Skip to main content

Ingredients and Use

How is Dandy Blend made?

Dandy Blend is made of only 4 ingredients — roasted barley extracts, roasted rye extracts, roasted dandelion root extracts, and roasted chicory root extracts. You may have noticed that your bag of Dandy Blend doesn’t have roasted sugar beet root extracts as an ingredient anymore. It’s because we’re weeding it out of our recipe, which means you might still receive a bag that has it…or not! Why you might be asking? The high-quality beet root that we use is no longer available and we’re committed to only serving you the best. It’s still the same bold flavor you know and love, whether you receive a bag with this past or current recipe. Happy sipping!

  1. The ingredients are dried and roasted separately, each for their own prescribed time. Dandelion roots are roasted at around 230 degrees Fahrenheit until they smell like a sweet coffee-hot chocolate mix.
  2. All four are combined in the proper proportions, and placed in a hot water-filled vat.
  3. They are allowed to steep for the prescribed period of time.
  4. The water, with the soluble portions of all the ingredients, is drained from the grounds.
  5. The water portion is spray dried. The grounds, with all the water-insoluble substances, are discarded.
  6. The powder that remains after the water is driven off is Dandy Blend.

Why is dandelion included in the blend?

For centuries, dandelions have been a highly respected herb in Asia, Europe and elsewhere. It is used as a spring tonic to rid the body of toxins that build up over the winter.

Can Dandy Blend be used to quit coffee?

Yes! Dandy Blend provides a seamless transition from coffee, as it tastes just like coffee and gives you the feeling that you’re drinking coffee. With any kind of dietary changes, it’s always recommended to first consult your doctor as everyone’s health can vary.

Is Dandy Blend non-GMO?

All ingredients in Dandy Blend are sourced in Poland (EU), where no GMO crops are allowed. Therefore, everything is non-GMO that goes into Dandy Blend.

Is Dandy Blend kosher?

All Dandy Blend is certified kosher by one of the US’ 5 top kosher certifiers, Kof-K. The seal is on the bottom front of all bags, and on the 25 single serving box. The certification does not appear on the individual sticks, but they also are kosher. Certified Organic Dandy Blend is also kosher.

Is Organic Dandy Blend different from the regular Dandy Blend?

Organic Dandy Blend differs from regular Dandy Blend in that all ingredients are sourced from certified organic farmers. Taste and other qualities are the same. The light green Certified Organic stamp on the bags and box is the EU equivalent of the USDA Certified Organic stamp.

The barley and rye for regular Dandy Blend come from commercial growers. The roots in the regular version are supplied by medicinal herb growers who also maintain high standards, even though they aren’t certified.

How does the price of Dandy Blend compare with the price of coffee?

The average cup of coffee brewed at home costs $0.27. Regular Dandy Blend costs between $0.11 and $0.18 per cup depending on the size bag that you buy. Organic Dandy Blend costs about the same as coffee. If you are going to drink coffee anyway, you’ll save money drinking Dandy Blend and feel a lot less anxious!

Serving sizes

  • 3.5 oz bag = 50 cups
  • 7.05 oz bag = 100 cups
  • 11 oz bag = 156 cups
  • 14.1 oz bag = 200 cups
  • 2 lb bag = 454 cups
  • Single packet = 1 cup

Are there any ingredients in Dandy Blend that can keep me from sleeping if I drink it before bedtime?

The naturally occurring trace minerals in dandelion root can support adrenal functions that provide energy. Enough people have reported that Dandy Blend gives them so much energy that they can’t get to sleep if they drink it before bedtime. That is why the warning is included on the package label. You need to try it for yourself to see how it affects you.

Does Dandy Blend contain malt, wheat, or fruit, or is it exposed to peanuts, tree nuts, soy or any other allergens?

It does not contain wheat or fruit, nor is there a possibility of cross-contamination with any of the above allergens. The factory that produces Dandy Blend produces nothing containing any kind of nut. The barley is simply extracted with water, producing no malt. To be safe, we always recommend you consult your doctor.

Is Dandy Blend safe for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women?

We have many Dandy fans who are pregnant or breastfeeding! Roasted dandelion root beverages are the beverage of choice for women in Japan during pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy, they believe it purifies the blood. During breastfeeding, it has the potential to increase lactation.

There are some warnings about chicory root in pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, but problems are extremely rare. Chicory overall is a safe and very beneficial herb, especially in moderation. To be safe, we always recommend you consult your doctor.

Is Dandy Blend safe for children?

Dandy Blend is safe for children of all ages. However, every child is different, so we recommend you consult your doctor if you have questions.

Can you give Dandy Blend to your pets or other animals?

Yes. Dandy Blend is used by a number of veterinarians and livestock animal feed producers to improve the health of those animals. It is, for example, included in a dairy calf starter feed by one company. A number of our other customers give it to their dogs. It won’t hurt them, and you may end up with a very happy and healthy pet. However, every pet is different, so we always recommend you contact your veterinarian.

How can Dandy Blend be not bitter if there is no sweetener added?

Sugars produced by the dandelion leaves is stored in the roots as the starch inulin (not insulin), which is just a bunch of fructose molecules tied together by fragile chemical bonds. Roasting breaks these bonds, releasing the fructose. Fructose masks the bitterness of both dandelion and chicory, making the beverage more palatable. Fructose from chicory and dandelion is the only sweetener in Dandy Blend.

