Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a fantastic, nutrient-rich plant packed with chlorophyll, vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, folate, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, silica, histamine, acetylcholine, formic acid, serotonin, pantothenic acid, and sulfur.
And you can pick it for free in our nature!
When to pick nettles
You can pick nettles throughout spring, summer, and part of autumn. Use gloves! Take the youngest leaves at the top and skip the stems.
Early spring, the stinging nettles have young tender shoots perfect for food and tea. But nettles can also be harvested later in the season. To get equally tender shoots as in spring, cut down the older plants, and new shoots will soon sprout.
Avoid picking nettles near manure heaps as they may contain too high levels of nitrates. Nettles intended for nettle water can be harvested any time of the year.
8 health benefits of nettles
- Provides steady energy in the body and is generally strengthening, making it good for exhaustion.
- Supports the kidneys.
- Diuretic effect.
- Supports all glands and organs.
- Helps with stomach gas.
- Helps with dry mucous membranes.
- Helps with skin problems.
- Gives radiance to skin and hair.
Here you can find nettle as an herbal supplement.
Nettle in cooking
- Nettles are not used fresh in cooking but blanched or dried. Blanch for 2–3 minutes. This is done to remove nitrates. Strain off the water.
- Use the blanched nettles directly in cooking or freeze them.
- You can dry the leaves, crumble them, and use them for tea, smoothies, yogurt, or muesli. You can also make a powder. Dried nettles should be stored in a dark, cool place in a glass jar.
- Or you can use the blanched leaves in cooking; in soups, sauces, gratins, omelets, pies, pesto, frittata, risotto, etc.
- Fresh nettles have a short shelf life and should be eaten immediately or dried for storage.
Nettle pesto
- Pick the leaves from the stems and rinse them.
- Boil the nettles for a couple of minutes in salted water. Then rinse them in cold water and dry a little.
- Blend the nettles together with pine nuts or almonds, garlic, parmesan, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Make a nettle infusion
When dried nettle is steeped in water for a long time, it becomes very mineral-rich.
Here’s how to extract the minerals:
- 15 grams of dried stinging nettle to 1/2 liter of freshly boiled water.
- Let the dried leaves steep in freshly boiled water, covered, in a pot for at least 4 hours (heat off).
- It’s fine to let it stand longer, overnight.
- Strain and store in a glass jug in the refrigerator.
- You can drink 2-4 cups a day or use it as a base in a smoothie.
- Remember to also drink water as nettle makes you thirsty.
- This is an excellent way to get minerals, especially magnesium.
You can find dried stinging nettle here.
Nettle in skincare
DIY / Nettle shower gel:
2.5 dl nettle infusion (recipe above)
0.5 dl liquid Castile soap
2 tbsp castor oil
20 drops essential oil
Nettle in hair care
Nettles are said to help against hair loss and make hair soft and shiny. They are also said to counteract dandruff.
Several of the natural hair products we offer contain nettle.
Nettle water for gardening
Nettle water is something most gardeners know about. You put nettles in a barrel, fill it with water, and let it stand for a week or more. You need a lid because it smells unpleasant.
The water fertilizes, strengthens the plants, and gives them more resistance.
A fun legend
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that nettles marked the place where fairies lived. Nettles were also a protection against black magic since trolls and witches could not spoil the milk where nettles grew.
In folk medicine, nettles have been used against scurvy, tuberculosis, cough, and hair loss (which it is still used for).
Nettle decoction was formerly used as an antidote against various poisonings such as mushroom poisoning, snake bites, and if someone had eaten poisonous berries.
