This is the most frequently asked of all questions about Dandy Blend. Dandy Blend is made of the water-soluble extracts of five ingredients; three roots and two grains (barley and rye), not from the ingredients themselves. The ingredients are roasted separately and them combined in prescribed proportions, placed into a vat, covered with hot water, and allowed to steep for a prescribed period of time. The water, with the soluble portions of all the components, is separated from the grounds and spray dried. The remaining fine brown powder left after the water is driven off is what becomes Dandy Blend. All the gluten and other water-insoluble substances are left behind in the grounds to be composted. Hence, there is no gluten in Dandy Blend. Goosefoot Acres periodically submits samples of Dandy Blend to Elisa Technologies Laboratory in Florida, one of the most respected gluten testing labs in the United States for analysis, and so far, every test has come back gluten-free. Click to see test results letter. Therefore, from the standpoint of containing gluten, Dandy Blend is safe for celiac sufferers and other gluten-intolerant individuals.

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DandyBlend is made only of extracts created by running hot water through the DandyBlend ingredients, and then spray drying the result and making it into powder. Add the water back (either hot or cold), and those extracts instantly rehydrate, just like freeze-dried vegetables or dried, powdered herbs.

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While some enzymes and vitamins might be affected, roasting at low temperatures has been the way herbalists have prepared dandelion root for centuries. Roasting releases beneficial aromatic products, converts inulin to fructose, and makes trace and major minerals more available.

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Yes. Look elsewhere in the FAQ, in the testimonials and on the website for more information on this topic. You must have missed it.

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No. It dissolves instantly in any hot or cold liquid. Just put a rounded teaspoon of the powder in the liquid and stir.

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Not necessarily, if you don't live in a hot humid place, and keep the container closed tight. We recommend that you keep it in a cool, dry location, and that you transfer the amount you would use in a month or so into a clean, dry plastic or glass wide mouth container and store it in your pantry. Make sure the zip lock on the bag containing the remaining product is zipped tightly.

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Absolutely. It is good for children of all ages.

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Acrylamide in Dandy Blend is about 2.0 micrograms per cup. This is very low, and roughly the same as coffee.

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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 infinitesmal amounts. You will notice that lead 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. I'd be more concerned if they WEREN'T there, quite frankly.

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It is only instant. If you prefer a brewable version, Teccino has just introduced one on their website. Other brewable dandelion beverages are available from Faux Joe (www.farmatcoventry.com - ask for sample) Herbal Aroma, Seelect Teas, Alvita, Frontier and several other companies. However, I would recommend doing a taste test to see which you like the best. Samples are available free from us, Faux Joe, and Teccino.

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There is no malt or fruit in Dandy Blend. There is only the hot water extracts of roasted barley and rye grains and the roasted roots of dandelion, chicory and beets. Nothing else. No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, or any other ingredients.

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All ingredients in Dandy Blend are grown in Poland. The company in Poland that manufactures it for us is the largest manufacturer of grain-chicory beverages in the world, serving some 90 health food producers from some 70 countries. None of us would tolerate it if any of the ingredients were GMO. Beyond that, the only GMO ingredients allowed to be grown in the European Union countries, of which Poland is one, is one variety of corn and one variety of potatoes, nothing else. Poland has until now successfully fought the European Union to keep those out of Poland. Put "GMO's in Europe" into your browser and see for yourself. Bottom Line: there are no GMO beets, barley, or rye in Europe, much less in Dandy Blend. View certification letter from our supplier

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This is still a problem for us, which we are working to fix. We may have to include a promotional code to solve the problem. Meanwhile, since we manually enter all orders, we eliminate the shipping charge before we bill your card. PLEASE PAY WITH CREDIT CARD. WE CAN'T DO THIS WITH PAYPAL,

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Dandy Blend is a delightful herbal beverage, and there are no limits set on what you can have. If you drink 10 cups of coffee, you can drink 10 cups of Dandy Blend, and it will be much healthier for you. Most people drink from 1 to 3 cups a day.

