Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a leafy plant with a vegetal taste, a dried-hay aroma and a drying finish, used in herbal tea blends, soups, broths and seasoning mixes. At Austral Herbs, we supply certified organic and wildcrafted nettle leaf plus nettle root, in whole leaf, teabag cut, crushed and powder variants, in pack sizes from 250g to 10kg.
Nettle
Key Takeaways
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Botanical Note: Urtica dioica. "Dioica" means "two houses," since nettle grows as separate male and female plants.
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Native Range: Grows wild across Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa.
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Available Variants: Whole leaf, crushed, teabag cut, powder and root, across wildcrafted and certified organic grades.
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Traditional Use: Naturally contains vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll, and has traditionally been used in infusions, soups and spring tonics across European and Asian herbal practice, though evidence for specific effects remains limited or mixed[1].
Nettle Specifications & Characteristics
| Attribute | Details |
| Botanical Name | Urtica dioica (family Urticaceae) |
| Common Name | Nettle, also called stinging nettle or common nettle |
| Plant Part | Leaf and Root |
| Available Variants | Whole leaf, teabag cut, crushed, powder and dried root, in certified organic and wildcrafted options |
| Flavour Profile | Vegetal and savoury, with a mineral edge, mild bitterness and a drying, tannic finish |
| Aroma | Dried hay and green tea, with a faint fresh-cut grass note |
| Typical Applications | Herbal tea and infusion blending, soups, broths and pesto, food and beverage manufacturing, naturopathic dispensing, feed premixes |
| Certifications | Certified Organic (ACO) on the organic range, processed in a HACCP-certified facility; the range also includes wildcrafted, non-certified variants. |
| Pack Sizes | 250g, 500g, 1kg, 5kg, 10kg |
What is Nettle?
Nettle is a tall, upright plant that regrows each year, with serrated, heart-shaped leaves and fine hairs along the stems and leaf undersides. It's native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa. Dried and cut for supply, the leaf is a deep green with a vegetal taste and a drying finish.
Traditionally, young nettle leaves have been dried or briefly cooked before being used in infusions, soups and herbal preparations across European and Asian traditions, where they have been valued as a source of everyday nourishment[1]. While fresh nettle leaves and stems can cause a stinging sensation on contact, the plant's characteristic sting is not present in properly dried leaf. Drying helps break down the compounds responsible for this reaction, making dried nettle suitable for handling and use in teas, blends and botanical preparations.
At Austral Herbs, we supply nettle in a range of formats to suit different applications. Our organic nettle is ACO-certified, and our products are processed in a HACCP-certified facility, without added preservatives or synthetic agricultural chemicals. If you're weighing up grades, our guide to tea leaf gradings explains how cut size and plant parts can influence the final infusion.
Traditional Uses of Nettle
Nettle has been valued in traditional herbal practices for centuries, with its leaves naturally containing a range of nutrients and plant compounds.
Nutrient Density
Dried nettle leaf naturally contains vitamins, minerals such as iron and calcium, chlorophyll and dietary fibre[1]. Its mineral content has contributed to nettle's traditional use as a spring tonic in European folk practices, where it was incorporated into the diet following winter. This reflects historical use rather than established health effects.
Traditional Wellness Use
Nettle leaf has traditionally been used in herbal infusions and tonic blends across European and Australian herbal practices[2]. It is generally used as an everyday botanical rather than a targeted herbal remedy, although evidence supporting specific health effects remains limited and mixed.
Antioxidant Properties
Nettle leaf contains naturally occurring polyphenols and flavonoids, which have been studied for their antioxidant activity[3]. These compounds are naturally present in the leaf, although research into their specific effects remains limited.
This information is provided for historical/traditional context only and does not constitute a therapeutic claim about our ingredients.
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, we recommend speaking with a qualified healthcare professional before adding nettle to your routine.
What Industries Can Nettle Be Used In?
Nettle is a versatile botanical used across tea, food and beverage manufacturing, wellness, naturopathy and culinary applications. The appropriate format can vary depending on the finished product, processing method and desired texture or flavour.
