Stinging Nettles- Urtica dioica Overnight Infusions + Oat Milk
Stinging Nettles- Urtica dioica
Family: Urticaceae
When I think of super foods I don't really think of the packaged foods that I see marketed from far away places....instead my mind instantly goes to nettle leaf. They are a beloved herb used daily in my home, being that they are so versatile in uses, so deeply nutrient + mineral rich, abundant, and easily grown in our region. What is there not to love about nettles. Many people know of nettles through unexpected meetings outside with the stinging sensation they offer when you touch them with bare skin. They sting most when we graze them gently, or brush against them unknowingly, offering us little signals that they are here and would like our attention. Some folks use this stinging as a way of invigorating the body through a process called Urtification. People have been able to survive the hard winters through this nutrient dense plant for centuries, it comes up early in the spring and offers an early seasonal food that is deeply nutritional after long winters in certain regions of the world.
People have used Nettle leaf stings (urtification) to aid with arthritis and joint pain, as a early spring infusion Nettles is used to help mitigate spring allergies, and one of my favorite uses of this plant is based around the deep mineral richness which aids the nervous system (which relies heavily on minerals/salts to function properly.)
The mineral and nutrient content of Nettles is quite amazing, they contain chlorophyll; protein (7% fresh, over 40% dry); fats; vitamins (beta-carotene, A, B, C); minerals (Fe, Mg, K, P, Ca); indoles (histamine, serotonin); acetylcholine; dietary fiber; tannin, mucilage, organic acids (gallic, formic)
and it is no wonder why the first sight of them is so rejoiced even in modern times.
Over Night Infusion
Working with overnight nettle infusions is one of my favorite ways to add nettles nutritional power to our daily lives. You can do this in the evening so you can have your nettles throughout the next day. To make your tea start by taking 3-4 tbsp nettle leaf : 1 qt hot water. Put the nettles in a mason jar or heat safe container and pour the water over the herb and once done cover it with a lid, this helps any constituents in the steam from escaping. Leave this infusion on your counter overnight, and in the morning strain and enjoy either cold, room temperature, or reheat it gently on low till it is warm.
Oat Milk Nettle Infusion
A deeper way to get nettles to support the nervous system and enjoy of a delightful warm beverage during the cooler days of spring is to heat 2 cups oat milk in a small sauce pan on low temperature, add 2 tbsp nettle and heat with a lid on, stirring frequently for around 10-15mins or until the green color starts to emerge. Strain the nettle leaf out and enjoy a delicious frothy nettle oat milk delight. You can also use a tea ball and forgo having to strain.