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One gram per cup, in the form of fructose derived from the breakdown of inulin in the roots of dandelion and chicory. There is no added sugar or sweetener of any kind.

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There is no reason it shouldn't be. Dandelion tea, and dandelion root powder is commonly used by naturopaths for bladder problems, but every one's body differs in how they respond to things. The best thing to do is try it, starting with small amounts. Make yourself a half-cup of Dandy Blend, drink it, and see how you react to it. If you have no problems, or it actually helps (which is what is suspect will happen) then graduate to one cup. Most people drink between 1 and 3 cups a day. If you want a sample to try, ask us, and we'll send you a couple. That way you are not investing in something you won't be able to use if it doesn't work out.

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International customers: Please order from our affiliate iHerb.com, which offers the best overseas shipping rates. http://www.iherb.com/Dandy-Blend

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Many of our customers report that they have gone seamlessly from coffee to Dandy Blend with no headaches or other withdrawal symptoms. However, if you wish, you can mix Dandy Blend half and half with coffee at first, gradually increasing the Dandy Blend until the coffee is eliminated. Other people drink coffee in the morning and DandyBlend the rest of the day.

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Food produced by dandelion leaves is stored in the roots as the starch inulin, which is just a bunch of fructose molecules tied together by fragile bonds. Roasting breaks these bonds and releases the fructose. The fructose masks the bitterness, making the beverage more palatable.

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You may order it from iHerb.com, which has the best international shipping prices.

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Yes, there should be no problem. Dandy Blend is made from water soluble extracts of the roots of Dandelion. You are not even getting all the dandelion root--just that part that dissolves in water. That is why Dandy Blend it is totally free of gluten, pesticide residues, and other non-water soluble components that occur even in "organic" products.

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The barley, rye and beets are commercially grown in Poland. The dandelion and chicory root, however, are grown on farms, also in Poland, that produce medicinal herbs for the Eastern European market, where allopathic medicines are used far less than herbal ones. The fact that Dandy Blend is made only of water-soluble extracts of these five ingredients, with nothing else added in either the product or processing except water, means that only the goodness of these ingredients gets to you. You get none of the bad stuff. And, since dandelions are such effective "miners" of trace minerals from the undepleted subsoils into which the roots extend, you are getting more nutrients than you would get from commercially grown vegetables, probably as many as you would get from crops grown in "organic" soils.

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We get a lot of questions from those carrying babies, either inside or attached to their breasts, about whether Dandy Blend could create any problems. Just the opposite is true- Dandelion is the beverage of choice in China and Japan for pregnancy. Dandelion root has long been revered as a liver tonic and blood purifier, as well as a diuretic. Women using dandelion root during pregnancy have often surprised their doctors with the purity of their blood. After birth, it is prescribed to them to increase lactation. The combination of root and grain extracts in Dandy Blend enhances the effect of the dandelion, and makes Dandy Blend especially beneficial in this application. (See Nikki Trainor's comments in the "Testimonials" section of this website.)

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A cup of Dandy Blend is like water to Weight Watchers point counters - 0 points! There are only 5 calories in a cup.

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While DandyBlend officially has a shelf life of two years, in actuality, the compounds in the dandelion, chicory, the grains and the beetroot are so stable when kept in airtight containers that the shelf life is almost indefinite. It is just as invigorating after long storage as it is fresh.