Nettle leaf is commonly used as a base botanical in caffeine-free herbal tea blends, either on its own or combined with other herbs. Its earthy, leafy flavour pairs well with botanicals such as peppermint, chamomile and rosehip. Cut nettle leaf is suited to loose-leaf teas and teabag blends, with finer cuts available for applications requiring more consistent distribution.
Check out our guide to crafting teas for more information.
Nettle leaf and powder can be incorporated into products such as pasta, crackers, seasoning blends, savoury mixes and snack products. Nettle powder is particularly useful where a finer ingredient is preferred for blending into dry formulations, doughs or other recipes. Cut leaves can be used where a more visible botanical component is desired.
When sourcing nettle for food manufacturing, factors such as particle size, moisture, colour, certification and batch consistency can be important depending on the application.
Nettle can be incorporated into a variety of culinary preparations, including soups, broths, stocks, sauces, pasta and savoury blends. Cut leaf can be used in recipes where a more substantial botanical texture is preferred, while powder is suited to doughs, sauces, seasonings and other applications requiring a finer ingredient. Nettle's earthy, vegetal flavour pairs well with ingredients such as garlic, herbs, legumes and other leafy botanicals, making it suitable for both savoury recipes and herbal culinary blends.
Nettle can be used in herbal infusions and a range of beverage formulations, including botanical teas and non-alcoholic drinks. Cut leaf is suitable for infusion and extraction applications, while powder can be used for formulations where a finer botanical ingredient is preferred.
For beverage manufacturers, botanical format, particle size, moisture and extraction requirements are useful specifications to consider when selecting a dried herb supplier. Our guide to sourcing quality dried herbs for beverage manufacturers covers the key specifications to consider when purchasing dried botanicals.
Nettle has a long history of use in traditional herbal practices and is commonly included in herbal infusions, practitioner blends and loose-herb formulations. For practitioners and wellness businesses, certified organic nettle can provide an option where organic certification is part of their sourcing requirements. Our organic nettle is ACO-certified and processed in a HACCP-certified facility.
Shop Our Nettle Collection
Our nettle collection includes a range of leaf and root formats, from whole dried leaf through to teabag cut and powder. The right variant depends on how you plan to use the botanical, whether you're preparing herbal teas, developing food and beverage products, or working with nettle in a practitioner or culinary setting.
Nettle Leaf
Our wildcrafted nettle leaf is cut to 4–10mm, making it well suited to herbal infusions, culinary applications and larger batch preparations where a coarser cut is preferred. The larger pieces can also be useful where the botanical needs to be easily separated from the finished preparation.
Nettle Leaf Organic
Our whole organic nettle leaf is ACO-certified and supplied uncut, giving you greater control over how the botanical is prepared for your application. It is particularly suited to businesses that require certified organic ingredients or prefer to control the final cut size themselves. Whole leaf can be used in herbal infusions, loose-leaf blends and culinary preparations.
Nettle Leaf CRUSHED Organic
Our crushed organic nettle leaf is ACO-certified and cut to 4–10mm. This intermediate cut is suited to loose-leaf tea blends, herbal infusions and applications where a smaller, more consistent leaf size is preferred. It can also be a practical option when a faster infusion is desired than with whole leaf.
Nettle Leaf TBC Organic
Our organic teabag cut nettle leaf is ACO-certified and cut to 1–2mm. The finer cut is suited to tea manufacturers producing teabags and other infusion products where consistent particle size is important. It can also be used in finer herbal tea blends where a smaller botanical cut is preferred.
Wildcrafted Nettle Leaf - Teabag Cut
Our wildcrafted teabag cut nettle leaf is milled to a fine 1–2mm specification and is suited to tea manufacturers looking for a wildcrafted alternative to certified organic nettle. The fine cut makes it suitable for teabag and infusion applications where consistent distribution is important.
Nettle Leaf Powder
Our wildcrafted nettle leaf powder is finely milled for applications where a whole or cut botanical is not required. It is suited to dry blends, food formulations, beverage mixes and other products where nettle needs to be incorporated directly into the finished product rather than steeped as an infusion.
Nettle Leaf Organic Powder
Our organic nettle leaf powder provides the same fine format with ACO certification. It is suited to organic food and beverage formulations, dry blends and other applications where a certified organic powdered botanical is required.
