Jaggy nettles

[Granny911]

I was watching a show with a top chef from Vancouver demonstrating one of his special starters/appies. I almost fell off my chair when he said the main ingredient was jaggy nettles. He went on to say he was so lucky to have someone who harvests them and brings them to him fresh as he needs them. I remember the stinging I got from jaggies on my legs so I wouldn't like to try eating them! Maybe I don't get out enough but I've never seen this on any menu has anyone else? As for his supplier, I laughed to myself and wondered, is that a sooside punter that's gave this chef the patter and is now making a few bob for himself? Sheila

[rosedoyle]

I've tried nettle tea and nettle soup, it's ok. Also, some folk swear by nettles to relieve arthritis....from one pain to another, I suppose

[amelia]

I remember about thirty years ago my sister and I and the granddaughter went a walk through Linnpark and the call of nature came to me. I looked around and no toilets were to be found so I went behind a bush and low and behold you've guessed they were jaggy nettles did I suffer?? YES
Amelia x

[DannyGill]

Hi All,
I remember the dreaded Jaggy nettles too and you would scratch your legs / arms for ages , then my Granda told me to rub a fern [?] leaf over them and the itching eased off a wee bit, or did your Ma rub calamine lotion over it to cool it doon ?

[Jimbo]

Not fern.... Dock leaf!

[DannyGill]

Not fern.... Dock leaf!

Quite right.

[Jimbo]

I have to admit though, that rubbing the stings with a Dock leaf didn't help that much in my case, even though they are reputed to contain antihistamines which are supposed to neutralize the effect of the Formic Acid in the sting!

[JosieStuksis]

Whenever any of us got stung with the jaggies our mum used to rub us down with vinegar, stunk to high heaven but it worked a treat.

[Granny911]

Don't think I'll be ever trying anything on a menu with jaggies. I remember my Gran rubbing us down with vinegar also or sometimes detol! Oh the pain from that was worse than the jaggies sting.
FAO - Amelia your stories always make me laugh, keep them coming. Sheila

[accobra]

Hello Amelia and all,

I agree dock leaves were the magic cure for "Jaggy Nettles" and wearing of short trousers did not
help when we used to run through them. However if you want to convert the Nettles to a nice
country wine try this recipe.
Collect and fill a pint jug of nettles if possible on a sunny day and cut up to about three inch
and pour boiling water over them into a large plastic bucket.< about 8 pints of boiling water>
. Add 3 pounds of sugar, half pound of raisins and juice of 3 lemons.

Allow to cool to 70 degrees F. Add activated yeast and nutrient
Cover plastic bucket with a muslin cloth and leave to to ferment for 4 days.

Strain it off the nettles and raisins into a Demijohn < 8 pint capacity and fit air lock>

When it clears and the bubbles stop decant into another demijohn and after 8 weeks syphon into
bottles and bingo you have a nice country wine.

My favourite is elderflower but you can apply the same principle to ;


Rose Petal Dandelion Tea Wine

Never had a Hang over yet !!
Good luck, Best Regards Reg