Hello from Wyoming! Jacob and I are currently on the road driving to Denver to visit some family. The change in climate from Seattle (where we spent most of the past 3 months) to now has definitely caused some seasonal allergies to act up. So, I’m sharing a variation on my dandelion coffee recipe that helps us feel a bit better. If you’re interested, check out the linked article to learn about some of the benefits of drinking a dandelion coffee substitute.

This substitute not only contains beneficial ingredients that I’ve already touched on, like dandelion and coconut oil , and stinging nettle. This drink also adds in the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric paired with black pepper. The combination makes for a hydrating, nutrient rich drink that helps to curb some of the impacts of allergies.

Also, I hope you like the mugs that we use, they’re from Orcas Island Pottery, a magical place that I discussed in my last post.

Dandelion Coffee Variation

Note: having a handheld frother is a MUST for this recipe.

Yields one 10 oz cup

Ingredients

• 10 oz water (just under a boil)
• 2 tbsp of Dandy Blend
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice; adjust for personal taste)
• 1 1/2 tsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 crack or pinch of black pepper
• 2 droppers of stinging nettle tincture

*please adjust these values to cater to your personal tastes*

The Process

1. Gather Ingredients and set water to boil. However, do not let water get to the point of boiling, we just want some hot water to work with. Having boiling water will decrease the efficacy of the tincture in this recipe
2. Add dandy blend, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper to your mug
3. Once warm, add a hefty splash of water to the mug and use your frother to mix all of the ingredients together and allow the coconut oil to melt. Mix very well to ensure that you don’t have any clumping
4. Add the rest of your water and two droppers of stinging nettle tincture while gently frothing the drink.
5. Voila, you’re done!

The benefits of Ingredients Used

Dandelion

The brand of dandelion coffee substitute powder I use is Dandy Blend and it’s absolutely amazing. It contains a blend of dandelion, chicory root, barley, and rye. All of these herbs are roasted and ground into a fine powder. The reason I love it so much is because,

• Dandelion is very nutritious, containing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals (will address in detail below).
• Dandelion is rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber. Adding this to your diet can help improve digestion.
• according to testing, Dandelion is shown to be helpful in normalizing blood pressure and may lower Cholesterol levels.

Coconut Oil

Adding coconut oil into your morning drink seems a bit strange, right? However, once you try it, you won’t go back. Here are some reasons to give it a try:

1. It tastes delicious. There’s nothing quite like that rich coconut flavor.
2. It contains MCTs (medium chain fatty acids) that assist in energy production.
3. Contains Lauric Acid, which has anti-microbial properties and has been shown to work against some disease causing bacteria. (1)
4. Contains a variety of antioxidants that have been shown to assist in reducing inflammation. (1)

Stinging Nettle

Yes, I am referring to the slightly pokey plant that comes up in the spring and can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, once it is cooked or dried, stinging nettle is completely safe and edible.

• It has been used by many as a great source of nutrients (including vitamins A, C, K, Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium).
• It also has been shown to help with symptoms of seasonal allergies and hay fever. (2) I have found that stinging nettle is single handedly the most important medicine to have on-hand during hay fever season. I keep a tincture of this herb in my bag at all times and take a bit when I feel the symptoms come on and this helps so much!

Turmeric

At this point, I think most of us are familiar with the benefits of including turmeric in our diets. While experts say that taking curcumin supplements is the best way to reap the benefits, I am a huge proponent for eating your nutrients and medicine, rather than taking a huge handful of pills every day.

So, experts say that eating 1 tsp of good quality turmeric every day is enough to receive the medicinal benefits. However, this must be taken with black pepper as it increases the bioavailability of curcumin, allowing it to be used by the body.

Some of these benefits include:

• Anti-inflammatory properties,
• Helping to ease arthritis symptoms,
• Assisting in decreasing anxiety. (3)

**Please consult your doctor before adding any of these to your diet in large quantities, some are known to have interactions with certain medications.**

Thank you for reading and I hope you try some dandelion coffee for yourself!

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