Stinging Nettle-Ade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in stinging nettles? ›

Nettles contain a significant number of biologically-active compounds. For example, the leaves are rich sources of terpenoids, carotenoids and fatty acids, as well as of various essential amino acids, chlorophyll, vitamins, tannins, carbohydrates, sterols, polysaccharides, isolectins and minerals.

Making stinging nettle tea

Simply add the nettle leaves to the water and bring to the boil. The tea can be made stronger or weaker by adding more, or less, water. Once the water has been simmering for a few minutes strain the mixture into a cup, being sure that no nettles go through the strainer.

Because the stings have to remain firm to cause the irritation, cooking the leaf instantly makes them safe – don't try to eat the leaf raw in a salad or anything. There are plenty of recipes online for a variety of hot dishes, so see what you fancy. Think of the nettle leaf like spinach and use it in a similar way.

Young leaves can be used to make curries, herb soups, and sour soups. The root of the stinging nettle is used to treat mictional difficulties associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, while the leaves are used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, and allergic rhinitis.

Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash.

Natural herbs for women like Nettle leaf or stinging nettle can optimize and balance hormones for optimal health, giving you great skin and hair as well. Stinging Nettle or Nettle leaf is a common plant, its leaves can cause itching and a temporary discomfort hence earning it a lot of bad press.

Stinging nettle can be eaten on its own or as an ingredient in foods. Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. Most medicinal uses of stinging nettle use more of the plant than you would typically eat.

Since nettle tea has a strong diuretic effect, avoid drinking it before bedtime.

In rare cases, nettle tea can cause stomach cramps or diarrhea. If this occurs, discontinue or reduce your use of it. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should sparingly use the herb in consultation with the doctor. This is because it can act as a diuretic.

How to prepare stinging nettle? ›

Nettles need to be thoroughly cleaned and de-stung before eating. To do this, the easiest method is blanching them in boiling water and rinsing them afterward, squeezing out the water before sautéing them or adding them into soups or stews. By blanching the nettles, they get cleaned and broken down in one fell swoop.

Put the nettle leaf and alcohol in pint jar, stir and cover with the lid. Label the jar with contents. Place the jar in a cool, dark place, and shake it daily. After 2-3 weeks, strain into bowl and use wooden spoon to press down on herbs left in strainer to get all the goodness.

There's no one recommended portion size for nettle leaf or nettle leaf products, though the Arthritis Foundation suggests these amounts for arthritis benefits: 1 cup of tea three times a day. Up to 1,300 milligrams a day in capsule form. As a tincture (a solution in alcohol), 1-4 milliliters, three times a day.

Nettles are valued as food, medicine and fiber. In springtime, the young shoots are cooked as a vegetable. A restorative and energizing tea is made from the leaves. Nettles are also used to make dye with shades ranging from yellow to deep green.

Soaking nettle leaves in tea is one way to consume nettle. People can also eat young nettle leaves (by steaming or wilting them in the same manner as spinach), take dried nettle leaf in capsules, or use nettle tinctures.

Wash the nettles one by one, to get rid of soil and insects. Put the nettles in a pot and add enough water to just about cover them. With some experience, you can adjust the amount of water depending on how strong you would like your tea.

Use rubber gloves or pinch the leaves hard, so you don't get stung. Once picked, lay the nettles out on a tray to wilt. Once wilted they can no longer sting you. The sting relies on erect hairs to penetrate the skin and inject the stinging formic acid.