We Love This (Wild-Foraged) Detox Tea

Using as many fresh ingredients as possible, we designed a custom “Detox Tea” to help you start your New Year off right. I foraged the stinging nettle– which is a known anti-allergen– outside in the cold environs of Germany this December, when it was still growing. I got ginger, lemon grass, mint, and the green tea (which is also known as “Chinese Gunpowder”) from the Asian market near my home in Berlin. The melissa came from the drug store, but depending on where you are in the world you might be able to find it locally!

Stinging Nettle and Green Tea help detoxify the digestive system while giving you a boost of antioxidants; ginger, a digestif, helps stimulate the stomach and improve its function.

Together, these ingredients make a wonderful detox tea, which both helps eliminate impurities from the body AND cleanse the system. Stinging Nettle and Green Tea help detoxify the digestive system while giving you a boost of antioxidants; ginger, a digestif, helps stimulate the stomach and improve its function. The lemon grass, mint and melissa also aid digestion while adding a flavor that compliments the other ingredients.

Ingredients

• Melissa
• Mint
• Stinging Nettles
• Lemon
• Fresh Ginger

Method

First, pluck off the leaves of the stinging nettle and the mint, and peel the ginger. Then, chop everything and mix it together in a bowl. What you don’t use in the first go-around can be dried on natural paper on a radiator for later use.

Steep the infusion in a tea infuser (we prefer stainless steel because it is a material that doesn’t leech toxins, unlike plastic) in slightly-cooled previously-boiled water. (Tea should never be infused directly into boiling water as the harsh temperatures can scald the tea, which makes it bitter and also decreases the nutrient load.) Steep for 3-5 minutes (or up to 8 minutes for a more medicinal grade) and be sure to compost the used herbs. Enjoy hot, or refrigerate for a refreshing twist on a classic, cold iced tea!