Dandelion Flower Honey (Vegan)

This tastes a lot like honey, so is a brilliant substitute for vegans or anyone else avoiding honey. I prefer using the whole dandelion head. Not only is this quicker and easier, but I think the bitterness from the green parts of the dandelion adds to the complexity of the flavour of the finished honey.

Ingredients: to make 400-450ml

  • 125g dandelion heads, stalks removed (about 200 dandelion heads).
  • 2 thin slices of lemon.
  • 500ml water.
  • Approximately 450g granulated sugar.

I prefer muslin, or tote bags, but sometimes you’ve just got to use what you’ve got!

Method:

  1. Put the dandelions and lemon slices in a small saucepan and pour over the water. Bring the water to the boil and let it simmer gently for a couple of minutes.
  2. Remove from the heat, cover the pan and leave to steep for a couple of hours.
  3. Strain the liquid through a piece of muslin or a clean tea towel to remove the dandelion heads, give it a good squeeze to get every last drop of liquid out.
  4. Measure the liquid you have extracted. You should have about 450ml of liquid.
  5. Put the liquid into a large saucepan and add the same amount of sugar, so if you have 450ml of liquid add 450g granulated sugar.
  6. Warm the liquid and stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
  7. Bring it to the boil and boil the mixture for anything from 5-15 minutes, until it thickens.
  8. Test the honey frequently by taking a little bit on a spoon and putting it on a saucer or a plate, if is thickening even a little it is ready. It will still look very liquid in the pan, but it will thicken considerably as it cools.

Put the mixture into a warm sterilised jar, while it is still hot. Because of the high sugar content, the dandelion syrup will keep for at least 6 months but probably much longer.

For more information, a video and audio recording of the Wednesday Weed Waffle free zoom call we had about Dandelions, and an eBook with extra info and 3 recipes, have a look here: https://courses.foundfood.com/dandelion .

If you’d like to join the free zoom calls, the Wednesday Weed Waffle, register here: http://www.foundfood.com/zoom

To have a quick look at all the other recordings we have, look here: https://courses.foundfood.com/school

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From Battlefield to Foraging Field: Military Precision in Wild Food Identification

In my decade of military service, one principle stood firm: precision saves lives. This same principle guides my approach to foraging education today. Let me share how military discipline transforms into fool proof wild food identification…

The Military Mindset

Just as we used the SAFE protocol (Survey, Assess, Formulate, Execute) in military operations, I’ve adapted this systematic approach for foraging:

  • Survey: Observe your environment thoroughly
  • Assess: Identify potential edibles and hazards
  • Formulate: Plan your harvesting strategy
  • Execute: Collect safely and sustainably

Field Intelligence

In the military, we learned to read terrain like a book. This skill translates perfectly to foraging:

  • Understanding growth patterns
  • Recognizing environmental indicators
  • Mapping seasonal changes
  • Identifying safe zones

The Triple-Check System

Military protocol taught me the importance of triple-checking everything. In foraging, I teach my students the same principle:

  1. Visual identification
  2. Characteristic confirmation
  3. Environmental context verification

How does this help you?

Ready to enhance your foraging skills with battle-tested precision? Join our Getting Started Foraging for Wild Food course, where I’ll share more military-inspired techniques for safe and successful foraging.

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