leaves, preparing medicinal infusions, and incorporating them into culinary delights. After drying, dandelion leaves take on a darker hue, becoming finely curled and lending a subtle, pale yellow tint to infusions.

The flavor of dandelion leaf tea is weak, carrying only a hint of herbaceous. It has a slightly cool tail note and a few bitters left on the tongue after finishing drinking – not astringency, yet you won’t like it either. If the infusion is prepared in a cooking way, this peculiar taste becomes more pronounced. I remember as a child, when acne came to my face, my mother would brew a soup with dandelion leaves, claiming its wondrous efficacy, but oh, the taste was truly indescribable.

Dandelion Root Tea

Roasted dandelion root tea has a broader audience, perhaps owing to its flavor profile, which is easier to embrace. Numerous brands offer dandelion root tea products, crafted from dried, sliced dandelion roots, sometimes blending with leaves.

In theory, both dandelion leaves and roots deliver similar health benefits. However, in TCM, dandelion leaves are considered more suitable for addressing general inflammation. In contrast, dandelion roots excel in removing the heat of the liver and protecting it.

Dandelion Flower Tea

Due to numerous films and TV shows, many young people thought of dandelion flowers as a fluffy, white ball. With a gentle breath can send their downy fuzz dancing into the distance. Well, most people do know that dandelion flowers are actually yellow, resembling miniature clocks, and the white fluff emerges only after they’re turned into seeds.

Some people love collecting fresh dandelion flowers for tea-making, as the vibrant yellow petals add a delightful visual charm. Yet, it’s hard to ignore the tiny fluff intertwined within the flowers, often causing the annoyance of throat tickles. Unless you prepare it with an infuser or tea bag; however, you’ll miss out on its beauty too if you do this.

Perhaps more than a drink, dandelion flower infusion might be better suited for skincare. It was said that washing your face with dandelion flower tea can effectively remove blemishes and fade wrinkles.

Dandelion Tea Benefits

Dandelions are rich in vitamins A, C, and D, lots of K, Zn, Fe, and Mg, as well as flavonoids such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. These nutrients are soluble in water and absorbed by the body, bringing many health benefits.

Diuretic

Dandelion has been used as an excellent diuretic for a long time, known as ” pee the bed.”

People use its powerful diuretic effect, accelerate the toxin inside the body and impurity discharge, and reduce the occurrence of diseases such as urinary tract infections and body edema.

The study also confirmed that after taking dandelion tea, subjects urinated significantly more frequently in a short time.

And dandelions are rich in K(potassium), which also helps to replace the k loss caused by excessive urination. That’s why it’s better than other natural diuretics.

Anti-inflammatory

In addition to its diuretic effect, folks also recognize its anti-inflammatory effect.

Dandelion tea often acts as a medicine in folk remedies to treat the inflammation of the tonsil and throat accompanying a cold.

The early research found that the chlorogenic acid, taraxasterol, and hemiterpene lactones in dandelion have shown an anti-inflammatory effect. In comparison, patients with tonsillitis who took dandelion tea recovered faster than those who did not.

Liver Protection

A 2017 research confirmed that dandelion contains two polysaccharides, DRP1 and DRP2, which have excellent antioxidant properties and can reduce oxidative stress damage to the liver, thus playing a role in liver protection.

Also, dandelion contains β-carotene, which has been shown to have a protective effect on the liver.

Improve Gastrointestinal Tract

The research found that dandelion root ingredients can stimulate bile secretion and increase the number of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.

Consuming dandelion root tea can effectively improve the gastrointestinal tract environment and help digestion. At the same time, it can also enhance smooth muscle contraction and solve constipation.

Anemia Prevention

Dandelion leaves are rich in vitamin C and iron elements; making it in tea can help supplement the body’s iron, preventing iron deficiency anemia. The mineral elements it contains also can help improve the digestive and hypertension.

Manage Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by poor control of blood sugar levels. The disease afflicts people in both developed and developing countries.

As a natural beverage, dandelion tea is regarded as good at managing type 2 diabetes.

In the research by Dr.Fonyuy E. Wirngo etc., it was found that dandelion tea can help diabetic patients stimulate insulin secretion and keep blood glucose at a low level.

Its efficacy mainly comes from the chlorogenic acid (CGA), chicory acid (CRA), taraxasterol (TS), and sesquiterpene lactone (SEL) in dandelion. These active ingredients have a huge potential to help patients manage diabetes.

Hypolipidemic

In the observation of mice with a high-cholesterol diet, the concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol in plasma and liver decreased significantly after 6 weeks after continuous feeding of dandelion water extract.

The researchers speculate that flavonoids in dandelion may inhibit the activity of pancreatic lipase, thereby lowering blood lipid levels.

At the same time, researchers believe that dandelion is a plant with anti-obesity medicine development potential. Due to these characteristics, dandelion tea can also be a tremendous sugar-free beverage to aid weight loss.