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Dandy Blend is the only instant coffee substitute in the US which contains dandelion root. Why Dandelion root? Here's what Joyce Wardwell, author of the Herbal Home Remedy Book (Storey Publications), says about it: "If you think you've never used dandelion as medicine, guess again. It's a prime ingredient in many herb blends on the market, including formulas for weight loss, PMS, detoxification, and rejuvenation, along with liver, digestive, kidney and skin ailments! Dandelion is such a wondrous source of minerals, vitamins, fiber, micronutrients, lecithin and biologically active substances that there is probably no existing condition that would not benefit from regularly consuming dandelions". Greg Tilford, prominent medical herbalist and herbal veterinarian, author of the Ecoherbalists Guide, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountains (Mountain Press). "Dandelion is one of the most complete plant foods on earth. All the vital nutrients are conveniently contained in a single source, in quantities that the body can easily process and fully absorb." Michael Tierra, world-renown herbalist and formulator of Planetary Herb Formulas, one of which uses Dandy Blend as its base, author of many books on Chinese Herbalism and owner of the East-West Acupuncture Clinic in Santa Cruz, says this: "Dandelion is regarded in diverse cultures worldwide, both among Western herbalists and in the Chinese Medical tradition as one of the best detoxification herbs that also has potent anti-cancer properties. Dandelion root promotes normal liver function by enhancing biliary detoxification. It also helps regulate insulin levels and it works as an effective aperient promoting normal bowel function and diuretic urinary function. The most advanced research on cardiovascular disease and cancer, two of the major killers in the world, is that these diseases are caused by, or attenuated by, inflammation. Dandelion root is one of the greatest herbs for relieving inflammation and is well known to exert a benefit in the natural treatment of both of these conditions.

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Do you have a breakdown of the inulin/FOS/sucrose/fructose/glucose/etc. for this product? I am asking because I'm trying to watch my fructose intake, since it seems to create more Advanced Glycation End Products. Thanks in advance and blessings, Andrew A. Thanks, Andrew, for asking. My first reaction is that you are overreacting a bit. Into each 8 oz of water or milk, you are putting only around 3 g of powder, with the amount of anything that can be included in 3 g. Hence, a Nutrition Facts box that lists a string of 0's, with a mere 1 g of carbs per cup. Most of that is fructose, generated from the conversion of inulin in the roasting process. You can drink a LOT of Dandy Blend before you ingest any significant quantity of any kind of sugars, and because they are rapidly digested, there is no accumulation between cups. We sell Dandy Blend as a delightful herbal beverage that is healthy for you, and almost everyone will find some benefit from consuming it. We promise nothing, because everyone's physiology is different, and will have different experiences with it. We have not done, and will not do, any of the research you are asking for. If you happen to be a biochemist and have time and money on your hands and want to do the research, I would welcome knowing the results. I applaud you for watching high fructose corn syrup intake, but the fructose that comes from chicory and dandelion (which for years were the commercial sources of fructose) is NOT the problem. And because there is so little of it in each cup, it is not really an issue re: advanced glycation end products. See the discussion in another FAQ about the difference between the fructose in dandelion and high fructose corn syrup Re: the amount converted: our intent is to convert all the inulin to fructose, and based on our experience, that is what is happening at least to the inulin in dandelion. Peter Gail

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According to tests done by Chemical Solutions Ltd., DandyBlend contains the following minerals on a per cup basis. 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 0.05 mg Manganese 0.03 mg 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. Source: Chemical Solutions, Ltd. Ian Milnes, President. 273 Mulberry Drive, Suite 9 Mechanicsburg, PA. 17050 phone 717.697.7536

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I know hot water extraction is used for medicinal mushrooms, which supposedly leaves behind the mycotoxins, but I wasn't sure how this applied to other types of foods? A. Certain substances are soluble in hot water, others are not. Gluten, pesticides, heavy metals, and other high molecular weight toxins aren't. Hence they stay back in the grounds (mash, whatever you want to call it) and are disposed of after the extract is made. We have no medicinal mushrooms in our blend, nor anything other than the five ingredients--- chicory, dandelion and beet roots and barley and rye grains-- indicated on the label and on the website. Because we use only extracts, the resultant beverage is more organic than those products that claim to be organic but use the whole plant part. A farmer can still have pesticides and other toxins on his products even though he doesn't apply them, because these substances travel through the air from neighboring farms as well as for long distances on air currents, and wash out of the atmosphere in precipitation. Water soluble extracts do not contain these contaminants at all.

