How to Make Nettle Leaf Tea

I went many a year without knowing about nettle leaf tea. Perhaps you’re in the same boat I was in. Well, get ready, my friend! Make this organic nettle leaf tea recipe and enjoy its amazing health benefits and good taste without the sting!

All of my life, I’ve viewed stinging nettles as, well, a stinging nettle. I mean, those suckers can pack a zinger. Building forts as kids, we always managed to get zapped by one of those pesky plants. They like to invade the yard and are a nuisance.

Or so I thought.

Little did I realize back then that you can drink nettle leaf tea and reap all its health benefits. Plus if you follow my post on how to harvest and preserve stinging nettle, you’ll save yourself from those nasty stings.

It’s important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal remedies into your wellness routine.

Why I Love Nettle Leaf Tea

After years of designing my cottage garden to double as a medicinal herb garden, I became wise to the benefits of stinging nettles and purple dead nettles!

Instead of viewing them as dreadful weeds to avoid, I learned they can be used as medicinal weeds to prepare herbal remedies at home. I also learned how to harvest herbs for medicinal purposes and how to dry herbs for stronger medicinal properties. 

I love drinking tea, and so naturally, I love using fresh and dried herbs to make herbal medicinal teas at home. 

And once I learned about the many health benefits of stinging nettles, nettle tea became a favorite. I love drinking a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. 

I think it’s even more satisfying to drink nettle tea because I know that out in the woods, this plant causes all kinds of frightful injuries, but when boiled to make tea, it becomes a treasure trove of healthy vitamins and minerals. 

Do yourself a favor and get ahead of the game. Try this recipe for nettle tea yourself. 

Health Benefits of Nettle Leaf Tea

The amazing stinging nettle plant (Urtica dioica), especially its leaf, packs many vitamins and minerals. Stinging nettles contain vitamins A, C, K and several B vitamins, antioxidants (hello boosting the immune system and fighting free radicals), minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, amino acids, and polyphenols. (Source)

Nettle leaf is used to help aid a variety of common medical problems. (Source)

• Seasonal Allergies – The stinging nettle leaf contains antihistamine properties. Many people like to take it to reduce the effects of hay fever. (Source)
• Prostate Issues – Like a natural diuretic, drinking nettle tea when first becoming aware of an enlarged prostate gland or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can help increase urination. (Source)
• Urinary Tract Infections – Drinking stinging nettle can improve urinary tract infections. (Source)
• Inflammation – Nettle leaves contain anti-inflammatory properties. (Source)
• Lowering Blood Sugar – Stinging nettles may reduce blood sugar levels. (Source)
• Sore Muscles, Joint Pain, and Arthritis – Stinging nettles may reduce inflammation that causes pain. You can use it alongside nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. It may even help with rheumatoid arthritis. (Source)
• Anemia – Eating iron-rich foods, like stinging nettle, combats anemia. (Source)
• Gout – Stinging nettle tea may help flush out the uric acid that causes gout. (Source)

What Are the Cons of Nettle Tea

Be careful when handling stinging nettle plants. The hairs on the outside contain histamine and other chemicals that cause itchy, burning sensations when it comes into contact with exposed skin. It must be boiled or steamed before use. 

As with any herb, do ample research before ingesting it, especially if you have underlying health issues. Nettle may interact with medications like blood-thinning, diuretics, blood pressure, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Talk with your healthcare professional about the side effects of nettle tea. 

Stinging nettle tea potentially lowers blood pressure since it’s a natural diuretic. Be sure to monitor your blood pressure if you are prone to experiencing low blood pressure or if you take medications for high blood pressure. 

Likewise, one of the potential health benefits of nettle tea is its ability to lower blood sugar. That being said, pay attention to how nettle tea affects your blood sugar, especially if you have type two diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar and consult your healthcare professional. (Source) 

Not enough research shows if you can drink nettle tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid it unless otherwise directed by your health care professional. 

Lastly, some people experience digestive discomfort from stinging nettle tea. Use a little at a time to see how your body reacts. 

Is It OK to Drink Nettle Tea Every Day?

