Nettle Stem Decoction

I've been harvesting a quantity of Nettles and drying the leaves to "cut and sift" and sell for tea.  It's quite a venture and it feels so amazing to be on this journey.  I'm feeling guided by Sister Urtica and all of the ideas that we are generating on this quest.

When the Nettles were small, I just dried them, stems and all in the dehydrator.  Now that they are big and I'm harvesting more than I can process in a day, I'm using a screen and baseboard heater system. 

And I've found something extraordinary to do with the stems.

RECIPE
3-4 Lbs Nettle Stems (I wear rubber gloves when I'm handling mass quantities)
7 Litres H2O

Boil the Nettle stems in the water for several hours.  The more the merrier!  If you have the patience for overnight.....

Strain out the spent stems and then lightly simmer or even subtly steam reduce the decoction.  This can be done "to taste".  The first time I did it, I reduced it incredibly.  Subsequent decoctions much less so; by about half. 

The ensuing liquid is pretty versatile.  I've used it as stocks for soups with amazing results.  laura uses it as part of her smoothie every day.  It is such an iron-rich brew.