# What’s the secret to eating Nettles safely ?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-secret-to-eating-nettles-safely/114377>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-secret-to-eating-nettles-safely/114377 "2002-06-16T17:08:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-secret-to-eating-nettles-safely/114377/1 "2002-06-16T17:08:16Z")

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This BBC article [Nettle chomping champ keeps crown](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2047000/2047131.stm) claims:

> [@](#):
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> There is said to be a secret method of eating the leaves which prevents competitors sustaining injury.

The utility of beer in washing the leaves down is freely acknowledged.  
Does anyone know what the secret is ?

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**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-secret-to-eating-nettles-safely/114377/2 "2002-06-16T17:14:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Simon Lambert, nettle-eating champion\<\<  
> ?If you fold them up, they don?t sting, but I did on couple of occasions get a couple of nasty stings, so my mouth is a bit tender.?

[http://www.iskratv.co.uk/sns1/clips/cfA/ukh001\_006.html](http://www.iskratv.co.uk/sns1/clips/cfA/ukh001_006.html)