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The price of Dandy Blend, on a per cup basis, is already below the price of coffee and most, if not all, the coffee substitutes. It's the shipping that kills ya'! We charge you the exact price UPS or the USPS charged us for shipping. We have found, though, that a second and third container added to the order ships a lot cheaper. The secret is to buy more than one. You can ship as many as 4 or 5 bags for about the same price as one by UPS. RETAIL CUSTOMERS: when you buy a full case (6 bags) of the same size, SHIPPING IS FREE. We also now ship by USPS Priority Mail, which in some cases saves money. So, get your friends hooked on Dandy Blend and then put your orders together to get the best price!

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COFFEE IS GOOD FOR YOU VS. COFFEE IS BAD FOR YOU. Who is right? The Media Dilemma. Every food out there is a package of good and bad, some with far more good than bad, and others with far more bad than good. For the controversial coffee bean, all the media gives in any one story is one side of the story. You have to read a range of articles to get both sides, construct a cost/benefit chart, and then decide for yourself whether the overall effects of the specific food will do you more harm than good. For example, coffee may contain anti-oxidants and be anti-inflammatory, but it also contains 208 acids that can harm you. You can get anti-oxidants from many other sources, such as fruit, which have very few if any bad side effects, and many foods are anti-inflammatory. You don’t need to get them from coffee. Karen Roth, a holistic nutritionist, gives you the reasons for eliminating coffee on her YouTube video. Please watch this 3 minute video clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tIEBb1PxQ In summary, caffeine blocks the absorption of B vitamins and depletes Potassium and Magnesium. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands which then dump sugar into the bloodstream. This can lead to weight gain and mood swings. There are many more reasons to give up caffeine - Google it to learn more. The can she shows in the picture is one we don’t use any more. All Dandy Blend sizes now come in zip lock bags.

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The ingredients in Dandy Blend are what make it so healthy. They contain so many health-promoting properties that whatever the body needs seems to be there when it is needed. * Dandelion is loaded with trace minerals and potassium, iron and calcium. Dandelion is reputed historically to be an excellent liver tonic and blood purifier, and one of the best diuretics, complete with its own potassium source. It is reported also to regulate the gastro-intestinal system, and is a good cure for anemia and acne. It also has the reputation for lowering serum cholesterol and blood pressure, eliminating gas and acid indigestion, aiding in weight loss,and counteracting certain cancerous tumors. * Roasted Chicory promotes healthy digestion. It is food for the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, and is reported to increase both digestion and nutrient absorption into the blood stream. Chicory also is rich in potassium, provides support to the immune system and promotes synthesis of B vitamins. * Roasted beetroot detoxifies and builds blood. It also renews old blood with minerals and natural sugars. Beetroot contains betaine, which stimulates liver cells and protects the liver and bile ducts. It also is reputed to build red corpuscles and add tone to the blood. It is rich in phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and C and other nutrients. Beetroot also has a significant tumor-inhibiting effect. According to an article in the Feb 27 1996 issue of Cancer Letters. “The combined findings suggest that beetroot ingestion can be one of the useful means for preventing cancer.” * Barley and rye are very nutritious grains and a rich source of protein and B complex vitamins. Barley is good for urinary tract disorders as well, and is very useful in fevers and all inflammatory conditions because of its soothing properties. It helps heal the digestive system and digest starchy foods, and is also good for treating urinary disorders like nephritis and cystitis. Possibly most important, because the ingredient is the water soluble extracts free from gluten, and not the whole grains of barley and rye, those who normally couldn’t benefit from the nutrients in barley and rye can by drinking Dandy Blend.

