Homemade dandelion syrup for coughs and sore throats

Also known as Dandelion “honey” due to its consistency.

The bright yellow flowers are harvested in spring and can be found in most uncultivated fields at various altitudes.

The name Dandelion, in Greek, means remedy, reflecting its medicinal properties.

Commonly called Dandelion, referring to the leaves’ serration, or also known as Piscialetto due to the diuretic properties of its roots. In herbalism, the utilized part rich in active principles is the root, employed in numerous liver purifying products. Dandelion roots stimulate liver and digestive functions.

Homemade dandelion syrup for coughs and sore throats

In this recipe, however, only the flowers will be used, beneficial for dry coughs and sore throats.

Ingredients:

– Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale DC.)

– 1 kg of sugar

– 1 whole lemon

Materials:

– Glass jars

– Funnel

– Fine mesh strainer

Procedure:

Harvesting and Drying: Pick the flowers and clean them with a bit of water to remove soil residues or other plant parts. Lay them out on a cloth, well-spaced, and let them dry for a few hours. Trim the stem and leaves below the yellow head, ensuring to remove any green parts from the flower, as they would impart a strongly bitter taste to the recipe.

Infusion: In 1.250 liters of cold water, add about 160 dandelion flowers (4 handfuls) and bring to a boil. Cook for a few minutes, remove from heat, and let it rest overnight, covering the pot with a lid. The next morning, filter using a fine mesh strainer and a funnel, trying to recover as much liquid as possible absorbed inside the flowers (you can squeeze the flowers using a spoon and a strainer or a small press if preparing large quantities).

Syrup Preparation: For 1 liter of the filtered liquid (considering that about 250 ml will be lost during filtration), add 1 kg of sugar and the juice of a whole lemon. Then, heat it over low flame without a lid, stirring occasionally. Note: If you don’t obtain 1 liter of filtered liquid, you can adjust by adding a bit of water. Wait for the water to evaporate and reach the consistency of honey. You can choose to remove it from the heat earlier if you want a less dense consistency.

Bottling: Once the optimal consistency is reached, pour it into glass jars while the syrup is still hot. Seal and let them cool upside down. It is advisable to boil the jars in water before bottling to sterilize them and use them still warm when pouring the syrup to prevent them from breaking.

USE: Take several teaspoons a day for an inflamed throat or dry cough, especially at night before bedtime. It’s also an excellent way to consume propolis, whose taste is not always appreciated: take a teaspoon of Dandelion honey and pour 5 drops of propolis on it at least 3 times a day.

Many also use it as a sweetener in herbal teas, milk, and yogurt.