Now that it is almost in the middle of March, our property in west Georgia is adding more colors (finally!). Daffodils are blooming, and so are a lot of weeds in our property – purple, yellow, and white! Until recently, I didn’t realize that some of these common weeds are edible and offer some health benefits! One of them I see quite a bit in our property now is purple dead nettle (Lamium Purpureum). So, I decided to make tea out of them.
Purple dead nettle is in a mint family. It has square stems and leaves alternate. The leaves are green, but the top is purple-ish and pointy. It has small purple flowers. I am sure you have seen them before. There is a similar one called Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). They look alike, but they are two different species. Henbit does not have pointy leaves, and they don’t alternate.
When I went to my garden to pick some, there were bees all around it. I usually leave weeds in my garden’s pathway and other areas on our property for this reason. They need to eat, too. I also let some of my vegetables bolt. Because of some extreme temperatures this winter, some Japanese greens are already bolting. There were bees all around my Komatsuna and Kakina flowers.
Going back to the purple dead nettle, I just grabbed 2 tbsp worth of plants, boiled water, and steeped for about 5 min. It didn’t change colors much. The smell? Very earthy or grassy, which I am not a big fan of. When I had a sip, it was the same – very earthy. A bit too much for me.
You might ask, what are some of the health benefits? It looks like there are some good benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and immune support. If you are trying it, it might be a good idea to check with your doctor first. Some herbs cause adverse effects to some especially if you have existing health issues or taking prescription medications.
Am I going to make purple dead nettle tea again? Probably not. I prefer less earthy-testing teas. I may dry them and try again if earthiness diminishes.
Now is a good time to look around you and see what’s flowering. They are the first sign of spring! There may be edible weeds in your garden, and even if not, they are for sure pretty to look at.
Have you tried purple dead nettle before? Do you have any recipes you recommend using purple dead nettle? Please post it in the comments section!
Happy Gardening!