Kelly Turner
How to make purple dead nettle tea
Add 3 tablespoons dried leaves for every 8 ounces (1 cup) of not quite boiling water. Allow to steep for 5-8 minutes, then strain and sweeten to taste.
What is purple dead nettle tea good for?
As a medicinal herb, purple dead nettle has astringent, purgative, diuretic, and diaphoretic properties. It’s also anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. Fresh leaves can be applied to wounds as a poultice. You can also enjoy fresh or dry leaves as a tea.
What does purple dead nettle taste like?
It has a mild, slightly grassy, somewhat floral flavor, and the purple tops are even a little sweet. Although it is in the mint family, it doesn’t have a minty taste. It can be used in salads, soups, blended into smoothies or made into a tea.
Is purple dead nettle the same as stinging nettle?
Dead nettles, including purple dead-nettle, unlike stinging nettles, don’t have stinging hairs on their leaves and they generally appear smoother.
Why is it called purple dead nettle?
Purple dead nettle is a member of the mint family. It has heart-shaped or spade-shaped leaves with a square stem. Towards the top of the plant, the leaves take on a purple-ish hue, hence its name.
What are other names for purple dead nettle?
Purple Deadnettle Lamium purpureum L. Henbit Lamium aplexicaule L. Also known as: deadnettle, hen’s bite, henbit deadnettle, henbit nettle.
Is purple dead nettle toxic?
Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an herbaceous annual weed, commonly found in meadows, wastes, gardens, and at the edges of roads and woodlands. Though it appears similar to true nettles, purple dead-nettle gets its name because it does not have “live” nettle poison that harms the skin.
What parts of purple dead nettle are edible?
Purple deadnettle is not only a wild edible green, but a highly nutritious superfood. The leaves are edible, with the purple tops being even a little sweet. Since the leaves are relatively fuzzy, they are better used as an herb garnish or mixed with other greens in recipes, rather than being the star of the show.
How long does it take to dehydrate purple dead nettle?
To dry the nettle leaves for later, lay them flat on a dehydrator sheet and dehydrate for 6-8 hours on low. You can also dry them in a low oven, 175 degrees or less, for 8-10 hours.
How do you dry nettle for tea?
Spread stems and leaves on the drying trays of a dehydrator. Set the temperature at its lowest setting (95°F or 35°C) and dry for 12 to 18 hours. The stems will take longer to dry than the leaves, so always test them instead of the leaves to determine if the drying is done.
Can you eat purple dead nettle raw?
Purple dead nettle can also be eaten raw, but to be honest – it’s not as tasty to us as other spring greens such as chickweed or henbit. You can include it in pesto, soups, and quiches, in place of, or combined with, spinach and nettle. If you’re pregnant, don’t take purple dead nettle internally.
Can you eat purple dead nettle stems?
The leaves of this plant are packed with nutrition and make a great addition to salads and other raw dishes. Parts of the plant can also be used for medicinal applications and have some “magical” potential as well.
Can you freeze purple dead nettle?
Try purple dead nettle leaves in smoothies, soups, stir-fries, and even in casseroles. They are great in salads, too! Blanch for 2 minutes in boiling water, cool in an ice bath for 3 minutes, then freeze for later.
How to make purple dead nettle salve
Why is it called dead nettle?
Commonly called dead nettles because their leaves resemble stinging nettles with no ability to sting, this near-evergreen plant (in mild climates) is a low creeper; some cultivars become randomly mounded.
Where does purple dead nettle grow?
Purple Dead-nettle is usually considered a weed and originates from Europe and Asia. It is low growing and blooms occur throughout the year including warmer weather in winter. It can be found in lawns, along roads, gardens and meadows. It is often confused with Henbit and they can grow together.
What is the difference between Henbitle and purple dead nettle?
Henbit flowers are pink to purple with darker purple spots than those of purple deadnettle. The flowers of henbit are longer and more slender than those of purple deadnettle. The leaves of purple deadnettle at the apex of the stems are tinted purple and fade to green as they mature.
