Dandelion honey: benefits and recipe for home cooking

Honey or dandelion jam is an unusual but tasty and healthy delicacy. It is used not only as a dessert, but also for the treatment of diseases. Consider the benefits and harms of dandelion jam, how to collect a plant and prepare raw materials for honey, and what recipes for making delicacies exist in cooking.

Calorie content and composition

100 g of jam contains 191 kcal. The predominant amount of carbohydrates in the jam is 48 g per 100 g of the product, while proteins and fats are contained in an insignificant amount - less than 1 g. The composition of dandelion jam includes:

• vitamins A, B, C;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• sodium;
• copper.

Such a rich composition explains the beneficial properties of dandelion honey.

The benefits of dandelion jam

Such honey can be used for both prevention and treatment of a number of diseases. The product acts in several directions at once:

1. It has a beneficial effect on the liver - it is often used for hepatitis.
2. Increases immunity, destroys microbes and successfully fights against colds, symptoms of cough, sore throat, bronchitis.
3. Promotes the recovery of the gallbladder after surgery.
4. Improves digestion and metabolism.
5. Eases asthma attacks.
6. Reduces cholesterol levels.
7. It has a mild laxative effect.
8. Prevents heart disease, strengthens blood vessels.
9. Helps with arthritis and osteochondrosis.

Among other things, jam rejuvenates, improves overall tone and renews the body, removing toxins from it and purifying the blood.

When and how to harvest dandelions for jam

Ingredients for dandelion jam are available, so this treat is a good alternative to supermarket sweets. However, you need to collect the plants correctly.

The best time to harvest is May and June. Most of the nectar in flowers is contained at noon, so this time of day is also the most favorable for harvesting raw materials.

In addition, dandelions retain a large amount of nectar in dry weather, so a rainy day and a day after rain is not the best time to harvest. It is recommended to cut only fully blossoming flowers.

Preparation of raw materials

The collected flowers are washed under running water. If the dandelions were harvested in a completely ecologically clean area, then it is not necessary to rinse them for too long to avoid losing a significant part of the nectar. When cooking, it is the flowers that are used, the sepals must be removed.

Popular recipes for making dandelion honey

In cooking, there are many ways to make jam - from the simplest to the original, including additional ingredients to improve the taste of honey.Let's start with the easiest one.

A simple dandelion jam recipe

Easy to prepare honey from 300 dandelions is prepared in the following way. 300 inflorescences are poured with 2 glasses of cold water and boiled for 2 minutes. Then the broth is thrown into a colander covered with gauze. After cooling, the flowers should be squeezed out. Add 4 cups of sugar to the liquid and boil for 7 minutes. Hot prepared jam is poured into clean jars and covered with paper. After cooling down, honey is stored in the refrigerator.

Dandelion Blossom Jam

How to cook dandelion jam to make it thick and viscous? It is necessary to grind about 350 inflorescences, add 400-500 ml of water and cook for 20 minutes. Next, you need to add 1 kg of sugar, and then boil for an additional 7-10 minutes. Pour the jam into a glass jar and leave to cool.

400 dandelion honey with lemon

Dandelion jam with lemon is a little more difficult to prepare. It requires the following ingredients:

• 400 dandelions;
• 1 or 2 lemons;
• 500 ml of water;
• 1 kg of sugar;
• 1 tsp citric acid.

The day before cooking, the flowers are poured with salted water - this way it is easier to get rid of insects. After a day, squeeze the flowers, add water and boil for 15-20 minutes. Then add sugar, lemon grated with zest and citric acid. Cook for another 5 minutes after boiling.

Dandelion jam without cooking

Put dandelions and sugar in layers in a jar. For 1 part of flowers, there are 2 parts of sugar. The mass should be carefully tamped. You need to finish with a sugar layer. Then the jar is closed with a lid and left to stand in a sunny place for 2 weeks. After this period, the jam is stored in the refrigerator.

How to use dandelion jam

This healing product is useful in a variety of recipes. However, there are different ways of using honey for the treatment of various diseases or ailments.

For the treatment of inflammation and general tone

To reduce the negative effect of inflammatory processes, honey is added to the milk thistle solution. For general health improvement, the agent can be added to green tea. It is recommended to dissolve a tablespoon of jam in a glass of water and drink it on an empty stomach.

With nervous overstrain

Emotional stress can be reduced with a few teaspoons of dandelion jam. In this case, the product is washed down with warm milk or herbal tea.

For the treatment of chronic constipation

For constipation, it is recommended to add 10-15 g of honey to a glass of warm milk and drink it every day at night. You can add 50 g of jam to half a glass of turnip juice. This remedy is drunk on an empty stomach, before breakfast.

With hepatitis

You need to mix a glass of honey, beet juice, horseradish, carrots, as well as 30 ml of vodka and the juice of 2 lemons. The remedy is insisted and taken 1 tablespoon every day half an hour before meals.

Features of the use of dandelion jam during pregnancy

Dandelion honey will also be useful for women during pregnancy and lactation. Why is such a delicacy especially useful at this particular time?

1. Honey helps to replenish the lack of vitamins and minerals needed by the female body during gestation and feeding.
2. Dandelion jam helps to relieve swelling and improve skin condition.
3. The tool strengthens the immune system and protects against colds, which are extremely undesirable during pregnancy.

However, use dandelion jam during pregnancy with caution. It is recommended to eat no more than 3 tablespoons a day. If pregnancy is proceeding with complications, then the risks of side effects increase, therefore, before use, it is imperative to consult with your doctor.

Is it possible for children to make dandelion jam

Treats sometimes have a negative impact on the health of children. Babies under 5 years old may develop a severe allergy to dandelion flowers.

In any case, it is better not to take risks and consult a pediatrician before treating a child with such jam.

What can you combine dandelion honey with?

Usually honey is eaten with tea and milk, spread on sandwiches and added to baked goods. In addition to such a simple use, dandelion jam goes well with lemon balm, cherry leaves, licorice, young needles, and various useful herbs.

Contraindications and product harm

Despite the huge benefits of dandelion jam, this delicacy has a number of contraindications.

1. It is not recommended for patients with diabetes to consume honey because of the high amount of sugar in it.
2. People prone to allergies, especially to any honey, should take the jam with caution, occasionally and in small quantities.
3. Eating jam with hypotension can further reduce blood pressure.
4. Stomach ulcer, acute gastritis and a number of other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract are diseases in which it is highly discouraged to abuse dandelion honey. Large amounts of jam irritate the intestinal walls and stomach lining.
5. Due to the laxative effect of jam, it should not be consumed by people prone to loose stools and bowel disorders.

Besides, their dandelion jam is still a sweet treat. It contains a lot of sugar, so it should be consumed in moderation to avoid weight gain.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of dandelion jam for everyone may differ depending on health or age. Dandelion honey is a healthy, tasty and natural product that can be used as a substitute for dessert and various pharmaceutical products. However, despite the obvious benefits for the body, it is important to take into account possible contraindications before using the drug.

Reviews

Numerous reviews about the beneficial effects of honey on the body confirm its benefits.