Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (2024)

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Dandelion root bitters is an easy infusion to make at home. Bitter herbs are useful in digestion, and are perfect in an aperitif co*cktail. They increase the digestibility of food and are calming to the nervous system. Bonus – they are delicious in co*cktail form! Learn how to make herbal dandelion root bitters.

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (1)

Wildcrafting Weeds

If you want to learn more about the edible and medicinal weeds that surround us and how to use them, check out my eBook: Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard)!

Gather & Root Online Foraging Course

My online foraging course is a great way to learn about wild edible and medicinal plants! Sign up to learn more about the gather + root online foraging course here.

Homemade Herbal Bitters

I’ve always wanted to make my own homemade bitters. If I had known that it was as simple as making an infusion I probably would have done it a long time ago!

Recently, though, I’ve been taking the Intermediate Herbal Course with the Herbal Academy, and there is a lot covered about bitter herbs.

Bitter herbs are especially important for the digestive system, and are great to have before a meal. They increase the digestibility of food and are also calming to the nervous system.

Some common bitter herbs are dandelion, artichoke, orange peel, motherwort, hyssop, burdock, rosemary, mugwort, and Oregon grape root.

The course got me thinking again about making herbal bitters, and one of the best bitter herbs out there is dandelion root.

I happen to have a lot of dried dandelion root on hand, so I thought it would be perfect to make this dandelion root bitters recipe!

Dandelion Root Bitters Recipe

Making homemade bitters is really quite easy, as it’s just a basic infusion of bitter tasting herbs in high proof alcohol.

There are two ways to go about it, one is to make several different single herb infusions and blend them to taste. The other is to combine several herbs together and infuse them that way.

For this recipe I chose to combine them just to make it easy, but do it however you prefer!

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (2)

Put the dried herbs into a quart sized jar, then pour in the entire bottle of vodka.

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (3)

Cover the jar and let sit to infuse for 4-6 weeks. It will turn a lovely orange color from the zest, and the dandelion root will have expanded.

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (4)

Strain out the herbs with a fine mesh sieve, and your dandelion root bitters are finished!

It is best when served chilled, and will keep for a long time in the fridge.

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (5)

Using Dandelion Root Bitters

Drink a small amount to dandelion root bitters before a meal to stimulate digestion, or add a bit to a fancy co*cktail for a different flavor.

To me these bitters aren’t really “bitter” at all, at least not in a bad way. There is a slight bitterness that is actually quite pleasant.

If you’re interested in herbs and their different actions, such as bitterness, I highly recommend taking one of the Herbal Academy’s courses!

I have learned a lot from them and think they awesome. They even have a mini course on Herbal Fermentation that sounds really cool!

Have you ever made homemade bitters? What herbs did you use?

More uses for Foraged Dandelion

Did you know there are over 50 ways to enjoy this amazingly versatile backyard “weed”? Among them are:

  • Dandelion Mead Recipe
  • Infused Dandelion Vinegar
  • Dandelion Pesto
  • How to Make Dandelion Tea
  • Dandelion Jelly: Low-Sugar or Honey
  • Dandelion Lotion Bar Recipe
  • How to Make Dandelion Salve
  • Dandelion Soap Made With the Whole Plant
  • Dandelion and Fennel Kombucha
  • Dandelion Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (6)

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Dandelion Root Bitters

Dandelion root bitters is an easy infusion to make at home. Bitter herbs are useful in digestion, and are perfect in an aperitif co*cktail. They increase the digestibility of food and are calming to the nervous system. Bonus – they are delicious in co*cktail form! Learn how to make herbal dandelion root bitters.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, European

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Infusing Time 28 days days

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 17

Calories 98kcal

Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Put the dried herbs into a quart sized jar, then pour in the entire bottle of vodka.

  • Cover the jar and let sit for 4-6 weeks. It will turn a lovely orange color from the zest, and the dandelion root will have expanded.

  • Strain out the herbs with a fine mesh sieve, and your dandelion root bitters are finished!

Notes

  • Dandelion Root Bitters is best when served chilled, and will keep for a long time in the fridge.
  • Drink a small amount before a meal to stimulate digestion, or add a bit to a fancy co*cktail for a different flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 45ml | Calories: 98kcal

Dandelion Root Bitters: Homemade Herbal Bitters Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are dandelion bitters good for? ›

The bitter flavor not only promotes digestive health and supports gut health, it also heals the skin, gently detoxifies and even supports cardiovascular and endocrine health.

