Dandelion sold abroad as salad greens – considered a weed in Estonia

Dandelions began flowering in mid-May and their leaves can be harvested throughout the summer. In many foreign countries, dandelion greens are sold as a salad plant, while in Estonia they are commonly regarded as an ordinary weed.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a plant known in Estonia primarily as a common feature of lawns, but it is actually widely used in the kitchen as well. The first flowers appear in May and continue in some cases through the summer months, while the leaves can be harvested throughout the summer.

In several European countries and North America, dandelion greens are sold in markets and shops as a salad plant, with prices often comparable to other leafy salads. Young dandelion leaves have a slightly bitter taste and work well in salads, as a soup addition, or in pestos.

The value of the plant is not limited to its leaves – the flowers are also edible and are used in making syrups, wines and baked goods. The roots, meanwhile, find use as a tea substitute: roasted dandelion root provides a taste similar to coffee. In folk medicine, dandelion preparations have been used to support digestion and liver function.