NETTLE LEAF TEA: INTRO
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Nettle Leaf Tea is an herbal tea that is created with leaves of the nettle plant. The nettle plant, also known as the stinging nettle or nettle leaf plant, is a flowering plant that is the member of the Urticaceae family. The stinging nettle leaves actually can inject uncomfortable compounds when they come into contact with human skin. This is a detailed post describing the main aspects of nettle leaf tea.
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Do not consume nettle leaf tea if you are pregnant, nursing, or may become pregnant. This is considered a mild and healthy herbal tea, but make sure to check with your healthcare professional prior to consuming any herbal tea.
I suggest reading my Ultimate Guide for Nettle Tea. It contains a ton of detailed information.
NETTLE LEAF TEA: GUIDE
Nettle Leaf Tea Appearance
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The nettle leaf plant is a perennial plant that survives year round in most climates. The nettle plant is usually distinguished by its jagged green leaves. These leaves have earned the plant its unique nickname, the stinging nettle. When these leaves come into contact with human or animal skin, they inject irritants that cause a stinging sensation. Remember this if you are attempting to gather wild nettle leaves for tea. You always need to wear thick gloves.
The nettle leaf plant is primarily found in the Pacific northwest part of the United States, but it can be found all over the country and in many places around the world. The plant also thrives in Europe and is found all over England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Nettle Tea Background
The nettle plant has been cultivated and harvested for thousands of years by humans. Early civilizations used it as a source of food and for medicinal purposes. It emerged early on as a wonderful ingredient for herbal tea. One unique use of the nettle leaves is for fabric. Experts have discovered ancient burial sites containing corpses covered in nettle plant fabric. The Native Americans commonly used nettle leaves to make a fabric used in a majority of their clothing. The fabric is known for its durability and green color fibers. The Germans even used the plant to make clothing during the cotton shortages of WWI.
Ancient people quickly discovered the healthy nettle leaves and began using it in herbal tea. This tea was consumed to treat many different ailments. It is consumed for some of the same benefits today. You can read more about this in the Benefits section below. You can read more about the history on this external website.
List of Nettle Tea Benefits & Uses
Nettle Leaf Tea is extremely healthy and has several positive health benefits. These benefits include:
- Weight Loss
- Increased Urination (Diuretic)
- Allergy Relief
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Increased Testosterone (for Men)
- Increased Libido
- Healthier Sperm (for Men)
You can read more about these benefits on my Nettle Leaf Tea Benefits post.
Nettle Leaf Tea Side Effects
Nettle leaf tea does not have very many documented negative side effects. It is still a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional prior to consuming nettle tea. This is especially true if you consume prescription medications.
Nettle Leaf Tea Taste
Many people compare the taste of nettle tea to green tea, as it can be fairly mild and refreshing. The tea can be fairly dark green, and it has an earthy taste. Some tea drinkers prefer to add milk, honey, or sugar to help make the flavor more palatable. I find the tea has a pleasant taste by itself, but you can definitely tell that it tastes healthy!
Making Nettle Leaf Tea
If you are using wild nettle leaves for tea, make sure to where gloves. This plant is known as the stinging nettle for a reason. You need to handle the leaves with gloves until they have been dried or boiled. You can buy loose leaf nettle tea, and I have included one of my favorite brands below.
Frontier Brand Loose Nettle Leaf Tea
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This is currently my favorite brand of loose leaf nettle tea. Frontier band provides herbal tea leaves that are always fresh, and I love their delicious flavor profile. You can read more about the tea on my Best Nettle Leaf Tea post.
Simple Nettle Tea Recipe
This recipe is perfect for either winter or summer, because it can be served hot or cold.
Ingredients for 2 Servings
- 1 Cup of Nettle Leaves (Check out my list of the Best Nettle Tea)
- 3 Cups of Boiling Water
- 1/2 Lemon, Juiced (you will only need the juice)
- 2 Tablespoons of Honey (or desired sweetener)
Step 1: Gather 1 Cup of Nettle Leaves and place them in a colander. Now, rinse them under the sink with cool water to remove dirt and debris. Wear gloves to avoid being stung!
Step 2: Pour 3 Cups of water into your teapot and bring to a boil. Carefully pour the boiling water into a medium/large pot.
Step 3: Add the 1 Cup of Nettle Leaves to the water pot, and allow to steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. This is where the preparation steps differ depending on whether you are serving hot or iced tea. Proceed to the appropriate steps below:
Steps for Consuming Hot Tea
Step 4: Use a strainer and pour the mixture into your desired tea cups. The strainer will remove the debris and soppy leaves from your tea.
Step 5: Add lime juice and honey (or desired sweetener). Now your tea is complete, enjoy!
Steps for Consuming Cold Tea
Step 4: Add the honey (or desired sweetener) and lime juice to the pot and continue to steep and stir for 1 minute.
Step 5: Allow the pot to cool for 10 minutes, and use a strainer to pour the mixture into a pitcher or other container. The strainer will remove the debris and flowers from the tea.
Step 6: Place the pitcher or other container in the fridge and allow it to cool for 1-2 hours. The tea is now ready to serve with ice (optional). Now your tea is complete, enjoy!
NETTLE LEAF TEA: CONCLUSION
Nettle Leaf Tea is an extremely healthy tea that has been consumed for hundreds of years. I hope that this post has helped you discover some great reasons to begin consuming nettle leaf tea. I like to drink a glass every week, and I hope that you decide to do the same. I feel much healthier after consuming nettle leaf, and I’m sure that you will too!
Nettle Leaf Tea: Comments
Do you have any experiences or knowledge concerning Nettle Leaf Tea? Please share your information with the HTH community and help it grow!
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