Nettle Root
Nettle root is a separate botanical from nettle leaf, with a lighter brown colour, milder flavour and 4–10mm cut. It is traditionally used differently from nettle leaf and is suited to herbal infusions, botanical blends and formulations specifically calling for nettle root.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dried nettle leaf still sting?
No. The stinging sensation associated with fresh nettle comes from compounds in the plant's fine hairs. These are reduced through drying, so dried nettle leaf can be handled and used in teas, blends and food preparations without the characteristic sting of fresh nettle.
Can you eat nettle raw, or does it have to be dried or cooked first?
Fresh nettle should not be consumed raw due to its stinging hairs. Traditionally, nettle has been prepared by drying, blanching or cooking before use in foods and herbal preparations. Dried nettle leaf is commonly used in teas, infusions and botanical blends.
What is the difference between nettle leaf and nettle root?
Nettle leaf and nettle root are different parts of the same plant and are used differently in herbal and botanical applications. Nettle leaf is commonly used in teas, infusions, culinary preparations and botanical blends, while nettle root is typically selected for formulations that specifically call for the root. If your formulation specifies nettle leaf or nettle root, it is important to select the corresponding botanical.
Is nettle tea caffeine-free?
Yes. Nettle is not a tea plant and nettle leaf is naturally caffeine-free. An infusion made solely from nettle leaf is therefore caffeine-free. If nettle is blended with caffeinated teas such as black tea or green tea, the finished blend will contain caffeine from those ingredients.
Why Choose Austral Herbs for Nettle?
Austral Herbs has supplied dried botanicals to Australian businesses since 1996, with a range of conventional and certified organic ingredients for tea, food, beverage and botanical applications. Our nettle range includes dried nettle leaf in cut and powder formats. The cut leaf is suited to teas, infusions and botanical blends, while the powder is milled for dry blending and formulation.
Our nettle is sourced through established supplier networks and processed in a HACCP-certified facility, with organic options certified by ACO. Available in a range of pack sizes, our nettle products are suitable for businesses looking to source consistent botanical ingredients from an established Australian supplier.
Pairs Well With
Nettle has a mild, earthy character that works well as a base for blending with other botanicals. Its straightforward flavour allows brighter, sweeter and more aromatic ingredients to complement the blend without overpowering it.
Peppermint
Peppermint brings a fresh, cooling menthol note that contrasts with nettle's earthy character. Together, they create a refreshing herbal infusion, with peppermint adding a fresh, cooling note that complements nettle's earthy, leafy flavour.
Horsetail
Horsetail has a mild, earthy and slightly grassy flavour that complements nettle's leafy character. The two botanicals create a simple, balanced base that can also pair well with more aromatic or flavourful ingredients.
Dandelion
Dandelion root carries a deeper, roasted and slightly bitter flavour that contrasts with the lighter flavour of nettle leaf. The combination creates a fuller, more robust herbal infusion.
Rosehip
Rosehip adds a naturally tart and fruity note that brings brightness to nettle's earthy flavour. Together, they create a refreshing infusion with a subtle fruity flavour profile.
Chamomile
Chamomile flowers provide a soft, floral aroma with subtle honey and apple-like notes. These qualities complement nettle's earthy flavour, creating a more gentle and aromatic herbal blend.
Marshmallow (Root & Leaf)
Marshmallow root and leaf have a mild, delicate flavour and naturally soft mouthfeel that complement nettle's earthy flavour profile. The combination creates a perfectly smooth and mellow herbal infusion.
References
- Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.): Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Compounds — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9413031/
- Herb of the Month, Urtica dioica, Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) — https://nhaa.org.au/herb-of-the-month-urtica-dioica/
- Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9253158/
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Any references to traditional or historical uses are for context only and do not represent any therapeutic claims for the products supplied by Austral Herbs.
Austral Herbs supplies ingredients only and does not claim that any products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any ingredients, particularly if pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that any finished products manufactured, marketed, or supplied using these ingredients comply with all applicable Australian laws and regulations, including those administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and relevant food standards legislation.
