Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1919 — Cheap Coffee Is Made From Dandelion Root, According to a Prominent Botanist [ARTICLE]

Cheap Coffee Is Made From Dandelion Root, According to a Prominent Botanist

Much of the “surpassing” cheap brand of coffee is made from dandelion root, according to Prof. William Trelease of the department of botany at the University of Illinois. Dandelions, he points out, belong to the chicory family, and the root is used to adulterate coffee much as chicory. It Is also used to adulterate chicory. Professor Trelease believes that the dandelion, which generally is considered a pest to good lawns, is a very useful plant, which has strayed from Its proper place In the garden where it is cultivated. Besides being used for cheap grades of coffee, the plant yields a milky juice which? in the form of extract, is used as a medicine. The blanched leaves of the dandelion are often used for salads. They are also used as greens. In America there are two varieties of the dandelion, both of which are weeds. One kind has an olive-colored fruit pod, while the other has a red fruit pod. The latter is not so good for greens, since the leaves are stringy and cook down to almost nothing. There are 57 varieties altogether, most of which are native to Europe. In French gardens where they are cultivated they are delicious, especially for salads. ’ The leaves are used to feed silkworms when mulberry leaves are not available. Many people believe that dandelions are used for butter coloring. This is a mistake, however, as the name dandelion on the package Is a trade mark. The coloring is made from coal tar dyes.