Stinging Nettle Infusion

1 ounce dried stinging nettle
1 quart boiling water

Place nettle in a quart-sized canning jar. Pour water over the herb (you won’t be able to get all of the water into the jar because the herb will take up some room). Stir the herb to get the air bubbles out. There will now be room to pour some more water in. Put a tight lid on the jar and let it steep for a minimum of 4 hours. I make it in the evening and let it steep all night. The next morning, strain out the plant material and remove it. Squeeze any liquid from the plant material back into the jar. Give the plant material back to the earth. The liquid, which is the infusion, can be strained into another quart jar. You can drink it at room temperature, heat it up or ice it. You can put honey, milk or salt in it. One of my students even put her husband’s instant coffee in it to get him to drink it. Refrigerate what you do not drink.