Healthy Nettle and Mint Lemonade
This refreshing summer drink has all the health benefits of nettle and mint tea, as well as lemons because you don’t boil the lemon juice; you only add it to the warm tea.
Yesterday a new project got finished: our picnic table from old scaffolding boards.
We brought it over to the pond and enjoyed our first outdoor breakfast here.
Later when Lenja came home, she brought out all her art stuff and we began journalling at our new picnic table. The only thing that was missing was a cool refreshing drink.
Thankfully there is a patch of nettles and chocolate mint growing next to the Polytunnel, so I picked a few and brewed a strong tea from them.
Then I stirred in some honey and cooled the tea down with lots of ice cubes. I added the juice of one lemon and decorated the drink with some extra mint leaves, ice cubes and lemon slices.
A tasty and healthy drink for a hot day. I’m definitely going to make this a few more times this summer. Well, as long as I can still find young nettles that haven’t gone to seed yet.
But if I can’t find any nettles I can make an Elderflower Strawberry Drink, which is equally easy, delicious and healthy.
Nettle and Mint Lemonade
This lemonade is healthy and refreshing on a spring or early summer's day.
Ingredients
- 5 - 6 young nettle tops
- 1 sprig of mint
- 500 ml boiling water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 organic lemon
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Wash nettles and mint and place them in a sauce pan.
- Pour 500 ml of boiling water over the nettles and mint.
- Let it steep for about 20 minutes (or longer if you want) until you have a strong tea.
- Strain through a sieve and stir in the honey.
- Add the juice of 1 lemon and about 10 ice cubes to help cool the drink down. This also dilutes the lemonade and makes it less sweet.
- Decorate with extra mint leaves and lemon slices. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 glassAmount Per Serving: Calories: 48Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 5gSugar: 5gProtein: 2g
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I’m in love with nettles! To my dismay, they are not growing where I moved to recently. I thought they grow everywhere! What a disappointment that was. So this year I bought nettle seed, lol. Never thought that would be necessary to have nettles nearby. I hope they grow! I’ll save this recipe too for my nettle recipe collection! It sounds delightful!
Thank you! I also thought they grow nearly everywhere. Maybe you need to get some chickens..😂 that’s where most of our nettle patches are. Good luck with your nettle seeds. Hope you get to try the lemonade!
Wow I had no idea you can consume nettles! We have lots of stinging nettle on our property. I guess I would wear gloves to pick it? Willing to try!
Yes, I recommend wearing gloves. There is a way to hold them, so they won’t sting you, but it’s hard to explain in a post. Lol. Once you pour boiling water over them, they won’t sting anymore.
I can’t wait to try this! It will be so refreshing this summer.
I’m looking forward to making it again this spring, too!
What a great way to use nettle. I’ve heard of benefits of consuming it in regards to allergies. I wonder if the effects would carry over in tea.
Thank you! Yes, nettle is often used to support allergies because it has natural antihistamine properties. As far as I know drinking it as a tea is actually one of the most common ways to enjoy its benefits.
I mostly have dried nettle leaves, but I love to drink nettle tea, it’s super nutritious! I’m excited to branch out and try this lemonade, perfect timing for summer!
That sounds wonderful! Nettle tea is such a great way to enjoy its nutrients. I think you’ll love the lemonade. It’s so refreshing and yummy. Let me know how it turns out when you try it!