In our neighboring state of Washington lies one of our organic farms—650,000 acres of herbal splendor amidst an otherwise desert landscape. Thanks to the pristine Columbia River, this region has an unlimited supply of the highest quality water any agricultural operation could desire. Here, head farmer Phil has the space and resources to grow one of our most popular herbs: stinging nettle.
It takes A LOT of nettles to satisfy our customers' appetite for this nutritious herb, but luckily, our Pacific Northwest organic farmers are up to the challenge.
The beneficial health properties of nettle are prized by herbalists across the globe. Commonly sought after for its mild diuretic action, this herb is also a renowned nutritive, containing a variety of antioxidants including phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and melatonin. In fact, based on data from the USDA, nettle leaf powder is probably one of the richest sources of minerals among edible plants!
Our two organic stinging nettle varieties side by side, with brighter North American nettle at top-left and the darker green European variety at bottom-right.
We’re proud to offer two varieties in our shop—both certified organic, of course—to serve our numerous nettle-loving customers. Our European nettle leaf is darker in color and infuses into a deep green brew with a strong vegetal flavor. Our North American nettle, grown by Phil and his team in the Pacific Northwest, is lighter in color and palette. It’s also perfect for folks who prefer US-grown botanicals.
Phil’s crew plants our nettle from seeds they’ve collected themselves; only after two years of growth is the nettle considered to be at its most potent state and ready for harvest. These nettle leaves also undergo an extensive quality control process—both on the farm and at our Mountain Rose Herbs headquarters in Eugene, Oregon—to ensure they’re free from pesticides and other contaminants.
Phil's field team brings in a harvest of organic North American nettles when the plants' flavor and nutritional content are at their peak.
Organic farming isn’t easy, and weeds are plentiful. “Sometimes Mother Nature throws you curveballs,” says Phil. “That’s what I get excited about. Experimenting and studying and finding out how to do things differently.”
Versatile like spinach or kale, nettle leaves are enjoyed in culinary creations like nettle pesto, added in powdered form to smoothies, or steeped in teas (you can find it in our 21st Century blend, among many others!). One of our favorite ways to savor the light flavor of our organic North American Nettle is through a simple, mineral-rich beverage called a nourishing herbal infusion, an economical way to add extra botanical sustenance into your daily life.
Ingredients
Directions
You might also enjoy:
Topics: Our Farms, Specialty Ingredients, Tea & Herbal Drinks
Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.
In our neighboring state of Washington lies one of our organic farms—650,000 acres of herbal splendor amidst an otherwise desert landscape. Thanks to the pristine Columbia River, this region has an unlimited supply of the highest quality water any agricultural operation could desire. Here, head farmer Phil has the space and resources to grow one of our most popular herbs: stinging nettle.
It takes A LOT of nettles to satisfy our customers' appetite for this nutritious herb, but luckily, our Pacific Northwest organic farmers are up to the challenge.
The beneficial health properties of nettle are prized by herbalists across the globe. Commonly sought after for its mild diuretic action, this herb is also a renowned nutritive, containing a variety of antioxidants including phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and melatonin. In fact, based on data from the USDA, nettle leaf powder is probably one of the richest sources of minerals among edible plants!
Our two organic stinging nettle varieties side by side, with brighter North American nettle at top-left and the darker green European variety at bottom-right.
We’re proud to offer two varieties in our shop—both certified organic, of course—to serve our numerous nettle-loving customers. Our European nettle leaf is darker in color and infuses into a deep green brew with a strong vegetal flavor. Our North American nettle, grown by Phil and his team in the Pacific Northwest, is lighter in color and palette. It’s also perfect for folks who prefer US-grown botanicals.
Phil’s crew plants our nettle from seeds they’ve collected themselves; only after two years of growth is the nettle considered to be at its most potent state and ready for harvest. These nettle leaves also undergo an extensive quality control process—both on the farm and at our Mountain Rose Herbs headquarters in Eugene, Oregon—to ensure they’re free from pesticides and other contaminants.
Phil's field team brings in a harvest of organic North American nettles when the plants' flavor and nutritional content are at their peak.
Organic farming isn’t easy, and weeds are plentiful. “Sometimes Mother Nature throws you curveballs,” says Phil. “That’s what I get excited about. Experimenting and studying and finding out how to do things differently.”
Versatile like spinach or kale, nettle leaves are enjoyed in culinary creations like nettle pesto, added in powdered form to smoothies, or steeped in teas (you can find it in our 21st Century blend, among many others!). One of our favorite ways to savor the light flavor of our organic North American Nettle is through a simple, mineral-rich beverage called a nourishing herbal infusion, an economical way to add extra botanical sustenance into your daily life.
Ingredients
Directions
You might also enjoy:
Topics: Our Farms, Specialty Ingredients, Tea & Herbal Drinks
Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.
