Weight down the nettles with a brick, paving stone, or whatever you have laying around and then cover with water. So, use fresh when you can get it, but don't worry about drying it for use once the season passes. Here are 6 evidence-based benefits of stinging nettle. How to Make Nettle Lea Tea. You can remove the leaves before digging up the roots, save them and use them in a stir fry or dry them for tea. When touched, the plant releases a chemical through the hairs that can feel like you're being stung or pricked by a cactus. Nettle Tea: 1/2 cup of fresh nettle leaves (or 1/4 cup dried) for 1 cup of tea. Before you brew a cup of stinging nettles, it's important to know what it can treat and whether it's a good herbal tea for you. If you have fresh young nettle leaves, use caution when handling, as they can cause irritation to the skin. Drain the spuds and add the nettles and stock. This is a simple task that only takes a few days. I will give it a try! Find some nettles and cut of the leaves with as little stem as possible (the older looking nettles are sweeter). If you just want to make nettle tea later, first give the leaves a rinse and pat them dry (avoid touching them with bare skin). Pour through a small strainer and the tea is ready to drink. You can use the waxy needles of the pine tree for homemade tea, potpourri and mulch. April 29, 2019 at 9:20 pm. You can either tie them in a bunch and hang upside down like you would with a bunch of herbs, or lay them out to dry, turning them regularly to ensure that no leaves mold if there is still moisture in them. Dig outside the foliage area and under the plant at least a foot to get the roots without damaging them. If using fresh nettle then carefully collect some from an area away from car traffic, pesticides and animal waste. Place about 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in a tea strainer. Freeze Nettle Stock/Nettle Tea. You do not need to eat nettles every day to enjoy their health benefits – even once a week is great medicine. The stinging nettle is a variety of the common nettle and gets its name from the fine, stiff hairs on the underside of its heart-shaped leaves. Only fill three-quarters of the bucket with water to allow room for the foam that will be created during the brewing process. If you do have access to the plant itself, collect the leaves and hang them in a warm, low-humidity place to dry (be careful to wear gloves when picking the leaves, to avoid getting burned!). Once you have your roots, thoroughly clean them in fresh water. Kuru. You can also purchase dried nettle from your local health food store or online. If you'd like to try eating stinging nettles, chop the nettles into medium-sized pieces and heat a pot of water and salt. One of the best ways to benefit from stinging nettles is in a tea. Here’s how to prepare stinging nettle tea and everything else you need to know about it: Stinging Nettle Tea: Benefits, Dosage, and Side Effects. Boil the potatoes until soft and steam the nettles. Freeze it and use within a year. Kim says. Put the nettles in a large saucepan with 4 cups of water and add the sugar or honey. I will show you what I do with stinging nettles, and then point you to some great ways to use them! I dry my nettles for tea but am always looking for ways to actually eat it. Stems are bitter and fibrous unless the shoots are very young. Foraging for nettles is fun, and a really nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon with your family or some friends. Nettle tea is regarded as a healthy drink. Herbal tea for health, natural dry tea leaves, Premium Photo 2 years ago. If using a dehydrator, wear gloves and remove the leaves from the stem. It is also rich in minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, copper and magnesium. Nettles dry and store very well, unlike some other delicate herbs. ), jewelweed, dock leaves OR baking soda. Make sure that you place them in a cool and dry place with minimal direct sunlight. Lift them from the bath and spread them out onto a clean dishtowel or paper towels, and pat them dry. It might aid treatment for a variety of health conditions, both those supported by scientific research and those touted in natural healing and alternative medicine. The ice-water bath stops the cooking process and locks in a beautiful green color. Fill a colander with the amount of nettle you think you will use for a typical dish. Also I dry nettles for later use as tea. These fibres now need to be dried. