Walking along any country lane at different times of the year reveals a pleasing assortment of wildflowers, even in early spring. Many varieties of these flowering plants can contribute a delicate bouquet to many wines.
Others such as snowdrops, daffodils, and many others actually contain harmful substances and may even be poisonous, so they should be avoided. A list of such harmful plants can be found in many winemaking books, and it is obviously wise when looking to produce a flower or root wine to stick to the many tried and tested recipes.
Also, avoid collecting flowers close to busy roads due to contamination by vehicle emissions, areas where farmers may have used insecticides on their crops, or popular dog-walking routes.
A brief history of dandelion and burdock wine
This particular alcoholic beverage has been around for hundreds of years. The dandelion makes its earliest appearances at this time of year, particularly on sunny days. The Latin name of dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. These golden, daisy-like flowers should be collected in the warm sunshine when the petals are dry, preferably around midday.
There are certainly many different recipes for this particular favorite country beverage, but why not try a slight twist on the norm and ferment the eponymous dandelion and burdock wine this year? It’s a magical pairing, and some have even likened it to sarsaparilla.
There are plenty to go around as dandelions grow in abundance all over our parts – especially if we haven’t kept the hoe turning the soil earlier in the year. However, when it comes to using burdock, this self-seeding herb is a bit more difficult to find, often growing along hedgerows and in ditches. If possible, it is worthwhile asking for advice from a local farmer or plant center.
The Latin name for burdock is Arctium, and in centuries past, its flowers were used to flavor ale, long before the hop was introduced. Its huge, dark-green leaves – often heart-shaped ‒ can grow up to 2 feet long, with taproots often matching this measurement.
Burdock flowers, not dissimilar to the wild thistle, provide nectar and essential pollen for our honeybees, but the prickly heads or burrs tend to catch onto people’s clothing, animal fur, or even birds’ feathers.
Classed as a valuable medicinal plant, burdock was revered by the distinguished herbalist and botanist Nicholas Culpeper (1616‒1654). He regarded burdock as a cure-all for many different ailments. Even today, pharmaceutical firms invariably include its root, flowers, and seeds in many of their commercial products, combining it with other ingredients in much the same way that medieval monks cultivated the plant and used it in their still rooms after collection from monastery gardens.
In the latter part of the 20th century, burdock achieved international recognition for its culinary use. It was all due to the increasing popularity of the macrobiotic diet, which advocates its consumption, particularly in Chinese cookery.
If burdock root is not readily available, try a health food store, which may sell packets of them in dried form, or check out online suppliers. If a source of burdock is discovered while out foraging, do not try to uproot it without a shovel due to the depth of its root, and remember, too, that it is a wrongdoing to uproot any plant without the prior permission of the landowner.
Burdock Lore
Burdock is a fascinating plant with many uses. It is even considered by some to be an aphrodisiac, and it inspired Swiss engineer George de Mestral to invent Velcro.
During World War II, he observed that the small burrs that had stuck to his trousers and covered his dog’s fur might form the basis of a new product. He wondered how the tiny hooks of the cockle-burs (the seed pods produced by burdock, which are protected by stiff spines) were sticking to him.
He took a specimen home, examined the tiny hooks at the ends of the burr’s projections under a microscope, and noticed an interlocking mechanism that inspired him to consider its practical function in clothing and footwear.
In 1948, George de Mestral patented his idea and, along with help from friends in the weaving business, finally duplicated the hook-and-loop fastener inspired by the burdock plant. The resulting product of his new invention was Velcro brand fasteners, a name that came from the first three letters of the French words for velvet (velours) and hook (crochet). This invention made him one of the wealthiest men in Europe.
General winemaking method
Most winemaking follows a very similar set of procedures irrespective of the ingredients used, and the following ‘method’ is simply designed to act as a set of guidelines that should serve you reliably for almost all your future fermentations.
As with all recipes, it can become elevated to artistry in the hands of the right person.
- Extract flavor and color by crushing, soaking, and/or boiling.
- Add sugar and other ingredients, and then yeast when the must is just comfortably warm, then ferment in a covered demijohn or vessel at (64–82°F).
- Strain into a fermenting jar, fit a bung and airlock, and leave to ferment undisturbed at about 59°F.
- Rack off (using sterilized plastic tubing) when the wine begins to clear from the top, and thick sediment has formed at the bottom. Repeat the racking process as further sediment builds up.
- Bottle when the wine is completely clear, and all fermentation has ceased.
- Store in a cool, dark place for at least six months before drinking
For more info on winemaking, we recommend the following articles:
- The Basics Of Making Fruit Wine – Step By Step Guide
- How To Make Wine – An Easy Process
- How To Make Country Wine
How to make Dandelion and Burdock wine
Dandelion and Burdock wine ingredients:
- A jugful (22 oz) of dandelion flowers
- 1 large burdock root (weighing on average 100g)
- 12 gallons of water
- 500g granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp molasses
- The segments, juice, and grated rind of 2 lemons and 2 oranges
- 225g raisins, washed and finely chopped
- 5g yeast
- 5g yeast nutrient
- Campden tablets
Tip: When preparing dandelions for winemaking, always make sure that any stem, leaf, or calyx is discarded from the flower heads, as these cause a bitter taste in the finished wine.
Dandelion and Burdock wine – directions:
- Scrub and finely slice the burdock roots and lightly rinse the flower heads.
- Bring half a gallon of water to a boil, then add the flower heads, sliced burdock, sugar, raisins, molasses, and the orange and lemon segments, juices, and rinds (being careful to omit the seeds), then simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the remaining cold water, stirring well to make sure all the sugar has dissolved.
- When the must is at room temperature, add the activated yeast (see below how to activate the yeast) and the yeast nutrient, then stir well.
- Keep the must covered and leave it in a warm place for two days, stirring twice daily.
- Strain off the flowers and fruit through a cheesecloth and colander into a funnel suspended over a clean, sterilized demijohn, then top it up with cooled, boiled water.
- Fit a rubber bung and a half-filled airlock, then leave in a warm place (at about 69.8°F), shaking daily until fermentation is completed.
- When the fermentation is complete, rack the wine into a second, clean, sterilized demijohn and top up as before, adding 1 crushed Campden tablet.
- Refit the bung and airlock and leave to mature in a cool place, racking at 3-monthly intervals.
- When clear, bottle and serve chilled.
After about six months, the dandelion and burdock wine should be drinkable but is noticeably better if left for nine months.
Activating the yeast
Add the yeast to a small bottle with a little sugar, then shake, cover and leave in a warm place to begin working
Concluding
As for the contraindications, there are practically none. Side effects will not occur if the dandelion and burdock wine is consumed in limited quantities. But if you exceed the dose, then there may be allergies or increased acidity in the stomach.
As you can see, dandelion and burdock wine is a very tasty drink that is easy to make at home if you follow the tips listed in this article.
Useful resources to check out:
How To Build The Invisible Root Cellar
10 Things Cowboys Carried With Them In The Wild West To Survive
Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation
The vital self-sufficiency lessons our great grand-fathers left us