14 Apr 2023

A Toast With Spring Sting Nettle Cocktail From the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book

Tagsbotanical mixed drinks, cocktail, spring sting cocktail, stinging nettle

Herbalists Jane Metzger and Amber Meyers offer up a toast in the spirit of Herbalist Day with a fun and special celebratory twist on nettle tea! This recipe is shared as a sneak peek into the Herbal Academy’s newest recipe book, the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book – a collection of 82 cocktails and mocktails inspired by the seasons. The Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book is the second installment in our Herbal Academy Recipe Book Collection and an extension of our online Botanical Mixed Drinks Workshop.

aerial shot of nettle growing outside

Nettle is the Star of the Recipe!

Nettle (Urtica dioica) is sort of like the popular, cool kid of the herbal world—here at the Herbal Academy, we *really* love nettles! Not only is its appearance a sure sign of spring, it’s also a quintessential nourishing herbal tonic that can be drunk or eaten daily. It contains a bevy of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and magnesium, as well as amino acids and flavonoids. Nettle nourishes, supports, and energizes the whole body and is richly nourishing to the blood, adrenals, and kidneys.

In addition to nourishment, nettle is also an alterative, helping to detoxify the body and is used as a spring tonic. As an alterative it can also be used for symptoms of gout, arthritis, rheumatism, eczema, and skin issues. It can be enjoyed as a nutrient-rich tea or incorporated into meals as you would any leafy green—cooking, blending, or drying nettle leaf will neutralize its infamous sting.

Herbalists make use of nettle’s antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties to ease allergic and inflammatory issues such as asthma and seasonal allergies. As a tonic for the urinary tract, nettle helps to remove metabolic waste and flush the kidneys as well as soothing conditions of the urinary system.

Join herbalists Jane Metzger and Amber Meyers in the video below as they share a sneak peek into the Herbal Academy’s Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book, the newest addition to the Botanical Recipe Book Collection.

Spring Sting, A Nettle Cocktail

Spring Sting Nettle Cocktail

Nettle is an early spring plant that is packed full of vitamins and minerals, and while we highly recommend enjoying it throughout the day as an herbal tea, feel free to reserve a bit for a refreshing afternoon delight. Enjoy this recipe as either a cocktail or a mocktail over ice in a collins glass.

This excerpt comes from the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book.

Ingredients

2 fl oz (60 mL) cooled nettle tea
2 fl oz (60 mL) vodka (omit for a mocktail and add an extra 4 fl oz (120 mL) of carbonated water)
1 fl oz (30 mL) ginger syrup
½ fl oz (15 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 fl oz (60 mL) carbonated water, chilled

Directions

Fill a collins glass half full with ice and set it aside.
To make a cocktail, combine the nettle tea, vodka, ginger syrup, and lemon juice in a glass canning jar.
To make a mocktail, combine the nettle tea, ginger syrup, and lemon juice in a glass canning jar.
Fill the jar ⅔ full of ice, cap, and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain the liquid off the ice and into the collins glass.
Top with chilled carbonated water and gently stir to combine.

Cheers This Herbalist Day!

As much as nettle, we sure do love Herbalist Day around here at the Herbal Academy. This special celebration provides us time and space to honor our unique journeys as herbalists, the herbal mentors and influencers that have helped shape our learning and experience, and the greatest teachers of all, the plants themselves.

So it is in the spirit of Herbalist Day that we toast this spring favorite nettle cocktail (or mocktail), Spring Sting, from our new Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book – a collection of 82 cocktails and mocktails inspired by the seasons. The Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book is an extension of our online Botanical Mixed Drinks Workshop, a playful, self-paced workshop covers everything you need to know about making delicious, beneficial herbal cocktails and mocktails at home (and you don’t need to drink alcohol to enjoy these recipes and techniques!). From Nettle Spring Sting to Holiday Hot Cacao to Chamomile and Elderflower Hot Toddy, it’s safe to say that herbalists know drinks—and you’ll get your hands on all of the Herbal Academy’s favorites! Discover the basics of botanical mixology, such as how to make herbal sugars and syrups, infused honeys, and herbal vinegars—and how to apply bitters and tinctures for tasty beverage mixing!

Learn more about the Botanical Mixed Drinks Workshop with recipe book here!

Happy Herbalist Day! Cheers!