It’s been my goal over the past few years to build my herbal medicine cabinet so I have ready-to-go remedies on hand for common ailments. We now have plenty of salves, a healthy supply of elderberry syrup, and various tinctures and teas. But after a few occurrences of mild indigestion, I knew I needed to seek out a few more recipes to improve our digestion. Enter digestive bitters. 

Digestive bitters are traditionally taken before a meal to improve digestive health and functioning and to treat occasional mild ailments like bloat, gas, and indigestion. Bitter greens like dandelion can be eaten raw, or they can be used in an herbal preparation like this Digestive Bitters with Dandelion, Orange Peel, & Ginger recipe from Devon Young’s new book The Backyard Herbal Apothecary. 

If you’ve ever come across Devon’s writing on her blog, Nitty Gritty Life, or her social media accounts, you already know that she is not only extremely knowledgeable, but she’s also side-achingly funny. Plus, she grounds her recipes, instructions, and ideas in extensive training and personal experience; in other words, she’s a real-deal herbalist. 

That special blend of expertise and down-to-earth humor is evident on every page of The Backyard Herbal Apothecary. You’ll learn about commonly found herbs and plants, build your herbal medicine cabinet, and laugh out loud. What more can you ask for in a book? 

Devon and her publishing team were kind enough to allow me to share an excerpt from her book. I hope it will give you a taste of the goodness you will find inside The Backyard Herbal Apothecary and help you enhance your own herbal medicine cabinet.

The following excerpt from from The Backyard Herbal Apothecary by Devon Young has been used with permission from Page Street Publishing Co.

Digestive Bitters with Dandelion, Orange Peel, & Ginger

Digestive discomforts can be mild to unbearable. From overeating and mild indigestion to heartburn and acid reflux, sufferers of frequent digestive upset need a bitters blend that hits all the marks. And one that tastes good to ensure compliance!

Enter dandelion greens to promote the flow of digestive juices, orange peel whose high pectin content discourages overeating and ginger to stimulate the peristalsis action of the stomach wall. These three herbs are a surefire way to get your digestion on the right track when taken before a meal. These digestive bitters can be taken straight, added into a small glass of water or even added to a cocktail or club soda.

YIELD: 1 pint (480 ml)

ADULT DOSE: 1–3 droppers full (1.5–4.5 ml), taken before meals

CHILD’S DOSE, AGES 6–12: ½–1 dropper full (0.75–1.5 ml), taken before meals

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6.

Ingredients

2 cups (480 ml) 100 proof spirits (vodka recommended)

¾ cup (40 g) chopped fresh dandelion greens

1 tbsp (6 g) finely chopped fresh ginger

Rind of 1 small orange (with pith)

 

How to Make Digestive Bitters with Dandelion, Orange Peel, & Ginger

In a small blender, combine the spirits, dandelion greens, ginger and orange rind. Blend until it becomes a well-combined slurry. Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and infuse for a minimum of 6 weeks.

After the infusion is complete, strain through two layers of flour sack cloth into a liquid measuring cup. Bitters may be slightly thick due to the presence of pectin; this is normal—just allow extra time for it to filter through the cloth. Pour into 1- or 2-ounce (30- or 60-ml) amber glass dropper bottles or into a pint-sized (480-ml) amber glass master bottle for dispensing. Use within 1 year.

Yield: 1 pint (480 ml)

Digestive Bitters with Dandelion, Orange Peel & Ginger

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Ingredients

• 2 cups (480 ml) 100 proof spirits (vodka recommended)
• ¾ cup (40 g) chopped fresh dandelion greens
• 1 tbsp (6 g) finely chopped fresh ginger
• Rind of 1 small orange (with pith)

Instructions

In a small blender, combine the spirits, dandelion greens, ginger and orange rind. Blend until it becomes a well-combined slurry.

Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and infuse for a minimum of 6 weeks.

After the infusion is complete, strain through two layers of flour sack cloth into a liquid measuring cup. Bitters may be slightly thick due to the presence of pectin; this is normal—just allow extra time for it to filter through the cloth.

Pour into 1- or 2-ounce (30- or 60-ml) amber glass dropper bottles or into a pint-sized (480-ml) amber glass master bottle for dispensing. Use within 1 year.

Notes

ADULT DOSE: 1–3 droppers full (1.5–4.5 ml), taken before meals

CHILD’S DOSE, AGES 6–12: ½–1 dropper full (0.75–1.5 ml), taken before meals

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6.

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