Fresh Nettle Tea

I’ve been consuming nettles in a multitude of ways for years now. I really began my love affair with nettles when we moved to the Pacific Northwest over seven years ago and every year since, I start foraging for them at the first signs of spring when their little baby leaves start emerging from the moist earth. I make tea with them, infuse vinegar with them, cook them as a leafy green, make pesto with them, add them to soup, pasta dishes, and egg dishes.

They are considered blood builders and are an amazing source of iron and vitamin K, making them wonderful for those suffering with low iron levels (hello vegetarian women and pregnant ladies!). Nettles are incredibly cleansing and detoxifying and help the liver and kidneys excrete metabolic wastes. They are used to treat joint pain, and many people with arthritis and fibromyalgia have reported decreased pain with the use of stinging nettles. Nettles are also a wonderful way to fight seasonal allergies. I, for one, have had zero problems with seasonal allergies since I've started consuming nettles regularly. I also notice a huge improvement in my skin and strength of my hair when I consume them regularly. They literally give me a glow.

When handling nettles, be sure to use gloves, or else you'll be stuck with stinging fingers for quite awhile. And it really really hurts! Lightly steaming or blanching them will deactivate the stingers. I've also heard that blending them up raw in smoothies and pesto will deactivate the stingers, as well, though I’m honestly too nervous to try that. You can even make nettle tinctures or dehydrate the nettles and use them in their dried form. Here, I make the fresh leaves into a dark green infusion that's just bursting with health benefits. Surprisingly, the flavor is quite mild and pleasant. It's very "green" tasting, and I love it. It’s like sipping the life-force of the earth and I can feel that energy infuse into my cells almost immediately.

Stinging Nettle Infusion
2-3 cups of fresh nettles, rinsed
4 cups boiling water
large French press or quart sized mason jar

Put the nettles in the French press or mason jar. Pout boiling water over them and stir. Let sit for as long as you want. The longer you let it sit, the stronger (and darker) it will become. I let mine sit overnight. Then, strain the liquid into a mug and drink as often as you want.