You should only use nettles that have grown far away from polluted areas such as roads and sprayed fields. Pick the small shoots in the forest or garden – and remember gloves and scissors. The green, fresh top leaves taste best, but they are also the most stinging. Rinse the leaves thoroughly under running water to remove any soil. Place them in a pot with water and boil for 4-5 minutes. Strain the leaves and pour the tea into a cup. Season with lemon and optionally sweeten the tea with sugar or honey. It's not just the fresh leaves that can be used for tea. If you want a warm cup on a cold winter day when nettles are out of season, you can use dried leaves. You can buy them in several health food stores or dry them yourself.