Nettle leaf tea is something I went many a year without knowing about, perhaps you're in the same boat I was in. Get ready my friend!
Almost 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.
Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional or doctor. None of the statements on this site are approved by the FDA. If you have any concerns or questions, please consult your medical physician before use.
Nettle Leaf Medicinal Purposes
Nettle leaf is truly amazing. It is packed, I mean packed with vitamins and minerals, specifically:
- vitamins A, C, K and several of the B's.
- antioxidants (hello boosting the immune system and fighting off free radicals)
- minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium
- amino acids
- polyphenols
That's a whole lot of goodness, but wait, there's more!
Some of the most common medicinal uses for nettle leaf is to help aid:
- seasonal allergies
- prostate issues as it can help increase urination
- decreasing inflammation
How can you harvest your own nettle leaf and make your own nettle leaf tea?
Harvest nettle leaves in the spring. It's preferable to harvest the leaves before the nettles go to seed. Wear gloves and protective clothing, longs sleeves, pants, etc. Always harvest leaves where there's no worry of chemicals or weed spray, aka, not next to a busy road way, or any road way that's maintained by the county or government, it's most likely been sprayed or has pollution from motor vehicles.
Rinse off nettle leaves. Lay out to dry on an absorbent towel.
How to Make Nettle Leaf Tea Concentrate
- Place approximately a cup of fresh leaves in a Mason jar.
- Pour water just off the boil (make sure your Mason Jar is warm first, I rinse mine in hot water, right before putting in the leaves and water)
- Cover with a coffee filter or cheesecloth.
- Let sit for about 10 hours or overnight.
- Strain, and drink a cup at a time over the next two days. Store it in the fridge.
How to Make Nettle Lea Tea
- Place about 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in a tea strainer.
- Pour boiling water over it and let it seep for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Sip and enjoy!
I like a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening.
You can dry nettle leaves as you would any herb. Here's my tutorial on drying herbs.
Resources for Making Nettle Leaf Tea
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 tea bags to try it out first. Nettle Leaf Tea Bags
Do you use any herbs medicinally?
This is SO interesting! I would love to start foraging and taking advantage of all the plants that God gave us and intended for us to use! I currently have an IUD b/c of heavy periods but it’s due to come out in August and I know I don’t want another. It’s done great for me but my perspective on health has changed since then. I’m also seeing an alternative medicine doctor who thinks there are other ways we can work to keep me from having that problem but naturally. Sounds like nettle leaf is one way!!
Leslie,
Nettle leaf is awesome, and works really well when paired with Red Clover Leaf tea and Red Raspberry leaf. I rotate each one over three days. I’ll have some other posts about each of them and harvesting as they come in season here. I’m usually skeptical about things, but this one proved to be so helpful to me.
[…] How to Make Nettle Leaf Tea: https://melissaknorris.com/2014/03/19/wild-edible-plants-make-nettle-leaf-tea/ […]
Can you make the nettle tea with raspberry leaves also…would you use the same ratio? Thanks!
Hi, Beccah,
You can make nettle tea with raspberry leaves, but I usually make mine separate. Just do the same ratio. It took a couple of weeks before I noticed a difference, but it’s definitely made a huge difference.
[…] I came across using nettle leaf tea and red raspberry leaf tea. You can check out my experience with the nettle tea and how to harvest and make nettle leaf tea here. […]
[…] a salad or cooked, the blossoms can be made into dandelion jelly, and you can also roast the roots. Stinging nettles can be made into tea, used in soups, or sauteed with some butter. We love morel mushrooms and go foraging for morels any […]
Just wondering if the nettles you described are what is called ‘bull nettles’ in Texas. After moving here from Missouri, I was pulling weeds and got ‘stuck’ then it went numb for about 4 hours. (Yes. I now use gloves while pulling weeds!). Thanks for your cool website.
Helen,
Hmmm, I’m not sure. When we get stung it turns into a raised wed welt and feels tingly/stingy for quite awhile depending upon the strength of the stinging nettle. Thanks for visiting and yes, those gloves can be life savers.
[…] nettle pesto. Also, haven’t you heard? Nettle is the new kale. Nettle chips recipe here. And here are easy instructions for how to make tea using fresh and dried nettle leaf (because it’s better than how I tried […]
Okay, I had absolutely no idea that ANYTHING GOOD could come from stinging nettle. I’ve spent my entire life “trying” to avoid this stuff.
I love tea so I’m definitely going to have to try this but I’ll admit, it seems very strange to me that I’ll actually be looking for nettle now. That’s going to take some getting use to.
Melissa I so appreciate you taking the time to send me all this information on stinging nettles tea and all the other information you sent also. Thank you so much, Your a very good friend!!!***
Hello, how do you avoid echonococossis or liver fluke ?
I only collect things whose are above my waist or more, like blackberries or plums. Is hot water enough ?
Thanks.
Mélissa (from France)