2. Nettle Syrup with Lemon and Honey
Ingredients
- Fresh Young Nettle Leaves – 300-500 g
- Lemon Juice- 6 large lemons
- Sugar- 800 g
- Clover Honey- 5 spoonful
- Filtered Water- 1 liter
Instructions
Tip: If you do not want to add this much sugar, you can replace about 300 grams of it with 1 kg of honey.
Start with the sugar syrup by pouring water into the saucepan and adding sugar; you can use half brown and half white sugar. Now, put the mixture on the stove and let it boil. Stir it occasionally and if foam gathers on the surface, remove it using a spoon. Once boiled, let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Secondly, wash and cut your nettle leaves and put them in the bowl along with the sugar syrup. Cover the bowl with a small plate and press it with the help of a glass jar or a cup.
Let it cool down by leaving it there for 10 minutes, and then add lemon juice and honey. This time you’ll be able to use your hands for a better squeeze in order to separate the nettle leaves and syrup. Once you get the syrup filter it through sieve, if required (if you really want it clear).
At last, pour the syrup in sterilized bottles. Keeping them tightly shut, place the bottles in cold and dark place.
Juice is made by mixing ¼ cup syrup with ¾ cup of water. The syrup lasts for up to 6 months.
Ingredient Breakdown
Nettle Leaves are known for their anti-inflammatory properties which can help against rheumatoid arthritis. The herb can also be used as natural remedy for various other ailments. They also promote survival of brain cells as shown in this study.
Honey, like nettle leaves, also offer a range of benefits to our body due to its unique composition of enzymes, amino acids, trace elements and others.
Lemon contains phytochemicals that help fight against cancer. In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, lemons were found to inhibit liver-cancer cell growth.