Dandelion Root Latte with Turmeric and Ginger

This Dandelion Root Latte with Turmeric and Ginger offers a nourishing drink, filled with seasonal ‘medicines’. Dandelion Root is prized for its role in women’s health, as well as being recognized as an important prebiotic food.

 
I’ve shared some of my favourite features of dandelions spring-time nourishment in my previous post Dandelion Root Benefits – How To Harvest and Women’s Health. Why I am so passionate about this common weed is that it is one of the first greens to make an appearance after the cold winter, and it is widely available to those who wish to make use of this wild medicine. The roots are also highly regarded in herbal medicine and can easily be transformed into a nourishing alternative to your morning coffee.

 

Dandelion Root and Prebiotic Fibre

How Is Dandelion Root Good For Gut Health

One of the most well-researched features of dandelion root is its high content of fibre, particularly a prebiotic fibre known as inulin (1). Inulin plays an important role in feeding the friendly bacteria in our gut (remember from my post 5 Tips ON How To Improve Gut Health Naturally – Prebiotics Probiotics & Fermented Food that prebiotics feed the probiotics).

Why Are Prebiotics Important

A healthy digestive tract and strong gut wall mean a relaxed, yet alert immune system. If the digestive track falls out of balance, this leads to inflammation. A good concentration of friendly bacteria helps to crowd out the unfriendly bacteria and this process can help protect against inflammatory conditions including insulin resistance (diabetes) and obesity (2). When our friendly bacteria are well fed they also produce beneficial by-products that can help protect our colon cells from cancer.

What Other Foods Are High in Prebiotics

Other foods that are high in inulin prebiotic include chicory root, oats, legumes (beans and lentils), flaxseed, onion, garlic, rye, and barley. For full prebiotic benefits consume the whole root, here is Gather Victoria’s recipe for Chocolate Rose and Dandelion Root Energy Bites.

 

How To Use Dandelion Root in Recipes

Dandelion Root Coffee

What does it taste like? Luckily, when Dandelion Root is roasted, it resembles the sweet-bitter taste of coffee. Don’t believe me? Give it a try at home by simply purchasing dandelion root from any health food or herbal store and roasting it for 30 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also find Dandelion Root Lattes at many health orientated cafes, so you can try before you buy.

Adding Tumeric

I love adding turmeric to my latte, which is a well-researched anti-inflammatory used to manage high cholesterol (3) and osteoarthritis (4). If you can’t find fresh turmeric, purchase a good quality turmeric powder, preferably organic.

Adding Ginger

Ginger has been used for its ability to stimulate digestion, and help manage nausea related to motion sickness and vertigo (5), morning sickness and medications. It is also used in to help with inflammation and pain related to osteoarthritis (5). If you do not have fresh ginger, feel free to use powdered ginger.

 

Tips on Making This Dandelion Root Latte

Making it Dairy Free

Use any plant-based milk in this recipe. A milk with some fat content will result in a creamier consistency and creates some desirable foam on top. Try pea milk, organic soy milk or homemade almond or hemp milk.

Make it a Vegan Dandelion Latte

Use a plant-based milk alternative in place of regular milk for a vegan dandelion latte, and use maple syrup in place of honey.

Using Powdered Turmeric

Use 1 tsp of powdered turmeric in place of the fresh turmeric root. I like using both types of turmeric as I find the powdered turmeric helps to enhance the vivid orange colour.

Using Powdered Dandelion Root

The dandelion root used in this recipe is dandelion chunks (as per photos). Ground roasted dandelion root is also available and does not need to be strained out of the drink. Simple stir in 1 teaspoon of the roasted ground dandelion root into 1 cup of boiling water, then add milk and sweetener to serve.

Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Turmeric

Adding a few grinds of fresh black pepper is said to help increase our body’s utilization of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric.

Make Dandelion Tea

To make a dandelion root tea use unroasted dandelion root, and omit the step for frothing the milk. Note that dandelion root tea is different than dandelion leaf tea.

Making a Frothy Dandelion Root Latte

If you are like me and don’t own a fancy milk frother, the trick is to blend the finished product in a blender for a few seconds before serving. This creates some air in the milk which resembles a frothy cafe-style latte.
 
 

Want More Nourishing Drink Recipes?

Try some of my favourites which include:

• So Simple Pumpkin Spiced Latte
• Chaga Turmeric Golden Milk Latte
• Homemade Hemp Milk Recipe
• Masala Chai Recipe – Dairy Free
• Simple Turmieric Latte with Ginger

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1 Trojanova I, Rada V, Kokoska L, Vlkova E. The bifidogenic effect of Taraxacum officinale root. Fitoterapia 2004;75:760-3
2 Brown, Kirsty, et al. Diet-induced dysbiosis f the intestinal microbiota and the effects on immunity and disease. Nutrients 2012;1095-1119
3 Pashine L, Singh JV, Vaish AK, Ojha SK, Mahdi AA. Effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on overweight hyperlipidemic subjects: Double blind study. Indian J Comm Health 2012;24(2):113-117.
4 Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, Taechaarpornkul W, Buntragulpoontawee M, Lukkanapichonchut P, Chootip C, Saengsuwan J, Tantayakom K, Laongpech S. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study. Clin Interv Aging 2014;9:451-8.
5 Langner E, Greifenberg S, Gruenwald J. Ginger: history and use. Adv Ther 1998;15:25-44.
6 Haghighi M, Khalva A, Toliat T, Jallaei S. Comparing the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and ibuprofen on patients with osteoarthritis. Arch Iran Med 2005;8:267-71.