Nettle tea has been used for thousands of years to help remedy asthmatic and skin conditions, and also ease joint aches and arthritis. Even for anyone who is in superb physical health, a mug of nettle tea can regulate your hormones, soothing your brain, and even give a boost of essential nutritional vitamins. What makes this simple tea even more amazing? You can easily produce it in your home!
Naturally, the first step in preparing your very own pot of nettle tea is being able to identify a nettle plant. If you're unsure what a nettle plant looks like, a google search will give you lots of pictures. When Mother Nature is involved, ensure you understand exactly what you're dealing with. Some plants look quite similar but one may be boba tea fridge for you but the other could be very toxic. When doubtful, ask an expert before consuming anything.
When you know what you're trying to find, any woods, thickets or even the side of the highway are perfect locations to search for the nettle plant - it grows similar to a weed, because it really is one! The most critical rule of nettle plant picking is to always put on gloves and a shirt with long sleeves and also to use scissors, reducing your contact with the leaves whenever possible. Nettle leaves are covered with nearly invisible hair-like stingers that leave a nasty rash on your skin. Also, you'll want to pick your nettle leaves from areas not treated with pesticides or are exposed to other chemicals (such as car exhaust right beside a busy street).
When selecting your nettle leaves pick younger plants (around spring time) and trim off the new bright green tips as the leaves get bitterer as they age. The nettle leaves ought to be washed to remove all dirt and insects after which they can either be dried for future pots of tea or used immediately fresh. To dry the nettle leaves, layer them on a paper towel and allow them to air dry. They could then be kept in an airtight jar for future use.
There are lots of recipes out there on-line about how to make the best mug of nettle tea; yet, they are subjective as diifferent people might choose to use different quantities of nettle leaves depending on how bitter they prefer the tea. A conventional recipe would be to have a tablespoon of dried nettles and to brew it in boiling water for at least ten minutes. The leaves must be brewed for the full ten minutes in order to deactivate the stingers. If not, you won't die, but you could easily get a slight stomach ache or 'tingling' sensation when drinking the tea. You might get this sensation anyway should you have a sensitive system but this ought to go away when your body accumulates a tolerance for the tea. The leaves may then be drained and the tea safely taken.