As with anything, listen to your body. Most people do just fine drinking a cup of nettle tea daily to support overall health. I actually like drinking a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. 

But, if you notice digestion issues or an upset stomach, back off on how much nettle tea you drink. Also, let your healthcare professional know you are drinking nettle tea if you have any existing health issues you are being treated for. 

How to Make Nettle Leaf Tea

The first step to making nettle leaf tea is harvesting stinging nettles. Learn how to harvest nettle leaves in this blog post.

Supplies Needed

• Tea Kettle – You can use whatever you usually use to boil water. 
• Mason Jar – You need a large, wide-mouth glass jar when using fresh nettle leaves. You could even use a second jar when straining the leaves out of the liquid. 
• Coffee Filter or Cheesecloth – Use this to cover the Mason jar to allow the nettles to steep overnight. You can also use it to strain the tea. 
• Mason Jar Lid – Save the leftover tea in the fridge in the Mason jar sealed with a lid.
• Tea Strainer – Use a tea strainer or a teapot with a tea strainer in it if you use loose, dried nettle leaves.
• Your Favorite Mug – Drinking tea in your favorite cup makes drinking medicinal tea even more enjoyable. 

Ingredients Needed

• Nettle Leaves – You can choose to use fresh or freeze-dried (one cup) or dried (2 teaspoons) nettle leaves.
• Honey or Sweetener (optional) – As with many medicinal teas, they may not have the same naturally sweet flavor you’re used to in tea. Honey also has many great properties, which is why it’s my preferred method of sweetening tea. Add to your personal preference. You can choose another sweetener of choice or omit it altogether.

Not convinced you want to pick these prickly stingers yourself? No problem, you can order nettle leaves in bulk here. Or, grab it in premade nettle leaf tea bags to try it out first.

Making Nettle Leaf Tea Using Fresh or Freeze Dried Nettles

1. Rinse your Mason jar in hot water to prep it for receiving boiling water. (This helps eliminate thermal shock and potentially cracking your jar.)
2. Place approximately one cup of fresh or freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves in the jar. Add one cup of stinging nettles for every two cups of water. But, depending on your preference, you can add more water to make a weaker tea. 
3. Pour boiling water over the leaves to fill up the Mason jar. 
4. Cover with a coffee filter or cheesecloth.
5. Once the tea has cooled slightly, you can add honey to taste and stir to dissolve.
6. Let the leaves steep in the water for about 10 hours or overnight.
7. Strain and drink a cup at a time over the next two days. It’s really good over ice!
8. Place a lid on the Mason jar and store your nettle tea in the fridge. Consume within three days for the most medicinal benefits.

Making Nettle Leaf Tea Using Dried Nettles

1. Place about two teaspoons of dried nettle leaves in a tea strainer and place the strainer in a mug.
2. Pour in boiling water, cover, and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Add honey or sweetener of choice, stir to dissolve.
4. Strain out and discard leaves.
5. Sip and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below (this helps me out!). Then, snap a photo of your nettle leaf tea and tag me on social media @melissaknorris so I can see!

Practical Home Herbalism

Now that you know how easy it is to incorporate nettle leaf tea into your natural healthcare routine, you will likely start using more herbal remedies at home.

Join my mini herb series here (it’s FREE) and start learning about each herb and how to incorporate them into your daily life.

Or, if you’re ready to jump in and start learning which herbs to grab when you have a headache, cough, congestion, upset stomach, or flu, grab my Practical Home Herbalism Course.

In my course, I’ll teach you how to listen to your body, learn what remedies work best for you, and even make them yourself to build up your herbal medicine cabinet that you can feel confident using for yourself and your family. 

Other Articles You May Enjoy

• Stinging Nettle Benefits (Foraging & Preserving)
• Purple Dead Nettle (Foraging, Medicinal, and Cooking Guide)
• How to Use Herbs and Natural Remedies at Home
• How to Harvest Herbs for Medicinal Purposes
• Medicinal Herb Garden (Planning & Growing)
• Best Methods for Drying Herbs for Stronger Medicinal Properties
• How to Make Herbal Tea
• How to Design a Cottage Garden