It's Dandelion Time!

[mountain mama]

They are out in abundance and ready to pick!

Dandelion Wine (1)



3 qts dandelion flowers
1 lb white raisins
1 gallon water
3 lbs granulated sugar
2 lemons
1 orange
yeast and nutrient


Pick the flowers just before starting, so they're fresh. You do not need to pick the petals off the flower heads, but the heads should be trimmed of any stalk. Put the flowers in a large bowl. Set aside 1 pint of water and bring the remainder to a boil. Pour the boiling water over the dandelion flowers and cover tightly with cloth or plastic wrap. Leave for two days, stirring twice daily. Do not exceed this time. Pour flowers and water in large pot and bring to a low boil. Add the sugar and the peels (peel thinly and avoid any of the white pith) of the lemons and orange. Boil for one hour, then pour into a crock or plastic pail. Add the juice and pulp of the lemons and orange. Allow to stand until cool (70-75 degrees F.). Add yeast and yeast nutrient, cover, and put in a warm place for three days. Strain and pour into a secondary fermentation vessel (bottle or jug). Add the raisins and fit a fermentation trap to the vessel. Leave until fermentation ceases completely, then rack and add the reserved pint of water and whatever else is required to top up. Refit the airlock and set aside until clear. Rack and bottle. This wine must age six months in the bottle before tasting, but will improve remarkably if allowed a year. [Adapted recipe from C.J.J. Berry's First Steps in Winemaking]

[LudwigVan]

They are out in abundance and ready to pick!

My yard is literaly covered in dandelions in some parts, I want to mess around with cooking the greens but all I ever see now is the big tall fluffy things with the seeds?

[mountain mama]

The greens are still good cooked or raw. The petals of the flowers (before they turn to puffballs) are good for jellies and wine. You find dandelion leaves in the grocery store, they just rename them "field greens" in the salad section so that people don't freak out. It's along the same lines of not telling exactly what parts go into a hotdog, or what certain food dyes are made of.

[Rick]

3 qts. dandelion flowers = 4 billion 600 million five hundred twenty six thousand seven hundred and four...4 billion 600 million five hundred twenty six thousand seven hundred and five...4 billion 600 million five hundred twenty six thousand seven hundred and six...

[RobertRogers]

Indeed, dandelion greens are excellent

[mountain mama]

Rick, that was exactly how many I counted! It was just enough to turn my hands (and the hands of my kids) yellow. Now, just three more weeks and it will be wine time. I actually used a different recipe than the one above:
Dandelion Wine
Dandelion wine does not require any special equipment to make. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. This recipe uses cloves, which I think give it a nice touch. If you have dandelions around, give it a try!
• 1 package dried yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 quarts dandelion blossoms
• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 8 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped orange peel
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped lemon peel
• 6 cups sugar
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside.

Wash the dandelion blossoms well. Put them in the water with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for an hour. Strain through filter paper (coffee filters work great). Cool. While still warm (but not hot), stir in the yeast.

Let stand overnight and pour into bottles. Allow uncorked bottles to set in a darkened place for three weeks. Then cork and store bottles in a cool place. Makes about 4 quarts.

[Rick]

If folks don't know how may dandelion flowers it takes to make a quart they are in for a real shock. Take a gallon bucket, fill it three times and you still won't have a quart!

[mountain mama]

Thank goodness they are so abundant, huh?

[mountain mama]

The dandelion wine is ready for corking today. Just had to take a sip (yes, I know it's early) and it's pretty potent stuff. Now all I need is a shipping address for QC. :D

[Ken]

The dandelion wine is ready for corking today. Just had to take a sip (yes, I know it's early) and it's pretty potent stuff. Now all I need is a shipping address for QC. :D

I'll PM you!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I have several styrofoam wine bottle shipping packs if need be......... (Quality Control - always at your service!)

[Ken]

The dandelion wine is ready for corking today. Just had to take a sip (yes, I know it's early) and it's pretty potent stuff. Now all I need is a shipping address for QC. :D

Now people, THIS is the spirit here. THIS is the type of cooperation that Crash and I have been seeking.

Great Members + Quality Control = Happy Forum

Remember, Quality Control is a public service. We are your friends!!! :)

[crashdive123]

If you send it, I'll bring it to the Indiana Jamboree in August so everybody can sample it.

[Ken]

If you send it, I'll bring it to the Indiana Jamboree in August so everybody can sample it.


This wine must age six months in the bottle before tasting, but will improve remarkably if allowed a year.

Nice try, Crash.

[crashdive123]

No nefarious intentions, just missed that part.

[Ken]

No nefarious intentions, just missed that part.

I'm sure your heart was in the right place, considering that you took the sacred Quality Control Department Oath. :innocent:

[mountain mama]

Actually, I cheated a bit and used a different recipe due to impatience on my part:
Dandelion Wine
Dandelion wine does not require any special equipment to make. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. This recipe uses cloves, which I think give it a nice touch. If you have dandelions around, give it a try!
• 1 package dried yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 quarts dandelion blossoms
• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 8 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped orange peel
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped lemon peel
• 6 cups sugar
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside.

Wash the dandelion blossoms well. Put them in the water with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for an hour. Strain through filter paper (coffee filters work great). Cool. While still warm (but not hot), stir in the yeast.

Let stand overnight and pour into bottles. Allow uncorked bottles to set in a darkened place for three weeks. Then cork and store bottles in a cool place. Makes about 4 quarts.

[Ken]

Crash, you're in business!

[vthompson]

My wife and I had dandelion for dinner last night. First, we had a salad made from dandelion leaves, wild onions, cattail stalks, wild carrot, and a little lettuce. Then we had pizza bread with dandelion leaves thrown in for good measure.

[mountain mama]

vthompson, that sounds yummy. Did you pick the dandelion leaves before the plants bloomed? After they bloom they get a little bitter.

[Rick]

You'll be hard pressed to find anything more nutritious than dandelions. It's one of those great plants that every part is usable.

[vthompson]

Yes Maam, and then we only picked the young leaves for the salad and pizza bread. I learned a long time ago about the blooms on the plant.

[Stairman]

Ive read of batering the flowers and frying. Also was wondering if they can be made palatable by cooking after the flowers show up. I know theyre bitter raw.

[uvajed]

Dandelion Wine
Dandelion wine does not require any special equipment to make. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. This recipe uses cloves, which I think give it a nice touch. If you have dandelions around, give it a try!
• 1 package dried yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 quarts dandelion blossoms
• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 8 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped orange peel
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped lemon peel
• 6 cups sugar
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside.

Wash the dandelion blossoms well. Put them in the water with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for an hour. Strain through filter paper (coffee filters work great). Cool. While still warm (but not hot), stir in the yeast.

Let stand overnight and pour into bottles. Allow uncorked bottles to set in a darkened place for three weeks. Then cork and store bottles in a cool place. Makes about 4 quarts.

I like this recipe much better, your first one had too many specialized equipment to get. Have you personally tried this, and if so, how did it turn out? I make bread, ≤ 110° F is good for yeast growth.

[mountain mama]

It turned out great! My husband, who is an avid beer drinker, even likes it.

[uvajed]

It turned out great! My husband, who is an avid beer drinker, even likes it.

Thanks, our crop of dandelions is just at it's peek, this recipe is more manageable than your first. Of course, I've copied it to my recipe file and will certainly try it. My hubby is a bloody mary man, and recently tried the new Shlitz beer, go figure. I just love the info on this site.

Thanks, Uva

[mountain mama]

I like bloody marys too. I also like tequila shots. So, pretty much, I'll drink just about anything and dandelions are CHEAP lol CHEERS! :drunk: