Herb of the Month: Nettle

Botanical name: Urtica dioica
Common name: Stinging nettle
Taste: Green, earthy, mineral-rich
Best known for: Spring tonics, nourishment and traditional herbal support

Nettle is one of our most loved traditional British herbs. Many of us know it as the plant that stings on country walks, but once dried or carefully prepared, nettle becomes a wonderfully nourishing herb with a long history of use in herbal traditions.

Often associated with spring, nettle has traditionally been used as a cleansing, mineral-rich herb after the heaviness of winter. It has a deep green flavour and is commonly enjoyed as a herbal infusion.

Why we love it

Nettle is humble, abundant and incredibly useful. It has traditionally been used as a nourishing herb and is naturally rich in minerals including calcium and iron.

Herbalists have often turned to nettle as a seasonal tonic, particularly in spring. It is also widely used in traditional herbal practice for joints, skin and general wellbeing. More specifically, it was often traditionally used for minor rheumatic complaints and urinary flushing.

How to use nettle herb

As a tea:
Use 1–2 teaspoons of dried nettle leaf per cup. Pour over freshly boiled water, cover, and infuse for 5–10 minutes. Covering the cup helps keep the herbal aroma and beneficial plant compounds in the infusion.

As a stronger infusion:
For a deeper green, mineral-rich drink, infuse dried nettle for longer. Some people like to make a pot and sip it throughout the day.

In seasonal blends:
Nettle blends well with peppermint, lemon balm, dandelion leaf, elderflower and raspberry leaf, depending on the flavour and purpose of the blend.

As a food herb:
Young fresh nettle tops can be cooked like spinach, but they must be handled carefully and cooked properly to remove the sting. Dried nettle is an easier option for tea and herbal blends.

Try this simple nettle tea

Spring Green Nettle Infusion

• 1 teaspoon dried nettle leaf
• 1 teaspoon peppermint or lemon balm
• Freshly boiled water
• Optional: a slice of lemon or a little honey

Infuse for 5–10 minutes, strain and enjoy.

Safety notes

Nettle is generally considered safe for many people when used appropriately, but it may not be suitable for everyone. It can interact with certain medicines, including blood thinners, blood pressure medication, diuretics, diabetes medication and lithium.

People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition should seek professional advice before using nettle regularly. Guidance on nettle in pregnancy varies between herbal sources, so it is best to take a cautious, individual approach and speak with a qualified practitioner.

Shop Nettle at Faith's

Nettle is a beautiful herb to keep in the cupboard, especially for springtime herbal teas and green blends. Nettle is available as both a dried herb and a tincture, so you can choose the format that best suits you. You’ll also find nettle tucked into some lovely formulations, including Neal’s Yard Remedies Calendula & Oat Lotion, where nettle leaf extract sits alongside calendula, chickweed and oat for dry or sensitive skin. In our oragnic teabag range, look out for Hampstead Organic Matcha Green Tea & Nettle, a fresh green tea blend combining Darjeeling green tea, matcha and nettle.