Description

This homemade dandelion soda is a bubbly, probiotic-rich drink made by naturally fermenting dandelion tea with a ginger bug. It’s lightly sweet, floral, earthy, and refreshing. A perfect way to enjoy wild herbs and support gut health with a naturally fizzy drink!

Ingredients

4 cups fresh dandelion petals (no greens or stems)
6 cups filtered water
1/2 cup sugar (plus more if needed)
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup ginger bug starter (strained)
Optional: slices of ginger, lemon, or mint for added flavor

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Instructions

Make the Dandelion Tea:
In a pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the dandelion petals. Cover and let steep for about 30–60 minutes.
Strain and Sweeten:
Strain the petals from the liquid and return the liquid to the pot. While still warm, stir in the sugar until it dissolves completely. Let the sweet tea cool to room temperature.
Add Lemon and Ginger Bug:
Once the tea is cool, stir in the lemon juice and ginger bug starter. Mix well.
Ferment:
Pour the mixture into a clean jar or bottle, leaving at least 1 inch of headspace. Seal loosely with a lid or cover with a cloth and rubber band. Let it sit at room temperature for 2–4 days, checking daily. You’ll see bubbles when it’s ready.
Bottle and Chill:
Strain and pour into flip-top bottles for a second fermentation if you’d like more fizz (1–2 days), then refrigerate. Serve cold!

Notes

Be sure the tea is fully cooled before adding the ginger bug or you could kill the good bacteria.
Taste after 2 days—if it’s not fizzy enough, give it another day.
Use only the yellow dandelion petals to avoid bitterness from stems or greens.
Always “burp” tightly sealed bottles during second fermentation to avoid pressure build-up.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 60
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 5mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg