Self Sufficient Drinking (Non-alcoholic)

Well.

It's all very good growing fruit and vegetables and raising livestock. However I think that it is very easy to plan what you are going to eat and subsequently forget that we need to drink aswell.

Making homemade cider, wine and beer is well documented in self-sufficiency guides and bibles, but what about those things that we drink the majority of the time. Tea and Coffee. I can't see there being a successful UK Coffee producer just yet so I can't really comment on how you could really grow/make your own coffee. But..
I have just discovered that you make your own Tea!!

I bought some 'fill your own' teabags off the internet and today experimented with the first flavour.

I obviously don't have any home grown tea leaves but... I do have home grown... Nettles.

Apparently Nettles are full of anti-oxidants and this and that sp they are actually beneficial for your health. But the main advantage is that you are benefitting from pesky weeds and making your own self-sufficient breakfast drink.

I was really unsure what it would taste like, but if you like green tea then you will like this. I thought it was ok, but Amy particulary enjoyed it..

Here are some step by step pictures of the whole process...

First of all you need to pick some young nettles. Leave the leaves attatched to the stalks..
The nettles need to be dried out before you can put them in your teabags. You can leave them on the windowsil for 4 or 5 days to let them air dry naturally but if you want it done instantly then pre-heat the oven to 40-50 degrees celcius. Then put the nettles on a baking tray and leave in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Here is what the dried nettles looked like..

At this point it is easy to strip the leaves from the stalks.. The stalks are not good for the tea..

I then gaven them a bash with the pestle and mortar..

When you have the powdery nettles get a heaped teaspoon and put it in the teabag..

Then the rest of the process is the same as making a normal cuppa.

Here is the finished article...

We are going to be trying lots of different flavours in the coming days and weeks. Including fruity ones, herby ones etc. I will let you know what works and what doesn't.

Ratings for Nettle tea...

Me 4/10

Amy 7/10

Have a great day!!!!

Martin