Content
- 1 Why dandelion honey is good for you
- 2 How to make dandelion honey at home
- 3 How to make dandelion honey according to the classic recipe
- 4 How to make 400 dandelion honey
- 5 How to make lemon and dandelion honey
- 6 How to make dandelion honey without cooking: recipe number 1
- 7 Dandelion honey without cooking: recipe number 2
- 8 The original recipe for making dandelion honey with mint and cherry leaves
- 9 Homemade honey made from dandelions, oranges and lemons
- 10 How to use dandelion honey
- 11 Limitations and contraindications
- 12 How to store dandelion honey
- 13 Conclusion
Dandelion honey is considered one of the rarest types of beekeeping products. This is due to the fact that the nectar of the plant has a bitter taste. Therefore, bees do not seek to collect it. Despite this, the product contains a lot of substances useful for the human body.
Why dandelion honey is good for you
Dandelion is a perennial herb belonging to the Aster family. More than 2000 plant species are distinguished. The most common species in Russia is the common dandelion. The height of the plant can vary from 10 to 50 cm. Dandelion is considered unpretentious, so it can be found on roadsides, flower fields, in squares and forests.
There are two types of dandelion honey: natural and artificial. In the first case, the product is made by bees by digesting the nectar of the plant. Artificial honey is prepared at home using available tools. In this case, there is no need to resort to the help of bees. The benefits of dandelion honey are in its rich composition. It includes the following components:
- sodium;
- phosphorus;
- copper;
- manganese;
- zinc;
- iron;
- potassium;
- selenium.
There is a lot of controversy about the benefits and harms of dandelion honey. The plant is often used as the main ingredient in the preparation of medicines. For skin diseases, the honey product is applied locally. If it is necessary to eliminate diseases of the internal organs, it is taken orally. Often, a medicinal product is used as an adjunct to the main drug therapy. The benefits of a healing product are as follows:
- lowering blood cholesterol levels;
- cleansing the body of toxins;
- restoration of respiratory function in the presence of asthma;
- removing sputum from the lungs;
- reduction of pain in the joints;
- providing a rejuvenating effect on the condition of the skin and hair;
- normalization of the nervous system;
- strengthening the immune system;
- improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- stabilization of blood pressure;
- reducing the likelihood of developing urolithiasis;
- choleretic action;
- normalization of liver and gallbladder function;
- strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Dandelion honey is especially beneficial for people with weakened immune systems. The product contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. Due to the phosphorus content, it has a strengthening effect on the skeletal system and muscles. Due to the presence of magnesium and potassium in the composition, the product prevents electrolyte disturbances in the body. It helps to normalize sleep, eliminate cramps and muscle pain.
In addition, honey has the ability to restore hormones and stabilize the respiratory system.The content of manganese ensures the elimination of drowsiness and the restoration of the nervous system. The presence of zinc in honey helps to accelerate the regenerative processes of the skin. Therefore, the product is often used for cosmetic purposes.
Doctors advise including dandelion syrup in the diet of children and the elderly. It promotes the active development of important organs and prevents the formation of chronic diseases. Regular consumption of honey in food can be an alternative to vitamin complexes. To achieve the desired result, it is enough to eat a couple of tablespoons of dandelion honey a day.
In some cases, synthetic dandelion honey is used to prevent cancer. This is due to the high content of selenium. The mineral is able to cope with decreased appetite, symptoms of anemia and nervous disorders. For men, it is necessary for the regulation of reproductive function.
How to make dandelion honey at home
Making honey from dandelions is a rather troublesome task. But it fully justifies the effort spent. It is important to take a responsible attitude to the collection and procurement of raw materials. Honey is prepared from both stems and flowers.
It is advisable to collect the plant in places located away from factories and highways. The best places to collect are flower meadows and river banks. Picking flowers in rainy weather is not recommended. They need to stand under the sun for at least a day. Plucking plants with half-opened buds is not worth it. It is advisable to use a knife during the collection process.
What parts of the plant are dandelion honey made from?
Dandelion flowers are most often used to make dandelion honey. They accumulate pollen, which contains a large number of useful components. In some recipes, the stems of the plant are also involved. The root part is used for the manufacture of decoctions and infusions with a therapeutic effect.
Collection and preparation of raw materials
Harvesting is carried out in the second half of May, when flowering occurs. Preparation of raw materials involves thorough cleaning under running water. Before this, the flower part is separated from the stems. It is important not to apply intense rubbing in order not to remove the pollen along with the dirt. Chopping flowers is not required. The exception is those cases when it is necessary by prescription.
How to make dandelion honey according to the classic recipe
The easiest way to prepare dandelion honey is the classic recipe. It involves the use of the following components:
- sugar - 900 g;
- filtered water - 500 ml;
- dandelion flowers - 500 g.
Cooking process:
- Flowers dried after cleansing with water are poured into a glass container and covered with sugar. The ingredients are placed in a jar in layers.
- Water is poured to the edges of the container.
- The jar is closed with a lid and set aside in the sun. The fermentation process will take place within 2 weeks.
- After the indicated time, the product is distributed into small jars.
How to make 400 dandelion honey
A widespread recipe for dandelion honey in the amount of 400 pieces. Its secret lies in the strictly verified amount of ingredients. Thanks to this, useful substances are preserved that have a positive effect on the human body. For cooking, you will need the following components:
- 400 dandelion flowers;
- 500 ml of water;
- 1 kg of sugar.
