Celebrate Dandelion Day with a ‘Lion’s Tooth Tequila Smoothie’

Every April 5^th is National Dandelion Day. Most people consider the dandelion as a nuisance weed that litters the yard. But it has many health benefits and is a good source of vitamin A, C, iron, calcium, and potassium. Every part of the dandelion is edible – leaves, roots, stems, and flowers. It can also:

Filter the liver
Remove toxins
Helps the digestive system
Diuretic & laxative
Blood purifier
Rheumatic problems
Joint pain

Dandelion's common name derives from the leaves' jagged appearance. The French called it ‘dent de lion,’ or "lion's tooth."

Can the dandelion predict the weather? According to, In Camping for Boys by H. W. Gibson;

“The dandelion is an excellent barometer, one of the commonest and most reliable. It is when the blooms have seeded and are in the fluffy, feathery condition that its weather prophet facilities come to the fore. In fine weather, the ball extends to the full, but when rain approaches, it shuts like an umbrella. If the weather is inclined to be showery, it keeps shut all the time, only opening when the danger from the wet is past.”

It can also give you enough power to defeat a creature that has the body of a man and the head of a bull. In Greek mythology, Theseus ate dandelions for 30 days to fight and defeat the Minotaur.

However, Crayola apparently did not care about the power of the Dandelion, as the company retired the “Dandelion” color from its family of crayons in 2017.

Celebrate this plant’s power by sippin’ down an alcohol-laden Dandelion Smoothie!

Heads up: The dandelion has some doppelgangers, make sure you get the correct plant!

Ingredients:

1 cup orange juice

Pineapple Chunks

1/4 – 1/3 cup dandelion flower petals*

1 banana (or ½ cup of yogurt)

Tequila (the amount is your choice)

***Add ice into blender for a frozen smoothie

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until completely smooth.

Pour into glasses and serve.

*Including the green parts of the flower is perfectly fine, except it will change your smoothie from a yellow to a murky color, it may also be bite of bitterness.

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