A healthy and spring drink that will refresh you during hot days. It is very easy to make, is not expensive and will not take much time.
It can probably be done by heating, but in principle, I avoid exposing plants to high temperatures due to the loss of nutrients. The less it is processed, the healthier it is.
I prevent spoilage by freezing them until use. This way, they can last a long time.
This recipe is exactly one of those summer drinks I adore. These include dandelion flower cordial and elderflower cordial, but I will share them later.
I have previously written about the benefits of nettles in my articles Stinging or Common Nettle Health Benefits and Stinging Nettle Plant and Treatment . You can read them if you are unfamiliar with what this herb can do for your health.
This recipe is prepared in the spring when nettles are young and full of nutrients. You can freeze it and have this drink throughout the summer.
- 60 pieces nettle tops freshly picked
- 4 pieces oranges
- 2 pieces lemons
- 400 grams honey or sugar
- 6 L spring water
- Wash the tops of the nettles well and drain.
- Put them in a 6-liter bottle. The opening of the bottle should be a little wider than the case so that you can put them on.
- Wash the lemons and protocols with all their peel and cut them into cubes. Add the cubes into the bottle with nettles.
- Add the honey.
- In the end, pour cold spring water and close.
- Leave to stand for 24 hours, shaking the bottle evenly.
- After that period, drain.
- Drain the orange and lemon cubes using the same drainer to use the rest of the juice and add it to previously drained liquid.
- Mix it all well and the cordial is ready.
- Do not freeze the part you are currently drinking. It should take 1 week before spoiling. Freeze the rest and take it as needed.
- Dissolve with water according to taste.
Sometimes, I make it to my taste without honey or any other sweetener. In that case, the drink does not have the same density and has the color of lemonade. And, it does not dissolve with additional water.
It is better to store it in smaller bottles so that you can freeze a smaller amount and it is more practical.
Hi, I’m really interested in making this myself one day. But I have a few questions. When I cut my oranges and lemons, do I still leave their peel on but wax them beforehand?
Also step 8, what do you mean add to previous liquid? Do you mean the liquid that you already infused or another batch you made before you started a new one?
Hi George. You leave the peel on the lemon and orange, just wash them well. You can also use baking soda when washing. In step 8, you return the squeezed liquid from the orange and lemon to the liquid that has already been obtained from the same bottle. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Have a nice day.:)
Hi Bibe!
So you mean the juice from the lemons and oranges. Once I drain the cubes I extract the remaining juice from the oranges and lemons and add it back to the cordial liquid? That makes sense now.
Yes, that’s right 🙂
Hi Bibe
I’m preparing to make this cordial very soon, I have most of stuff now all ready. But one more question, can I leave it to stand for more than just 24 hours? Would that make it a more stronger taste?
Hi Bibe I’m preparing to make this cordial very soon, I have most of stuff now all ready. But one more question, can I leave it to stand for more than just 24 hours? Would that make it a more stronger taste?
The recipe is 24 hours. But you can try, I do not believe it will do any harm.
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