Nettle Infused Honey

Savor the Natural Goodness of Nettle Infused Honey

I remember when I was a kid and foraged for stinging nettle. Meadows were full of fresh, super nutritious stems and nettle leaves. They were tricky to forage, but that was also all teh fun for us kids. What can you do with them? 

One of the easiest things you can make for yourself and your loved ones is strengthening Nettle honey at the very beginning of spring. Nettle, at this time of year, is a fantastic source of nutrition for us. It has a wide range of effects on the body and health.

Health benefits of nettle.

Nettle contains folic acid, iron, vitamins C, A, B, K, and silicon. These are just a few of its priceless ingredients that strengthen, cleanse and regenerate our bodies. A large amount of chlorophyll contained in nettle leaves prevents anemia. Nettle is great for kidneys and urinary tract infections. 

Nettle also contains mineral salts and microelements, such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Nettle leaf extract and infusions made from it help get rid of toxins from the body, facilitate digestion, and soothe ailments associated with inflammation of the digestive tract. 

What is nettle, honey?

It is a combination of the amazing health properties of honey and nettle. Nettle honey is usually made by mixing freshly squeezed nettle juice with honey in the following ratio:

1 part freshly squeezed nettle juice + 4 parts honey

You can also make dried nettle herbs to infuse the honey.

My nettle honey

Ingredients:

• 1/4 or 1/2 cup of young nettle (stems and leaves) – collected from a clean place, away from streets and buildings, preferably away from the city
• 1/2 or 3/4 cup of good quality honey (raw, local honey is best)

Instructions:

Put the nettle in a colander and pour boiling water over the young nettle (SO THAT IT DOES NOT BURN).

Cool the nettle, rinse and dry it well, and THOROUGHLY with a paper towel or a kitchen towel.

When the nettle is completely dry, transfer it to a blender and add honey. Blend it, and voila! All ready to go.

Note that – if the nettle is very young and delicate and it does not burn yet, you do not need to pour boiling water over it – you can mix it completely raw.

Pour the nettle, honey, into a dry mason jar.

Store in the dark and cool cabinet. Honey itself is a preservative.

The method with using dried nettle.

Mixing the honey with dried herbs can be tricky because they hold onto the air. The herbs are light and will float on top of the honey for the first couple of days. All you have to do is put the ingredients in the bottom of the mason jar and top it with honey. Use a wooden spoon handle to stir the honey into the herbs. Wait a few minutes, repeat the process, and add more honey. Continue with this method until you add the total amount of honey, then close the jar and place it in a warm place in the kitchen. 

Turn the jar on its end every few days, ensuring the honey stays mixed with the herbs and seeps into them. Over time, the herbs should stop sitting on top of the honey.

Let your mixture infuse for 2-3 weeks, longer if you want a more robust flavor.

When the honey is ready to use, place the jar of honey and herbs in a container full of hot water for five to ten minutes. Gently warming the honey first makes it easier for the honey to drain off of the herbs. Strain the honey into a clean mason jar using a fine mesh strainer. Let the mixture sit for ten minutes to give the honey time to drain.

How to use Nettle honey?

For children 1-2 teaspoons a day.

For adults, 1-2 tablespoons a day.

You can eat it alone or add it to drinks, but watch out for its temperature – if the water is too hot, it can kill honey’s nutritional value.

Combining honey and nettle makes a real, natural health super bomb!

What can nettle do?

• Strengthens the immune system
• Stimulates the process of destroying pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 
• It supports the production of T-lymphocytes in the body – cells that produce antibodies.
• Cleanse, heals, and protect the kidneys. Nettle has been used for centuries to cleanse and treat kidney stones or inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract. Nettle is recommended for people with high blood pressure who are at increased risk of kidney damage – nettle has a protective effect on them.
• Is a perfect cure for anemia. Nettle has always been given to convalescents, people who are weak and suffering from anemia. It contains an ideal and unique combination of ingredients: folic acid, iron, copper, and vitamin K – components involved in forming red blood cells and hemoglobin.
• Help detoxification process. It cleanses the body from chemicals, uric acid, and all toxins! Uric acid, deposited in the joints, causes inflammation, severe pain, and swelling. Nettle supports the removal of uric acid. 
• It helps heal rheumatoid arthritis. In ancient Rome, nettle was used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, rheumatic fever, and all joint pains. Nowadays, a large-scale study has been carried out involving 10,000 patients suffering from chronic rheumatic pain. Each of the examined persons received a daily portion of nettle extract (water-alcoholic), corresponding to 9.64 g of dried nettle. It turned out that as many as 95% of the people surveyed reported a significant improvement in their health and well-being. 
• It cleanses and supports the regeneration of the liver. French experts prove that nettle gives excellent results in case of liver damage, e.g., by any chemical substances. It also treats liver poisoning.
• It supports the treatment of allergies. Nettle has anti-allergic properties and relieves hay fever symptoms. This is probably due to flavonoids, which have an antihistamine effect. It is also influenced by the immunomodulating effect of stinging nettle.
• It strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis. Nettle contains a lot of calcium and silicon that are well absorbed by the human body. This mixture makes nettle a remedy for all bone problems, makes them stronger, heals faster, and renews joint cartilage.
• Prolongs youth. Nettle contains a lot of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals responsible for the degeneration of the body (aging) and many diseases, including heart and circulatory system diseases, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, eye diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc. These valuable antioxidants include vitamins C, and E, folic acid, and carotene. 
• Eliminates swelling and removes excess water from the body. Nettle effectively helps to decrease swelling because it has a slight diuretic effect and improves kidney function.

Yum