Roasted Dandelion Root

[NorthernWoody]

A good substitute for coffee apparently, chicory taste like camp coffee, however a bit of a diuretic for those who drink lots!

Anyone tried it?

[short circuit]

not as yet but there is time, a friend of mine used to have an allottment he had a patch to make coffee and eat the leafs in salads I think he said you have to roast it then crush it or the other way around.Been a coffee drinker and tea I do wonder what we would do without it. gran used to make a wicked dandelion and burdock drink out of them but for the life in me I cannot remeber what a burdock looks like.
p.s don't pick them outside of your garden as councils spray them with deadly poisons.

[pseudonym]

Can't go without my main vice.

Stocked up loads when Tescos had a ridiculous offer on filter coffee last week, left some on the shelves for others and went back a couple of days later and repeated

Sitting pretty ( and wired ) now

Had wild Mint tea when it was all we had to drink on a survival week:

[ForgeCorvus]

Not tried it

My Google-fu gives me this:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4920465_roast-d ... itute.html

Going to have to fight the Cavies for first dibs on the dandelions now. SOP going to be so happy about that......NOT!

[jansman]

A good substitute for coffee apparently, chicory taste like camp coffee, however a bit of a diuretic for those who drink lots!

Anyone tried it?

Yes. 20 odd years ago I read a 1976 tome'On Next To Nothing' a book that dealt with Austerity(sound familiar?) after the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 (remember that?) anyhow, the dandelion coffee was pretty good. No caffiene of course, but not bad. Good use of a weed. Will have to try it again.

[nickdutch]

Used to buy it pre made up from the health food shop many years ago. It was all evenly browned and chunky. Dont know how one could roast it at home though. It tasted nice, but not a real coffee.

[jansman]

When the oven was on, I just put the cleaned and chopped root in a roasting tin and bake 'til dried. Then bang it in a grinder or processer and turn it into 'coffee' powder. Best drunk black IMO.

I WILL try this again come Spring.

[diamond lil]

I think stuff like this is better used to make real coffee go further maybe- mix it half and half with coffee?

[jansman]

I think stuff like this is better used to make real coffee go further maybe- mix it half and half with coffee?

I think so too,Lil. As I recall it was a pleasant drink but weird 'cos there was no caffiene buzz!

[12mp82]

How about acorn coffee, I hear that is possible but a bit long winded to prep.