Super healthy and fresh strawberry nettle iced tea! Naturally sweetened with strawberries, this nettle iced tea is full of vitamins and nutrients and tastes fantastic!
Yep yep. You read that right. Fruity iced tea made with STINGING NETTLES! EGADS! Don't be scared my friends. This tea is like a friggin miracle worker. And tastes just like strawberry juice. Also, I promise no stinging tongues mmmmmkay?
Now in my 27th week of pregnancy, I've still got a ways to go before I can regularly eat sugar and processed carbs again. If you've been following along, you know that I am following a low glycemic index diet in the second half of my pregnancy. It's my attempt at avoiding gestational diabetetes, cause, you know, that would really blow.
The sun has been shining around these parts, and I've been REALLY craving some awesome summertime drinks. Pina colada. A beersicle. Um..... some sangria would make me one happy lady! I have to get creative this year though, as sugar is a big fatty no-no for me right now (and, ahem, alcohol). Enter, the amazing strawberry.
Strawberries TOTALLY sweeten this tea! Without any added sugar! It seriously tastes just like strawberry juice. Not too sweet, not too tart, just...... really really delicious.
So, I'm no doc, but I know that drinking nettle leaf tea in pregnancy can be pretty controversial. It's one of those things that people either warn you about, or urge you to make a regular part of your diet. For me, the pros of nettle tea outweigh the cons during pregnancy. If you'd like to read a few of the benefits and warnings, Livestrong's got ya covered.
I am mainly drinking it for it's positive effect on glucose levels, and natural anti-histamine abilities. WORK IT NETTLES!
- 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 6 cups water
- 2 Tbsp dried nettle leaf
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Combine the strawberry slices, vanilla, and the water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
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Remove from heat and stir in the dried nettle leaf. Let steep for 10 minutes.
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Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.
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Let cool, then refrigerate until cold. Serve with ice.
Alright, how many of you drink nettle tea? I'd love to hear some other ways to enjoy nettle leaf in my pregnancy! Or maybe some other great warm weather, healthy drinks!
Trish
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Colette
My Granny was a big fan of nettle tea. She could pull a handful of nettles without getting stung! A hardy, country girl always! She lived to be 102! So I'd say stick with the nettles ?
Patricia Bozeman
Hi Colette! Wow, that is impressive! I love nettle tea, although I haven't foraged any myself haha.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
back home, i know some people ate nettle leaves but didnt even know it was a thing here until few years ago. i have yet to come across some here in dallas..and in no way i would have thought to make tea with it. this sounds super delicious although i have never eaten nettle leaves before.
Patricia Bozeman
I was able to find dried nettle leaves in the bulk tea section of a fancy grocery store here in Seattle. You should give it a try!
Anne
Sounds delicious!
So - dried nettle? Fresh nettle turned up at the farmer's market last week, so I was wondering if this was a way to use that - but dried is certainly much more readily available (and *so* much easier to use!)
Patricia Bozeman
I haven't used fresh nettle yet. I'm sure it would work just fine, you might just need to adjust the quantity of the leaves.
Georgina Ingham | Culinary Travels
I have drunk nettle tea a few times but mostly the teabag variety. I've never made my own but this version looks delicious so I'll pin it to try later when strawberries are in season here.
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Georgina! Let me know what you think!
Esther m
Thank you for this recipe! I made this with strawberries and blackberries. I am 37 weeks pregnant, vegetarian and trying to up my iron levels this week. This is perfect! Made a big jar for the week 🙂
Patricia Bozeman
Awesome! So glad to hear it! I've been using raspberry and strawberry leaf too, and absolutely love them. So happy you weren't afraid to try out the nettles!
Jessica {Swanky Recipes}
I'm a big tea drinker and this sounds so refreshing right now. I might just need to make this for Mother's Day!
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Jessica! Let me know if you try it out!
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen (@BobbisKozyKtchn)
I think it is wonderful that you are being proactive to avoid GD. I was clueless about it and ended up miserable. This tea sounds AH-mazing. A must have this summer 🙂
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Bobbi! It's definitely a pain in the butt diet, but it's only temporary right??!! 🙂
Meeta
A really refreshing and fun summer drink! Here in Germany nettles are often used in teas and salads ... they are just a pain to forrage 🙂
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Meeta! I am not brave enough to forage them myself! ha!
Kitchen Dreaming
I've never tried nettle tea but this has me so inclined as to find where I might purchase a small amount to try it! Good luck in the last few weeks of your pregnancy. I'm sure you are looking forward to your new little bundle (and some sugar and carbs!). Be well.
Patricia Bozeman
You can find it at tea shops or at fancy grocery stores, like Whole Foods. Thanks so much, and I am definitely looking forward to eating sugar and carbs soon! 🙂
Diana
Summer is almost here and this drink sounds very refreshing! I really want a glass of this right now!:)
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Diana!
Mica @ Let's Taco Bout It Blog
Never tried to make tea with nettle leaves. This will be very interesting! Love your photos!
Patricia Bozeman
Thanks Mica! You should give it a try!
Wandercooks
The only time I've ever tried stinging nettles was in Scotland when a friend picked some and made me try it - I don't know if it was a special variety or what was going on, but thankfully it just had a nice little tingle sensation and subtle flavour! I'm super keen to get a bit more adventurous with it though, and this sounds like the most delicious way haha. Thanks! And all the best for this stage of your pregnancy! 🙂 x
Patricia Bozeman
Wow, that sounds awesome! I'd love to drink fresh nettle tea in Scotland! I just use the dried nettle leaves you can find at a tea store or fancy grocery store. Not ballsy enough to go foraging myself. Ha!
Lucy
This looks super delicious and healthy! I'm with you--it can be hard to find fun drinks to have during pregnancy that aren't too sweet. Can't wait to try this!
Patricia Bozeman
I know! It seems like everything is soda! Let me know if you try this out, Lucy. 🙂
Raquel @ My California Roots
I crashed my bike into a pile of stinging nettles last week.... so I'm not too inclined to drink them right now. But This sounds like it would be amazing without, so I think I'll go that route!
Patricia Bozeman
ACK! The sting totally blows! You could give this a go with a different mild herbal tea. I've been meaning to try raspberry leaf. 🙂