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been a staple in herbal medicine since ancient times, such as to treat arthritis and back pain. Do you know the benefits of nettle tea? Bee Removals Fullerton. Add 450g of potatoes, peeled and cubed, a dash of cream and one litre of stock. If you do get stung, make use of scotch tape to get rid of any kind of stingers as well as neutralize the acidic burn by utilizing a simple paste created from smashed nettle leaves (indeed! Allow the leaves to air dry for about 30 minutes or pat dry with paper towel. Nettle tea is made all around the world and is easy to do. You can also dry stinging nettles to use as tea. Spring is here and it's time to harvest the nettles for one of the easiest and healthiest natural teas mother nature can provide us with. You can dry stinging nettle in two ways: 1) dry it as is, or 2) boil it for a short while (until ALL the stems are yellow). One of the best natural herbal drinks - stinging nettle tea. Choose young shoots whenever possible. A 2012 article published in The Scientific World Journal speculates that fresh nettles may have more nutrients than dried. I make about 15-20 bags for our family use. How to Make Nettle Tea. You can dry nettle leaves as you would any herb. Quart size freezer bags of stinging nettle and curly dock. I’ve been looking for nettles for years and have yet to find them. Cup of tea and sugar with teapot on the background, Tea time. The tiny stinging hairs, though, will disappear when the leaves are dried or cooked. When the water comes to a boil, cook the nettles for no more than 5 minutes to deactivate their stingers. You can use more leaves if you prefer. Thanks for this recipe. Boil a pot of water that is large enough to submerge the nettles. I’ve actually scattered seeds in a marshy spot out back hoping… I enjoy nettle tea and infusions, though. https://theherbalacademy.com/12-nettle-recipes-to-add-to-your-cookbook Transfer the nettles to an ice bath to stop them cooking, then drain them when they're cool and allow them to dry. Sip and enjoy! Fill up a cup full and wash them thoroughly in warm water. Here's my tutorial on drying herbs. Or use the pine needles for craft projects, such as a coiled basket or festive wreath. Resources for Making Nettle Leaf Tea You can dry nettles for tea or tinctures either by hanging bunches of it upside down in a cool, dry place, or by using your dehydrator. Your nettle fibre can now be twisted together to make cordage! If you are harvesting nettles from the wild (and it is a common “weed”), wear gloves because of the sting. You can make the tea stronger by steeping longer, or weaker by adding more water. If put in the sun on a hot day they can dry in just a few hours. Here are some extra tips on identification, in case you are unsure. Some people prefer a small bit of sugar added to the tea, but I find the taste is just fine without any additives. Be Adventurous! Nettle tea, made from dried nettle leaves, is perhaps best known for its high mineral content. Long range method: You can also make nettle garden fertilizer by filling a large jar or bucket with the leaves and stems, bruising the foliage first. Either way, wash the leaves right after harvesting. For a basic soup you’ll need about 200g of fresh nettle tips. The drying process will also cause the sting to disappear. Dry clean leaves in a single layer in food dehydrator until crispy, or hang in small bunches in a dry, room temperature spot until leaves are fully dehydrated. I like a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. Hang them up somewhere, separating the fibres out somewhat so that the air can circulate around them. For some of these projects, you need to dry the needles first. Much of the many claims for the benefits of nettle tea are in the naturopathic literature, with the result that there are few robust placebo-controlled clinical studies. Subject: Re: stinging nettle tea >Can I stock up on stinging nettle now, to have a supply over the winter? Each cup of nettle tea contains vitamins A, B, and K, riboflavin, niacin, folate, carbohydrates (71.33%), fat (2.36%) and proteins (25.8%). Many fancy markets or farmers’ markets will sell stinging nettles, but I like to gather them myself. Once the water is near boiling, reduce heat and simmer for a couple minutes. 5- Dry. Wash the nettles. Find out about the spring veggie here. Bring the boil, whisk with a hand blender, add a dash of cream and season. Stinging nettle tea is really easy to make and can be made using fresh or dried nettle. If so, how would I dry it? I’d guess making a toner out of nettle tea could be a great way to use it. April 30, 2013 at 5:07 am. Does drying it out decrease its potency in any way? Reply. (Note: fresh and dry yield a slightly different flavor – use whichever you prefer) If using fresh leaves, boil them in the water for 10-15 minutes. I’ll freeze these greens and use them in winter. Do I just hang it, or can I use my food dehydrator? A salad spinner would work even better. Would love to know how we could use fresh or dried nettles for topical skin care—rubbing the leaves on your skin not being the obvious intuitive route. An old saying goes, In the pinch, vinegar or even urine might help too. How To Make Stinging Nettle Tea. Introducing Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae.Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide, including New Zealand and North America. Nettles 101: What are they, what do they taste like, and how should you use them? Pour boiling water over it and let it seep for 10 to 15 minutes. Do you know how to make stinging nettle tea? Store in an airtight container in a dark place. You have to blanch nettles anyway before eating them, and the left over blanching water can be used as a vegetarian stock. 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