The fresh nettle plants have very little natural aroma, even when they’re flowering in the ditches by my house. This tea, however, has a strong aroma. Dry, the nettle sachet smells sweet, slightly herby and grassy with a liquorice edge to it. These notes come together to create nettle – that’s the best way I can describe it.
Once the water hits the tea sachet, it instantly turns a very pretty and pale yellow-green colour. As it brews it slowly turns a dark brown green. It’s like watching green tea oxidise when it’s left sitting in your mug, but on fast forward. Although the colour isn’t appealing the tea ‘soup’ is very clear.
It takes on a spearmint quality when hot and musty, woody notes start to appear in the aroma. The flavour is warming and herbal with a spearmint edge (without the menthol) and liquorice sweetness. The flavour is strong! It’s fresh and earthy and flavourful.
Even though the flavour isn’t something I particularly enjoy, I can tell that the nettle is fresh, well-preserved and well-packaged.