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The problem with relying on internet explanations is that often they are inaccurate or misleading. The issue isn't fructose, which is a low glycemic product( in fact, the product that DEFINES "low glycemic"). It goes to the liver and is released slowly to the blood stream. This makes it an ideal sugar for diabetics and others who should not have sugar. However, it, as with all other foods, should be used in moderation. The fructose in Dandy Blend, in contrast to high fructose corn syrup which contains up to 20% glucose, is pure fructose derived from the breakdown of inulin. There is so little of it per cup as to make it impossible to emerge from the definition of "moderation". There is less than a gram of fructose per cup, as compared with 28 to 45 grams per serving of soda pop, so if you drink Dandy Blend to excess, say 10 cups a day, you are only getting a total of 8 grams or so. To get the amount in only one serving of soda pop, you would have to drink in excess of 30 cups! The fact that it goes directly to the liver is NOT the problem with fructose. That is what fructose DOES and what makes it such a useful sugar. The problem with High Fructose Corn Syrup, besides the up to 20% glucose, is that it is present in our diet in EXCESS. It is in everything, in copious quantities. The normal processed food diet of the mainstream American, is overloaded with it, and THAT IS the problem. It bombards the liver with such an excessive amount of fructose that the liver can't process it, and it creates toxic effects. All food products have a range from too little to provide proper dietary amounts for good health to too much, creating a toxic situation. Even water can be toxic if too much is drunk! Somewhere in the middle is the ideal amount for optimal health. The bottom line is, from a health standpoint, the problem with high fructose corn syrup is the amount of glucose it contains in addition to the fructose. If you are diabetic, you think you are getting fructose, but you are not. You are getting a load of glucose along with it. And you are getting an excess of it. By contrast, there is no glucose in the fructose derived from the inulin in dandelion and chicory-- it is all fructose, and there is only a small amount of it per cup.

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The dandelion in Dandy Blend confers upon it diuretic properties. However, the make-up of herbs is such that they have many substances in them that the body can use to be well, and the body draws the ones it needs when it needs them. Therefore, if you don't need a diuretic, it is likely that that attribute of the dandelions won't be called upon. However, if you are taking a diuretic, keep a watchful eye on your Dandy Blend intake and take action of you find something happening out of the ordinary.

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Each single serving pouch makes one cup-- therefore, 25 pouches make 25 cups. Comparing the price of singles pouches of coffee, Dandy Blend, or anything else with the real price of the product when bought in bags or cans is apples and oranges. You buy pouches not for price, but for convenience-- you take them into Starbucks, order hot water, stir in contents of a pouch and you get a cup of delicious brew for 50 cents instead of $2.25. That is the economy of the single serving pouch. The only way to compare price of coffee with the price of Dandy Blend, or Pero or Cafix, is on a cup by cup basis. The cheapest way to buy Dandy Blend is in the 2 lb bag, which costs $32.95. Since there are 454 cups in a 2 lb bag, that comes out to 8 cents a cup. The 7 oz bag produces 100 cups for $11.48, or 11.5 cents a cup, and the 14 oz bag produces 200 cups for $19.95, or 10 cents a cup. Compare that to what it costs to make a cup of coffee and you will find that Dandy Blend is similar in price. We have done that purposely. Even though dandelion is a very expensive ingredient and the price of production is higher than coffee or the other alternatives, we keep the price down so that everyone can afford to drink Dandy Blend. They can't give us excuses that it is too expensive. Without Dandelion root, Dandy Blend would have no more health benefits than any other coffee alternative, but with it, you get a liver tonic, blood purifier, gastro intestinal regulator, acid reflux reducer, and many more benefits, most of which are specific to the user. You are paying the same as you would for coffee, but getting way more potential health benefits. The truth is, from your health standpoint, Dandy Blend is worth much more than the price you pay for it.

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As far as sweet goes, if Dandy Blend is too sweet, add a little more Dandy Blend powder, and it becomes more bitter. What you want to do when you get your bag is to put two cups on the counter, one filled with coffee made the way you like it. The other is hot water. Then you add a rounded tsp or a pouch, and stir. Taste both. If they are different, and yours is stronger, add Dandy Blend a little at a time,and try again. When they both taste the same, then you know how much Dandy Blend to add. With regard to sweetener, those who feel it is too sweet have very little sugar of any kind in their diet. Those who eat a lot of sugar, feel it is too bitter and have to add sweetener. You won't know till you try it.

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