Tea Journal · Herbal and caffeine free

What does nettle tea taste like, and how do you brew it?

Nettle tea is the plainest cup we sell and one of the oldest drinks in Europe. People have been drying nettles and brewing them for as long as there have been nettles. It is caffeine free, it tastes of exactly what it is, and a lot of people swear by it. Here is what to expect.

Does it sting

No. The sting is in tiny hairs on the fresh leaf that break and release their irritant when touched. Drying destroys them and so does hot water. Dried nettle leaf is as safe to handle as any other herb.

What it tastes like

Green and grassy with a soft earthy sweetness, a little like the water you cooked spinach in, but cleaner, and with a smooth, slightly savoury finish. It is not exciting and I am not going to pretend otherwise. It is a plain, honest, clean cup. Some people find that is exactly what they want.

How to brew it

One heaped teaspoon per 200ml, freshly boiled water, five minutes, covered. It does not go bitter, so a longer brew just makes it stronger. A second cup from the same leaf is fine. No milk.

Making it more interesting

A squeeze of lemon changes it completely and is how most people who drink it daily take it. A slice of fresh ginger in the mug while it brews is good. Half nettle and half peppermint is a fresher cup. A spoon of nettle in a pot of Rooibos Kalahari adds a green note under the citrus. Honey works.

What it is not

It is not a medicine and we are not going to tell you it does anything. It is a dried leaf that makes a clean, green, caffeine free drink, and if you like the taste, that is reason enough. Ours is pure nettle leaf with nothing added.