Cooking algorithm:
- The flowers are immersed in a deep saucepan and poured with the required amount of cool water.
- The container is put on fire, after which the composition is brought to a boil.
- After boiling, the flower mixture is boiled for 2 hours.
- Using gauze, filter the liquid.
- Sugar is added to it and re-put on fire. After boiling, the sugar mixture is left over low heat for 10 minutes. Stir constantly to avoid burning.
- The readiness of the product is determined by its density. In consistency, it should resemble bee honey.
How to make lemon and dandelion honey
The recipe for dandelion honey with the addition of lemon is relevant for use in the season of colds. It is rich not only in minerals, but also in vitamin C, which is found in large quantities in citruses.
Components:
- 300 g dandelions;
- 500 ml of water;
- 1 lemon.
Cooking process:
- The flowers are washed with cold water and then dried.
- Raw materials are poured into 1 tbsp. water and bring to a boil, then cook for several minutes.
- Lemon juice is squeezed into the resulting mixture.
- For 7 hours, the liquid is infused under the lid.
- In a separate container, prepare a syrup from 1 tbsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. water.
- After infusion, the liquid from the dandelions is filtered and combined with sugar syrup.
- The resulting mixture is heated over low heat for 10 minutes.
- The resulting honey is rolled into small jars.
How to make dandelion honey without cooking: recipe number 1
A simple recipe for making honey from dandelions, which does not imply cooking the components, is in no less demand. In its action, it is in no way inferior to honey cooked under the influence of high temperature. The recipe uses the following ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. honey;
- 200 dandelion flowers.
Recipe:
- The flowers are thoroughly washed and passed through a meat grinder or chopped with a blender.
- Honey is added to the resulting flower gruel.
- After mixing the components, the product is rolled into small cans.
Dandelion honey without cooking: recipe number 2
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of sugar;
- 350 g dandelion inflorescences;
- 500 ml of drinking water.
Recipe:
- Dandelions are poured into a saucepan and poured over with water. The honey is boiled over low heat for 3 minutes.
- After cooling, the solution is filtered. The dandelion gruel is disposed of.
- Sugar is poured into a clean container and poured with dandelion liquid.
- The composition is brought to a boil and left over low heat for 10 minutes. The resulting syrup is poured into jars.
The original recipe for making dandelion honey with mint and cherry leaves
To make honey from dandelion flowers tastier and healthier, unusual ingredients are often used in its preparation. The recipe with the addition of cherries and mint is especially popular. It involves the following components:
- 500 ml of water;
- 300 dandelions;
- 1.3 kg of sugar;
- 4 g mint leaves;
- half a lemon;
- 6 g cherry leaves;
- 4 carnation buds;
- 5 g of currant leaves.
Cooking steps:
- Syrup is prepared from sugar and water.
- The next step is to add dandelion flowers to the syrup and boil the mixture for 25 minutes.
- Lemon is squeezed into the resulting syrup, berry leaves and cloves are added.
- The mixture is boiled again for 5 minutes.
- The finished product is filtered through cheesecloth and poured into jars.
Homemade honey made from dandelions, oranges and lemons
Dandelion Citrus Syrup can easily replace any dessert. In addition, it effectively copes with diseases of the digestive system. To make honey, you need the following ingredients:
- 4 oranges;
- 1.5 kg of sugar;
- 500 g dandelion flowers;
- 2 lemons;
- 3 liters of water.
Cooking method:
- The flowers are washed with cold water and the oranges are cut into quarters.
- The ingredients are put into a saucepan and poured over with water.
- After boiling, the mixture is left on low heat for another hour.
- After removing from the stove, the dandelion liquid is filtered and mixed with lemon juice and sugar.
- The honey is put back on the fire for an hour. Its darkening indicates readiness.
How to use dandelion honey
The medicinal properties of dandelion honey will manifest themselves to the maximum if the product is used correctly. Most often it is used as a remedy for various diseases. It is undesirable to expose honey to high temperatures. In this case, its useful qualities are neutralized. In such situations, dandelion syrup is taken according to a specific scheme, selected by a doctor. It is also permissible to use it as a dessert. The product is added to tea and baked goods. To avoid the development of an allergic reaction, it is important to limit the amount of food eaten.
Limitations and contraindications
Before using dandelion honey for food, it is necessary to study its beneficial properties and contraindications. Under certain conditions, the product can have a negative effect. It is not recommended to take it in the following cases:
- diabetes;
- the period of breastfeeding and bearing a child;
- low pressure;
- obesity;
- age up to 3 years;
- bowel disorder.
It is also advisable to limit the consumption of honey for people who are prone to obesity. Due to its high sugar content, it is considered high in calories. Excessive consumption of honey product contributes to weight gain. Reviews of dandelion honey indicate that it is not suitable for dietary nutrition. It is equally important to remember that the product has a laxative effect. Therefore, it should be used with extreme caution.
How to store dandelion honey
It is recommended to roll the medicinal dandelion syrup into pre-sterilized jars. They are stored in a cool and dark place. The best option is to store the product in the basement, on the back shelf of the cabinet, or in the refrigerator. The shelf life is several months. Unlike bee products, dandelion honey deteriorates faster.
Conclusion
Dandelion honey is a healthy and tasty treat that anyone can make. Its benefits will be more pronounced if the product is consumed in limited quantities and only in the absence of contraindications. Before introducing it into the diet, it is advisable to consult with a specialist in order to exclude the possibility of side effects.