'Old' nettle wine...?

[badgeringtim]

Ive just pollished of my nettle wine and beer from this spring and im wondering why it is that you only use the young leaves.
Im sure its something to do with the chemical content, but wondering if it is worth doing an old nettle beer? particularly if it is bottled with sugar to make it quite 'lively' and increase the sweetnes

But has anyone else tried ?

While im on the topic - Burdock, when should one dig up the root? I understand that the plant is a 2 year cycle, the first just leaves and the second it puts out flowers and seed. Presumably then you want to catch it before if flowers to get the best root. Given the time of year now, is it worth digging any up ?

!??!?!

thanks all

[R.Lewis]

Guess you never tried eating old nettle leaves!! Bitter, but far worse they form crystalline crystals in leaves that gives a gritty texture like fine sand. So probably not a good idea!

Would like to try making Nettle brews myself, just got into Homebrew but only really made a cider from scratch. Done kit beers.

Roy.

[Front Room Woodlander]

Yep, its bitter.
Pluck the new growth then severe the plant back to an inch of the ground and get a second crop.

[Ruvio]

I'm fairly sure that once nettles reach complete maturity, they form crystals in the liver which can be dangerous over time

[John Fenna]

Not good for sufferers of kidney stones....young ones are not too bad and I realy enjoy my nettle soup - despite being on medication for kidney stones!

[Ruvio]

kidneys! not liver...i knew i was onto something

[Colin.W]

talking of young leaves you can make a damn fine brew from young oak leaves ( I know a bit late in the year to bring this up) and bramble tips

[badgeringtim]

Thanks for all the comments folkes.
Now you say it i have heard about crystal forming compounds in old stingers!

Colin yip ive done the oak leaf before and its not bad but i would say nettle is much better. More flavour to my mind! There is also something satisfying about making nice things out of the little stingy blighters!

[beachlover]

I make nettle wine throughout the year and while some of you wine tasting connoisseur types might disagree, it still makes quaffable wine that does all that home made wine is meant to do :beerchug: :)