What are the ingredients in herbal bitters? ›

Here are some aromatics typically used to make bitters: Herbs and flowers: mint, sage, lemongrass, peppermint, sorrel, lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, passionflower, yarrow, rose, milk thistle, and valerian.

How to use dandelion bitters? ›

Using Dandelion Root Bitters

Drink a small amount to dandelion root bitters before a meal to stimulate digestion, or add a bit to a fancy co*cktail for a different flavor.

How does dandelion a bitter herb stimulate digestion and bile action? ›

The bitter compounds in the leaves and root help stimulate digestion and are mild laxatives. These bitter principles also increase bile production in the gallbladder and bile flow from the liver.

What organ is dandelion good for? ›

The leaves are used to stimulate the appetite and help digestion. Dandelion flower has antioxidant properties. Dandelion may also help improve the immune system. Herbalists use dandelion root to detoxify the liver and gallbladder, and dandelion leaves to help kidney function.

What happens when you take dandelion root everyday? ›

When taken by mouth: Dandelion is likely safe for most people when consumed in the amounts commonly found in food. It is possibly safe when taken in larger amounts. Dandelion might cause allergic reactions, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, or heartburn in some people.

What does herbal bitters do to the body? ›

Bitters can help you make more saliva, which could help with digestion. Release gastric juice. Your stomach contains different chemicals like pepsin and stomach acid that help you break down food. Bitters can make your stomach release more gastric juice.

How to prepare herbal bitters? ›

As a general rule of thumb, plan on using 50% bitter ingredients and 50% aromatics (see below), accented with a small amount of dried fruit peel. Grind, grate or crack open any ingredient that needs more exposure to infuse properly (i.e., cardamom pods or peppercorns).

What does bitters do to your body? ›

The reason why people take digestive bitters is to aid their digestion and help mitigate symptoms of indigestion. A 2021 review of studies in Nutrients found that bitters can help with regulating hormones related to gut health and can increase gut motility (i.e., how foods move through our digestive system).

What does dandelion detox? ›

It helps to detox the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and blood, and also regulate bowel motions. The root is used for the liver and colon and the leaves are used as a diuretic to gently flush toxins through the kidneys. Dandelion is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which helps protect cells from toxin damage.

How do you detox with dandelion root? ›

Try taking 1-3 cups throughout the day for a great detox. The best way to make a decoction is use a teaspoon of dandelion root in a medium size pot. Add 300 ml water to the pot. Let it soak for sometime.

What is the best time of day to take dandelion root? ›

Sipping on dandelion tea in the afternoon can act as a gentle digestive aid, helping to maintain digestive comfort and balance. A cup of tea can serve as a mindful pause in your busy day, allowing your body to process and absorb nutrients while also fostering a sense of ease and well-being.

Who should avoid taking dandelion? ›

Dandelion could increase the risk of complications for someone who has kidney disease, in particular. Because the potassium in dandelion may impact blood flow and clotting, it's best to avoid dandelion tea if you're taking blood-thinner medication..

What hormone does dandelion root? ›

Moving forward, drinking dandelion tea in the second half of your cycle is a great way to help ensure oestrogen is kept in check and allows progesterone to shine. Of course, it takes more than tea, but it's a start!

Can dandelion reverse liver damage? ›

Apart from that studies have found that consuming this tea helps in boosting bile production by the liver. As per the books of Naturopathy, it is believed that Dandelion root tea can detoxify the liver and heal the damage caused by liver ailments.

What are the benefits of bitters? ›

Bitters can help you make more saliva, which could help with digestion. Release gastric juice. Your stomach contains different chemicals like pepsin and stomach acid that help you break down food. Bitters can make your stomach release more gastric juice.

Can you drink dandelion everyday? ›

You can drink dandelion tea every day. “Recommendations are two to three times a day,” says Geib. “Start your day with a cup of dandelion root tea and build it up slowly. Its diuretic properties can increase urination, so go gentle and let your body adjust to it first.”

How does dandelion root detox the body? ›

It helps to detox the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and blood, and also regulate bowel motions. The root is used for the liver and colon and the leaves are used as a diuretic to gently flush toxins through the kidneys. Dandelion is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which helps protect cells from toxin damage.

What are the benefits of drinking dandelion in the morning? ›

Dandelion tea is high in vitamin A and vitamin C, both of which boost the immune system and encourages healthy cell growth. It also helps our eyesight and reduces the signs of premature aging. Dandelions are also brightened with vitamin K which helps bone health and is essential to blood clotting.

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