Tag: 2021_July

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World Nature Conservation Day

World Nature Conservation Day is observed on July 28 across the world to raise awareness about protecting the natural resources. Nature is facing huge problems like deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, conventional intensive farming, loss of biodiversity, pollution, etc. Everyone must promote environment-friendly activities in their daily life to lead a Green Lifestyle. Together, we can make an effective change for a cleaner, greener future where we help nature and nature helps us.

“Nature doesn’t need people – people need nature; nature would survive the extinction of the human being and go on just fine, but human culture, human beings, cannot survive without nature.” ~ Harrison Ford

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a very popular herbal ingredient in natural cosmetics. It contains a lot of minerals and vitamins (A and E) that are essential in the health of the skin, hair and nails. You can find nettle soap, nettle shampoo, nettle face mask, and even nettle nail oil in the natural cosmetic market. The internet is filled with homemade nettle product recipes if you want to make your own beauty care products. You can reduce your ecological footprint if you reduce your artificial, unhealthy chemicals that would harm the environment. With this, you lower your plastic waste too!

There is a complicated connection net between species – an ecological interdependence. Nettle supports over 100 species of insects, including butterflies and moths as a food source. Sir David Attenborough has called on gardeners to plant a wild flower meadow and cultivate a nettle patch to help butterflies struggling to survive the wet summer in the UK.

Nettle is among the major sources of green plant material consumed in the field by the snails. They all know that nettle is tasty and full of nutrients. The presence of stinging fibers on nettle acts as a defense against many grazing animals, creating a comfortable habitat for our beneficial friends, some of whom are pollinators. The community of organisms depending on nettle is very large. Just think of all the predatory insects, spiders, amphibians and birds which take advantage of this feast.

Let’s plant nettle in our gardens to help nature!

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Nettle Cheeses

20 July International Cheese Day

“Blessed be the cheesemakers, for they shall inherit the earth!” ~ Life of Brian

There are lots of types of cheese in the market and the cheese making businesses are blooming worldwide. The biggest cheese consumer countries are in Europe, in addition the tradition of cheese making as well a part of many European cultures.

Did you know that nettle is essential in many cheeses?

There are some award winner cheeses – lots of them from the UK – that contain nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves, but nettle is more common in other not specifically nettle cheeses too. Why?

Cheese makers use nettle in the coagulation process of milk. The chemical content found in nettle is used to acidify the milk and lower its pH in order to make the curd, separating solid and fluid fraction of milk. Using nettle rennet is an ancient form of milk coagulation. It’s simple to make, easy to use and a great vegetarian alternative to animal-derived rennet. 

There are two main types of rennet: animal and plant based rennet. The primary enzyme (chymosin) in animal rennet is collected from the lining of the fourth stomach of a newborn calf. The enzyme is produced there to help baby cows digest milk. It can be a problem for vegetarians. That is why the use of ancient nettle rennet is coming back. When this type of rennet is used, it makes the cheese vegetarian.

Let’s see some nettle cheeses that worth mentioning:

Cornish Yarg Cheese is wrapped in nettle leaves and allowed to age about 6 weeks, which will result a semi hard cheese made from grass rich Cornish milk. The cheeses are sold still wrapped in the nettle leaves, under which the crust of the cheese is green with grey, white or green mould. Inside, the pale yellow cheese is creamy under the crust, firm towards the middle, and slightly crumbly in the middle. The crust is edible. The cheese has a slightly lemony taste.

Northumberland Nettle Cheese is made with cows’ milk with the addition of real nettles. It is made with vegetarian rennet, and the addition of nettles encourages the beautiful creaminess of the Gouda-influenced cheese. This cheese is matured for 3 months which allows the subtle flavor to develop. It’s fabulous with courgette on a vegetarian pizza!

Teifi Nettle Cheese is made with nettles that are added during the cheese making process. The nettle has a light herby and distinct flavor that makes it a very unique cheese. This award-winning artisan cheese is made from the finest organic raw milk.

Happy International Cheese Day!

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Nettle for Athletes

23 July 2021 Olympic Games 2020

Games of the XXXII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 2020, is an upcoming international multi-sport event. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

For many athletes, energy ebbs and flows. Some days you’re feeling on top of your game, but others you’re barely limping along. That’s pretty normal for most people, but athletes notice it more keenly because it can dramatically change their performance.

Athletes are among the heaviest users of complementary and alternative medicine. Unlike non-athletes, athletes may use it not just for prevention, treatment or rehabilitation from illness or injuries, but also for performance enhancement. 

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is the best friend of athletes. It is used for joint ailments, osteoarthritis (OA), musculoskeletal aches and pains. Nettle is a good blood purification, wound healer herb and a general tonic. Above all, a tasty food ingredient filled with essential nutrients.

Do you want the same health and energy as athletes have? Try this daily infusion to support your training and your life. Whether you make it a hot tea or a cold summer beverage, it will help you detoxify the body, help reduce inflammation all the while improving your energy levels.

Ingredients:

  • 1 part dried nettle 
  • 1 part dried oatstraw 
  • 1 part dried raspberry leaf 
  • 1/2 part dried rose hips or hibiscus 
  • 1/2 part dried tulsi (holy basil) leaf

Blend all herbs and store them in an airtight container. Be sure to label your blend. 

For a cup of tea, use 2 tablespoons of herb in a cup (250 ml) of water. Let the herbs steep in the water for 20 minutes if the water was hot or several hours if it was cold. Strain and enjoy.

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Nettle Ice Tea

If you are still looking for the perfect beverage to drink on hot summer days, this nettle-fennel iced tea recipe is for you.

Ingredients:

  • 1 litre water
  • 3 tablespoon dried nettle
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh fennel (bulb or fronds)
  • 4 sprigs fresh mint
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preparation:

Heat the water in a pot, bring it to a boil, then remove from the stove. Add nettle to the pot and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Add fennel and mint, stir in the honey. Cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Filter your tea, strain into a pitcher, and stir in the lemon juice. Serve over ice.

Enjoy!