Dandelion processes, compositions and products

A process of preparing a species of dandelion, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of fresh or refrigerated dandelion roots;
• drying the dandelion roots to a moisture content of less than 10%;
• shredding the dried dandelion roots into a multiplicity of thin strings, pieces, or particles;
• extracting inulin from the shredded and dried dandelion roots by immersing them in water having a temperature of at least 40° C. and passing the shredded and dried dandelion roots through a processor;
• recycling the water through the processor as additional shredded and dried dandelion roots are added to the processor until an inulin concentration in the water reaches a predetermined amount;
• and
• pumping the water having the predetermined amount of inulin through a filter and into a holding tank.

A process of preparing a species of dandelion, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of fresh or refrigerated dandelion roots;
• drying the dandelion roots to a moisture content of less than 10%;
• shredding the dried dandelion roots into a multiplicity of thin strings, pieces, or particles;
• extracting inulin from the shredded and dried dandelion roots by immersing them in water having a temperature of at least 40° C. and passing the shredded and dried dandelion roots through a processor;
• recycling the water through the processor as additional shredded and dried dandelion roots are added to the processor until an inulin concentration in the water reaches a predetermined amount;
• pumping the water having the predetermined amount of inulin through a filter and into a holding tank;
• adjusting a pH of the water in the holding tank to 1.5;
• and
• degrading the inulin to fructose.