What minerals are in Dandy Blend?

According to tests done by Chemical Solutions Ltd., Dandy Blend contains the following minerals on a single serving basis (1 teaspoon):

Major Minerals:

  • Potassium 22.2 mg
  • Sodium 3.2 mg
  • Phosphorus 2.8 mg
  • Magnesium 2.0 mg
  • Calcium 2.1 mg
  • Iron 0.9 mg
  • Aluminum 0.05mg
  • Manganese 0.03

 

Trace Minerals:

  • Rubidium 12.0 mcg
  • Zinc 8.6 mcg
  • Barium 6.0 mcg
  • Boron 4.0 mcg
  • Copper 1.6 mcg
  • Strontium 2.0 mcg
  • Chromium 2.0 mcg
  • Titanium 2.0 mcg

Trace Minerals that are present but below measurable levels are:

Lithium, Nickel, Germanium, Selenium, Zirconium, Molybdenum, Rhodium, Silver, Indium, Antimony, Cesium, Lanthanium, Prascodymium, Promethium, Europium, Beryllium, Scandium, Vanadium, Cobalt, Gailium, Arsenic, Strontium, Yitrium, Niobium, Ruthenium, Palladium, Cadmium, Tin, Tellurium, Cerium, Neodymium, Samarium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Holmium, Thulium, Lutetium, Tantalium, Iridium, Gold, Rhenium, Thallium, Bismuth, Uranium, Dysprosium, Erbium, Ytterbium, Hafnium, Tungsten, Osmium, Platinum, Mercury, Lead, and Thorium.

The environment has all trace minerals in it, in their normal very tiny quantities. That includes lead, mercury, arsenic and all the others that are harmful in large quantities but may even be required in metabolic processes in infinitesimal amounts. You will notice that lead, arsenic and mercury were present in such small quantities that they couldn’t be measured by the instruments being used. That means all the technician could see was that they were there, but they were in too small quantities to be measured by the best available technology at the time. It is not a factor to be worried about.

Should Dandy Blend be kept in the refrigerator?

It is not necessary. We recommend that you keep it tightly sealed in a cool, dry location. Moisture of any kind, such as from humidity, will very rapidly make it as hard as a brick. If you are in a hot, high humidity area, you will need to take extra precautions to protect it, which might include putting it in the refrigerator or freezer. It should always be a smooth flowing, loose brown powder.

How long past the expiration date is Dandy Blend safe to use?

With extracts, there is nothing to go rancid or oxidize, so the shelf life could be unlimited as long as storage conditions are cool and dry. Dandy Blend has been on the market for over 25 years. We have saved samples of the earliest packages, and periodically test them. They are still the same as they were–a loose, brown powder with no color or consistency change–and taste the same as they did when new.

If, however, Dandy Blend is exposed to humidity or other moisture, it will harden to the consistency of a brick. It is still usable if you break off a piece and boil it for a while in water, but the flavor is not as good.

Prop 65 Warning - Proposition 65/Acrylamide

Chemicals including acrylamide are known by the state of California to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity. This chemical is found in all roasted products and is the result of the roasting process. Acrylamide is not added to any of our products.

For more information about Proposition 65 go to www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/acrylamide.html

Acrylamide’s—Dandy Blend contains only 1.7-3.5 micrograms/cup, which is roughly 1/2 to 2/3 less than coffee. To keep acrylamide under control, we roast dandelion roots at around 230 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dandy Blend contains roasted barley extracts and roasted rye extracts. Is it gluten free?

Thanks for connecting!

Due to the kind of water extraction processing our ingredients go through, the gluten is removed. We only use Roasted barley extracts and Roasted rye extracts. Please find our third-party sandwich ELISA testing results for gluten here, which state “not detected.”

However, if you have any health sensitivities or concerns, we always recommend speaking with your health professionals before drinking Dandy Blend.

Keep it dandy!

Your new bag design doesn’t have the gluten free burst on the front anymore. What happened?

Thank you for connecting! We chose to remove it as it didn’t go with our modern new look. However, we are still the same Dandy Blend product you know and love. Nothing has changed, including how our product is processed.

Due to the kind of water extraction processing our ingredients go through, the gluten is removed. We only use Roasted barley extracts and Roasted rye extracts. Please find our third-party sandwich ELISA testing results for gluten here, which state “not detected.”

If you have any health sensitivities or concerns, we always recommend speaking with your health professionals before drinking Dandy Blend.

Happy sipping and don’t hesitate to connect with any other questions!

Order Shipping and Logistics

Is Dandy Blend sold in Canada?

Yes. Our distributors is Raw Elements (www.rawelements.ca). Please contact them directly. Their packaging and marketing information conforms the rules of Health Canada.

Do you ship internationally?

International customers can order from iHerb as they give the best overseas shipping rates. Visit www.iherb.com/c/dandy-blend.

When will my Dandy Blend ship?

Orders placed by 2:00 pm Eastern time Monday- Friday will ship same day.

Please refer to your tracking email for delivery updates, as your order is not updated or tracked through our website.

Will my next order contain the new packaging design?

As we welcome the newly designed Dandy Blend bags to our warehouse, please keep in mind we are still shipping the prior designed bag. But don’t worry! Whether you receive the old or new design, it’s still the same quality product.