Stinging Nettles
Estimated Inventory, bunch : 10.00
This item was last sold on : 02/02/25
Description/Taste
Stinging Nettles are a single stalked, leafy herb, with small, heart-shaped leaves. The dark green leaves form in opposing pairs and have widely-toothed margins and coarse veins. Stiff, tiny hairs cover the leaves and thick, square stems of the Stinging Nettle. If handled, the tips of the tiny hairs break off and become needle-like protrusions that exude histamine and acetylcholine that can cause an itching sensation, along with redness, swelling and numbness. The reaction can last up to 48 hours in some people. Once the hairs are removed from the plant, it can be consumed. The flavor of Stinging Nettle leaves is similar to spinach.
Seasons/Availability
Stinging Nettles are available year-round in temperate climates, with a peak season in the spring and early summer months.
Current Facts
Stinging Nettles are most often considered a common weed, however, they have been used since ancient times for medicinal, culinary, and textile purposes. The leafy herb is botanically known as Urtica dioica (or the related Urtica urens) and is best known for the irritating little hairs that cover the leaves, earning its “stinging” moniker. Referred to as Common Nettle, Roman Nettle, or California Nettle, Stinging Nettles are in the Urtucaceae family, whose name comes from the Latin ‘uro’ meaning, “to burn” and is classified as an herb, but is used more like a vegetable. The versatile Stinging Nettle was used to make cloth, rope and fishing nets during World War I in Germany and Austria and in Europe is a preferred treatment for the early stages of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
