Dandelion Honey DIY

Let's make dandelion honey!

    Dandelion honey isn't honey made by bees, but rather it is really dandelion syrup made from the flowers and sugar. You're the bee converting flowers into sweet goodness. You can weed those pesky dandelions from your lawn and make a treat from the flowers.

    Dandelion honey is a good substitute for honey for vegans or anyone who may have an allergy to traditional bee's honey, with a surprisingly similar flavor. The consistency is thinner than most honey. It has a very similar appearance in color.

    If you have a lawn dotted with dandelions and you are sure there haven't been any chemicals applied, you can forage for the flowers. If spring has sprung but the bees aren't yet buzzing enough to make honey, this is a fun seasonal substitute.

    Dandelion honey is great on toast, muffins, pancakes, and biscuits. You can use it much as you would use honey in tea and beverages. The tender greens are also good for salads and are tasty cooked with garlic, too. If you find that you really enjoy this process and you have a lot of dandelions in your yard, you can also make dandelion wine and dandelion jelly.

Prep Time

·         Prep: 30 mins

·         Cook: 4 hrs

·         Total: 4 hrs 30 mins

·         Servings: 16 servings

 Ingredients

• 4 cups dandelion petals
• 4 cups water
• 3 lemon slices (1/4-inch)
• 1/2 vanilla bean (split in half)
• 2 1/2 ​cups granulated sugar​

How to

1.       Pick dandelion flowers during the daylight while in full bloom.

2.       Soak the flowers in cold water for five minutes to allow time for any insects to exit.

3.       Remove the petals, then measure the petals only. Discard the center of the flower and the stem.

4.       Place the petals in a heavy saucepan along with the water, lemon slices, and vanilla bean.

5.       Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer it for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let steep for 6 hours.

6.       Strain the dandelion tea through a cheesecloth and discard the solids.

7.       Place the dandelion tea in a heavy saucepan and bring it to a low boil.

8.       Gradually add sugar to the boiling liquid while stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

9.       Lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered until it reaches the desired syrupy thickness. This may take up to 4 hours. 

That's the Buzz! 
The  Queen Bee

 

Credit Original Source

The Spruce Eats