Stinging Nettles - Gathering and Making Nettle Tea

[danvelgtr]

NIce video , thank you very much.

[Fuguer]

I brought back nettles from a forest (roots and all). I grow them in a odd 5ft. by 34in. Plot. It looks like I’m growing weeds. I clip off leaves and put them in a paper bag. I’ll give the bag a good shake 1 or 2 times a day for a week or 2. They come out nice and dry. Since I cut the leaves off the stem in advance I don’t need to crush them.

[Fuguer]

I could call you wimpy for using glove but I’m aware that different types of nettles grow in different locations. In my area in Pennsylvania The nettles have a sting like a mosquito bite rather than a bee sting and if you don’t scratch it the itching goes away in a couple of hours. I understand that Florida has the nettle with the worst sting. But maybe that’s just so far as America.

[Mandiy74]

my yard is full of them now i'm going to use them thanks

[stopsharkfinning]

Thanks mate, very useful and informative.

[OrginalKork]

Do you live with someone? Can't remember you telling anything about it^^

[torrentum]

Many thanks for the video. Excellent tutorial. Something I've wanted to try for a while. Would it be too late to use nettles growing in June/July? I've got about 1/4acre of nettles at the moment, make enough tea for a long time :)

Thanks again

[rickvanman]

@torrentum Personally I'd give them a try and see how I got on with them. They won't harm you unless you have an allergic reaction to them which is quite rare. They'll just be less sweet than the early ones. If you like them - perfect! you have your tea needs catered for for a very long time :o)

[treverbettis]

chemtrail planes in the first 20 seconds. There was a few things you did wrong that i noticed as well.

[rickvanman]

@treverbettis Do enlighten me :o)

[treverbettis]

@rickvanman well nothing wrong i meant to say pointers to be postive, infusion is best to leave in glass jar for a few days and chew the leaves in the tea. I also heard that you can use the stalks as a fiber which is interesting idea.

[rickvanman]

@treverbettis I should mention from experience, if you leave a nettle infusion for a few days, the smell will make you throw up - but apparently it's great plant fertilizer.

[squeeks1234]

@treverbettis what the fuck are you talking about?

[treverbettis]

@squeeks1234 pretty self explainable, also chill out bro no need to get angry at a comment

[biguglygadgie]

can you still ad milk

[rickvanman]

@biguglygadgie EEeewww! LOL! but sure if you fancy it :o)

[togio100]

Rick, are you familiar with mamaki? it is a nettle endemic to Hawaii. Its used a a traditional Polynesian cure and as a nice herbal tea. Plus, because it evolved in t he islands, it does not have thorns or any stinging sap like some nettles, so not only you can pick it without getting stung, you can also eat it raw.

You can buy it at certain specialty nurseries online. Plus, it can be grown in a temperate climate.

[rickvanman]

@togio100 Thanks for the tip - ill have to look into it

[thatisalliam]

Fist loved the video! Second I just picked some today from the bottom part of my garden because it is oct does that effect the finished taste of the tea ?

[rickvanman]

@thatisalliam Glad you liked the vid :o)

I hear that nettles picked late are tougher and not as good to eat. Tea might have a more 'seasoned' taste but I believe will still be ok. I'd love to know how you get on.

[SwedishBlacks]

Can I pick the nettles in September? Cause I notice you say you pick them when they are young. Does it make a difference if they are a few months older?

[rickvanman]

@SwedishBlacks I'm not 100% sure - I believe they are just as nutritious, but are a lot tougher and stringy and not as nice to eat - might be worth looking up.

[jacksawild]

Add a spoonful of sugar to the tea, I swear it tastes like a honey drink and is my cold cure with a dash of brandy before bed. If you have arthritis or joint pain stinging yourself where it hurts is surprisingly effective; have some doc leaves or fern pollen ready for the irritation. Gripping them firmly will prevent stinging, but it takes practice.

[andymarge]

love your videos, very informative.

