I forgot to add, the tea pot is ceramic.

Because dandelions are bitter by nature. Try sauteing them in garlic and oil.

Is it as bitter as horehound without the sugar? :o) BLECH!

Tresyd, could you try using less leaf & more water for a milder brew? And adding honey & peppermint might soften the taste enough for you to enjoy the deep down nutrition of dandelions, which are tastier in the fall (esp. after a frost or two) than in the spring.

Personally I've grown fond of them torn coarsely among milder greens in a salad w/vinagrette dressing.

~bushpoet

They are bitter ... the tiny new leaves are the least bitter.

I mix the dandelion with other more palatable herbs such as lemon verbena, red raspberry and a generous amount of stevia to sweeten.

Never use a ceramic pot for herb tea. Use glass, e.g. Corningware or pyrex. Ceramic pots can only be used for black tea, and I wouldn't even use them for that. If they have a crack in the glaze, you can get serious metal poisoning which might not show up for years. I am a potter, and I know what ingredients are in pottery. I only use it for vases, not for eating.

i thought ceramics were made out of clay? maybe its from the glazes but if their that bad why do they have them for baking with? anyway now im curious.

I do ceramics, and as long as the glaze is food-safe it should effect it. Now... if the didn't use a food safe glaze on a tea pot.. lol

i'm guessing it's just the herb (havn't tasted it before). I like using mint as a base... makes everything palatable.

Dandelion leaves are best used young, eaten rather than in tea, and mixed with other, milder greens.

Dandelions taste awful duhh! :) Bad surprise huh? lol :) Use them in small quantities etc. I'll give you a recipe for my grandma's spring green pie (Italian) always eat at or around easter.... when I need dandelion (water retention detoxyfying etc.) I steep it with peppermint to make the flavor more palatable.... or just wait untill the tea cools and drink it down (nose held of course)...... many herbs teas are good for you.... many taste awful...... some like peppermint of course...... taste great!