Stinging nettle has many healthy properties. The best time to harvest nettle seeds is through November. They contain iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins A, B, C, E, and protein. IMAGE: AlteWaldhexe for Pixabay
How to harvest nettle seeds
Among native wild herbs, stinging nettle is one with the most healthy ingredients. While you can use the leaves in the spring and summer (e.g., in tea or in food), the seeds are ready to be harvested now. When collecting the seeds, look for them to be yellow in color. This is a sign that they are ripe. They are easy to remove from the strands.
You can dry the seeds on a kitchen towel or in the oven and put them in a screw-top jar. Dried, they will keep for about a year.
Health benefits of nettle seeds
They are a home remedy for
- fatigue
- Poor performance
- Gout and rheumatism
- high blood pressure
- Digestive problems
Using nettle seeds
Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Hotel Klosterbräu, uses both stinging nettles and seeds in their regional cuisine and told us a few things about how to use them:
- You can pound fresh nettle seeds with a food processor or mortar and eat them with cereal or salad. (Fresh seeds will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.)
- The dried seeds can be ground and used in soups and vegetable dishes. They are also great in smoothies or homemade energy bars.
Interested in using other wild herbs in your kitchen? Check out the following blog post for more information and recipes:
Loading...