May Anti-Cancer

In research on dandelion root extract, S. J. Chatterjee et al. found that it can induce apoptosis in melanoma cells without causing damage to healthy cells and may contribute to skin cancer treatment.

However, there is not enough data to prove that dandelion roots are effective against cancer.

Beauty Effect

Dandelion is rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, trace elements, and other nutrients. Drinking dandelion tea can help with beauty.

The benefit is mainly from the total flavonoids in dandelion, which has a specific effect similar to SOD, a potent antioxidant for radical scavenging with an anti-aging effect. It can also help remove freckles and whiten the skin.

Prevent Colds

Dandelion contains various organic acids, such as caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid, which potently inhibit and kill microorganisms.

Therefore, dandelion for external use can have a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.

Besides, it also has an excellent inhibitory effect on staphylococcus aureus to help prevent and cure influenza, viral colds, and other diseases.

In China, there is a habit of dandelion tea consumed to strengthen the body and prevent colds.

Potential Side Effects

It’s worth noting that dandelion has a small amount of toxin, but are still considered safe for most people.

It’s worth noting that dandelion has a small amount of toxin but is still considered safe for most people.

For some people, having dandelion tea may experience the following side effects:

Allergy

If you have a history of allergies to ragweed, marigold, chamomile, and other plants in the Asteraceae family, drinking dandelion tea may cause symptoms such as rashes.

Influence Medicine Efficacy If you are on medication, consult your doctor before drinking dandelion tea.

Because some ingredients of dandelion tea are easily combined with antibiotics, thus reducing the efficacy of them, such as sparfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, etc.

Potassium Excessive Intake

Since dandelion itself contains a lot of potassium, if you’re taking other potassium supplements at the same time, drinking dandelion tea can lead to an excessive potassium Intake that can affect the kidneys.

In theory, kidney patients are not suitable to consume dandelion tea, which may aggravate the disease.

Cause Diarrhoea

Due to the stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, drinking too much dandelion tea is easy to cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

In traditional Chinese medicine, dandelion belongs to a cold plant. Chinese doctors believe drinking tea incorrectly, such as cold dandelion tea, can increase the risk of diarrhea.

Can I Drink Dandelion Tea Every Day?

No. Even if you are not in the group unsuitable for drinking dandelion tea and you are attracted by it much, you shouldn’t have it every day. In TCM, dandelion belongs to the “cold” herb; once intake overdosage, it will increase gastrointestinal burden even if it doesn’t make you diarrhea.

The daily amount of dandelion tea intake should be at most 500ml(less than 15g dried leaves) and not more than twice a week.

Blending Dandelion With Other Herbs

Dandelion tea tastes a little bitter, and it may be hard to accept for some people. Blending it with other herbs for making tea will create a better flavor and get more benefits.

Dandelion Rose Tea

The rose floral can cover the herbaceous taste of dandelion, and blending them brings a better detox and skin beauty effect.

Ingredients:

• 10g dried dandelion leaves
• 3-5 dried rose buds

Instructions:

1. put the dandelion leaves in a teapot which is with an infuser
2. fill in boiling water
3. steep for about 5 minutes, then wait for it to cool down a bit
4. put the rose buds in
5. go on steeping for 3 minutes
6. pour out the infusion

Dandelion Stevia Tea

Stevia is a sweetener that can flavor the bitter taste of dandelion and improve its anti-inflammatory effect.

Ingredients:

• 15g dried dandelion leaves
• 15g stevia leaves

Instructions:

1. put the dandelion and stevia leaves in a teapot which is with an infuser
2. fill in boiling water, and steep for about 15 minutes
3. pour out the infusion

Dandelion Ophiopogon Japonicus Tea

Dandelion, ophiopogon japonicus, and licorice have effects on relieving sore throat and cough. The licorice also brings some sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 10g dandelion leaves
• 6g ophiopogon japonicus
• 6g liquorice

Instructions:

1. put all the ingredients into a pot, fill in water
2. cover the lid, and heat to boil, then keep on heating for about 5 minutes
3. filter out the ingredients and get the infusion

Dandelion Wolfberry Tea

Wolfberry also tastes sweet and has a great kidney-caring effect, which is fit to blend with dandelion.

Ingredients:

• 10g dandelion leaves
• 10 wolfberries

Instructions:

1. put the dandelion leaves in a teapot which is with an infuser
2. fill in boiling water
3. steep for about 5 minutes, then wait for it to cool down a bit
4. add the wolfberries in, then keep on steeping for about 8 minutes
5. pour out the infusion

Reference

The Efficacy of Dandelion Root Extract in Inducing Apoptosis in Drug-Resistant Human Melanoma Cells

The Physiological Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) in Type 2 Diabetes

Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Root and Leaf on Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

In vitro Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Leaf and Root Extracts of Taraxacum Officinale

The Diuretic Effect in Human Subjects of an Extract of Taraxacum officinale Folium over a Single Day

Purification, Preliminary Characterization and Hepatoprotective Effects of Polysaccharides from Dandelion Root

Diverse biological activities of dandelion