Nettle tea has been utilized for centuries to remedy respiratory and skin problems, not to mention relieve joint problems and arthritis.
Even if you are in top-notch physical health, a cup of nettle tea can regulate your hormones, soothing your mind, as well as give a boost of precious minerals and vitamins.
And the best part of all? You can easily produce it in your home! Obviously, the 1st step in preparing your very own mug of nettle tea is being able to recognize a nettle bush.
If you're unsure what a nettle plant looks like, a quick internet search can provide loads of visual aids.
When Mother Nature is involved, be certain that you know precisely what you are handling.
Many plants look very similar but one may be good for you and another can be incredibly toxic.
When in doubt, ask a professional before consuming anything.
When you know what you are trying to find, any woods, thickets or perhaps the side of the highway are great places to uncover the nettle plant - it grows just like a weed, because, well, it is one! The most important rule of nettle plant collection is to always put on gloves and a shirt with long sleeves and to use scissors, minimizing your contact with the leaves whenever you can.
Nettle foliage is covered with nearly undetectable hair-like stingers that leave an awful rash on your skin.
Also, make sure to gather your nettle leaves from areas not treated with pesticides or are in contact with other chemicals (for instance car exhaust right alongside a busy road).
When choosing your nettle leaves pick younger plants (around spring time) and cut off the bright green tips (the leaves get bitterer with age).
The nettle leaves must be washed to get rid of all dirt and insects after which they are able to either be dried for future pots of tea or used straight away fresh.
To dry the nettle leaves, layer them over a paper towel and let them air dry.
They could then be stored in an airtight container for future use.
There are various recipes available on-line for learning how to make a wonderful pot of nettle tea; yet, these are subjective as different people may want to use different amounts of nettle leaves depending on how bitter they like their tea.
A conventional recipe is usually to have a tablespoon of dried nettles and to steep it in very hot water for around ten minutes.
This step must be taken for a full ten minutes so the water can de-activate the stingers.
Or else, you won't die, but you could easily get a slight stomach ache or tingling sensation when drinking the tea (you could possibly get this anyway, if you have a sensitive system - this should disappear with time because your body builds up a tolerance for the tea).
The leaves may then be drained and the tea safely used.
If you would like more of a power punch from the nettle leaves, you can brew a nettle infusion, which is essentially a very strong nettle tea, made by brewing the leaves a bit longer.
A suggested recipe is to take one ounce of nettle leaves and one quart of boiling water and just let them soak for, at minimum, several hours, or overnight while in the fridge.
Be certain to continue to refrigerate the infusion so it does not spoil (if it does, it makes an excellent fertilizer in your garden).
The infusion can be reheated to enjoy as an extra strong tea or served over ice or put into fruit juice for a cool, delicious refreshment.
If you love the health advantages of a pot of nettle tea, but don't enjoy the flavour, adding lemon, honey or simply sugar will make your cup of tea very much more enjoyable.
Additionally, other herbs and plant leaves may be blended together with the nettle leaves to make your own personal custom super tea! A popular addition for those being affected by indigestion is rosemary, which is great for the release of bile to help you process fats.
Red raspberry leaves joined with nettle leaves can produce a fantastic tonic for an expectant mother, as both assist with alleviating excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Test out some marvelous combos for yourself!