Deadnettle is non-toxic in all parts, what's more, all parts of the plant, from the roots to the flowers, are edible. Almost all year round you can collect deadnettles and put them on the table to eat.

Both the flowers and leaves of the deadnettle are edible

Eat the deadnettle leaves

The leaves of the deadnettle have a mildly spicy taste that is a little reminiscent of champagne. They can be used in many ways:

  • salad addition
  • herbal oils
  • sauces
  • Herb butter
  • tea

Blanched or lightly steamed leaves go particularly well with fish dishes. Deadnettle leaves harmonize very well with the spice saffron.

How to use the sweet flowers

Maybe you remember it from your childhood. At that time, the mostly white flowers were pulled out of the nettles and sucked out at the bottom. This gave a very pleasant sweet honey taste on the tongue.

The honey-sweet taste of the deadnettle flowers makes them a very pretty, edible decoration for wild cabbage salad or fish dishes.

Due to their sweetness, they are also very suitable for embellishing all kinds of desserts.

Collect dead nettles and use them as fresh as possible

The best collection times are March to May and September and October. Only pick those deadnettles that do not grow directly on the roadside or in occupied pastures. You should also not pick the nettles to eat along well-frequented paths through meadows and forests.

Always only pluck four to six leaves from the top plant whorl. They are the most aromatic and tender.

Deadnettles lose their aroma when stored for a long time or when dried. Gather plants you intend to eat just before using them.

Prepare deadnettle for eating

First, pick and wash the leaves and blossoms very briefly. Then dry them in a salad spinner.

The leaves are finely chopped for salads and sauces. The flowers are placed whole on the food.

Tea can be brewed from both fresh and dried herbs.

tips and tricks

The dead nettle is used in naturopathy for inflammatory diseases. It contains a number of minerals as well as essential oils, flavonoids, mucilage and tannins. Just like nettle, dead nettle has a diuretic effect.

Category:

Herbs