Harvest purple dead nettle once the morning dew has dried. Most of the flavor lies in the fuzzy leaves, so snip each plant a few centimeters below the last leaf.
Once you’ve gathered the plants, remove the leaves one by one. You can use the flowers and stems if you want, but the tiny seeds tend to get stuck in your teeth.
Rinse the leaves in a bowl of water or give them a quick wash in the sink. This will remove any dirt, stray debris, or tenacious bugs. There’s no need to dry them since they’ll get wet again anyway.
When making tea from fresh herbs, it’s wise to go by flavor preference rather than measuring exact amounts. Start with a small handful of leaves. You can add more if it’s not strong enough for you.
Fill the kettle with about eight ounces of water and put it to boil. Once it has boiled, you’ll pour it over the tea and leave it to steep for a few minutes. The longer you steep it, the greater the flavor and intensity.
Take your infuser out of the cup. If you put the leaves directly in the bottom of your cup, you can just pick them out with a spoon. Now you’re ready to drink a hot, yummy cup of goodness. Enjoy!