[missy1905]

Thanks for posting, so interesting, I have some out the back, and just realised they're nettles, so going to give it a try.

[wonderbung]

Are there any dangerous varieties of stinging nettle? We've got some here in Texas that look just like yours, but I don't know if they're the same type. I'm kind of scared to try them. I don't want to accidentally poison myself or something. Anybody?

[rickvanman]

@wonderbung There are none that I know of - but don't quote me on that. Best thing is to try them in small quantities at first to check for any adverse reactions. Some people can get a rash from nettle tea - but its very rare.

[TristanDesnos]

Great! Thanks for posting! Concerned of dog pee though! lol! Also, on green tea, you pour on hot water allow to steep for a few seconds then pour the water away to wash the bitter taste away. I take it you don't need to with nettles?

[rickvanman]

@TristanDesnos I've never rinsed the nettles and had no problems.

[MidwinterSon]

I don't drink tea, but I use this as a spice on my food. Does not taste much but its good for the health. : )

[MZMStudios]

Ok... I'm gonna have to go hunt me up some nettles. =) I love a good tea.

[MicheleMidnight]

very cool. i need to go back and check the last wine one with dandelions

[jmessy007]

Nice video!

[Djmorley1169]

i will try this myself as its always good to get a good drink of tea and at the same time save money also!

[hayk7]

what is the music name pls?

[johnny102marvin]

I have never tried nettle tea. It looks like a good source of chlorophyll.

[Untadaike]

My doctor told me to eat nettles. They grow everywhere near where I live. I went out a picked a couple bags (with gloves on) and steamed them. They're delicious. You can put them in soups and even omelettes.

[tinsnanna]

love the tea pot too so cute

[cmxcmx]

I love nettle tea. Haven't had any in ages, though. By the way, over here in the Netherlands, you can get nettle (goat) cheese. Very tasty!

[sneekylinux]

nice one....

[1111atreides]

Sounds absolutely awful. I can't stand any tea....I've tried them all.

Here's my question though: If they're so God awful dangerous and treacherous and deadly, who was the first to think "4 o'clock....let's take this prickly bush and try to drink it!"

[skywalkeruk84]

@1111atreides Because once upon a time we were not so stupid as we are now. we lived in harmony with our enviroment and new what every plant and herb did and tasted like... . . . before then, it was proably trial and error.

[1111atreides]

@skywalkeruk84 You're absolutely typical of the beautiful opposites that I see converging on one issue. I'm a teaparty conservative survivalist and I'm always tripping over hippy liberals in the youtube videos that I watch. AND YET...we're both here watching Rick boil his nettles. Ain't that a hoot?

[TheMusicMark]

I would love to try some of that tea!!!

[lillith886]

saxons used to grow nettles for food, whole fields of them. they are one of the herbs i'd reccommend during pregnancy for their iron and vitamin c. i would suggest that they should be dried in the dark, mushroom bags from the supermarket work well, as sunlight will degrade them. great vid as ever. :-)))

[goodagofilms]

He hasn't answered any comments Yet! He must have died after drinking that. :)

Oh hang on who upload the video? I'm such an idiot..Oh hang on! it could be a ghost.

[FenderGibsonWashburn]

I had a bad experience running through a patch of these while wearing short pants as a child. LOL Not likely I'll try this one but an entertaining video none the less. Tell Janet I said hi. 8^)

[dobe762]

I'd like to say, that I think you'll find that any herbal tea tastes better if you don't actually boil the water, bring it up to hot without boiling, it gives a much nicer taste IMHO

Cheers

[8thumbs2fingers]

Great vid Rik , did you shout " yak " after recording finished :))

Dave

[j3pfilms]

Nice video :)

[monteros]

Fantastic! Thanks for the video :) You can eat them raw too, but one needs to research how to do it. Blanching them is common to remove the sting parts then eat, and also juicing them is huge from what I have seen and read. I am eager to try some - thanks again.

[ngvgnDOTcom]

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