Urtica dioica is an herbaceous perennial in the Urticaceae family. The plant is known as “stinging nettle” because of its hollow hairs (tricomes) on the leaves and stem that cause a stinging sensation upon contact. Originally native to Europe, nettles can now be found worldwide in wet environments and moist soils. Our organic nettle leaf is harvested from large, deep-rooted stands in Europe and infuses into a tea that is dark and rich in flavor. Nettle leaves are harvested in the spring, once the plant has had time to mature but before it goes into flower. The leaves can be steeped as nettle tea, incorporated into herbal infusion blends, and added to soups and broths.
Nettle has been used worldwide for centuries in a variety of countries and cultures. It has been eaten as a wild food plant, applied topically to the skin, and drunk as an herbal tea. It was used extensively for its fibers and was woven into cloth. Nettle fibers were considered to be high quality and comparable to flax or hemp in Northern Europe.
Nettle supports healthy urinary function and has mild diuretic action and helps to maintain upper respiratory health.*
Our European nettle leaf is collected from long standing organic populations. When steeped as tea, it has a lovely amber hue and a rich vegetal flavor. If you prefer a lighter flavored nettle leaf, our organic North American nettle will be the perfect fit.
Nettle is a dioecious, herbaceous, perennial plant. The soft, green leaves are borne oppositely on an erect, wiry, green stem and have a strongly serrated margin. The leaves and stems are very hairy with nonstinging hairs, and, in most subspecies, also bear many stinging hairs (trichomes), whose tips come off when touched, causing paresthesia. Urtica dioica belongs to the Urticaceae family.
