The Joy of Nettles: Green Nettle Tea

Stinging nettles.  Nearly everyone in the Northwest has a story from growing up about an encounter with this particularly painful forest herb. 

Walking down a nice green trail and brushing your hand against the innocent looking greenery only to feel the sharp sting from the miniature hypodermic needles covering the leaves and stem of this plant.

Reaching for those ripe berries and getting thwarted by the welt delivering plant hidden among the vines.

Putting on a glove, pulling up some nettles, and trying to slap them across your brothers neck (my brother started it!).

Only recently have I discovered that there are even more uses for this smarting plant other than the joy of getting back at your brother for countless Nuremberg level crimes.

Green nettle tea is simple and easy to make, as follows:

Pick (carefully!) a half dozen green nettle tops.  Preferably the young tender shoots, either in the early spring, or coming up later from plants cut earlier in the year.  Pick the top 6-8 inches that have not yet developed the woody inner fiber.

Wash (still wearing gloves) any dust or whatnot off of the leaves and stems.

Place in a pot with 4-5 cups of water, boil for 5 minutes.

Pick out the leaves and stems, save for other applications (will post these later).

Pour water into coffe mug.

Drink.

If too strong for you, add a drop of honey.

If you want to serve to other people, add honey and a dash of lemon juice, at least the first time.

It makes a strong, herbal type tea that I find invigorating.  I always think, the sting has gone out of all the leaves and stems at this point, so it has gotta be in the tea right?  Maybe that is what makes it invigorating!

Enjoy!