Contestants brave the Sting in Dorset’s Annual Nettle Eating Championships

Participants from all over have gathered in Dorset for the annual World Nettle Eating Championships, held at the Dorset Nectar Cider Farm in Waytown. The contestants must endure the discomfort of stinging nettle leaves and consume as many as possible within 30 minutes. To help with the pain, they are given cider to wash down the nettles.

The tradition dates back to the 1980s and was saved from being lost by Ryan Strong, who now hosts the event at his cider farm. Returning champion Rob Casey shared some tips for eating nettles, including folding them up to reduce the sting and moistening them with cider to minimize the pain. Last year’s women’s champion, Bethan Hodges, will be returning to defend her title after consuming 60ft of nettles in the previous competition.

The stalks are cut into 2ft lengths and counted at the end of the competition. Contestants push through the pain in hopes of being crowned the world champion nettle eater. The event is a test of endurance and determination, as participants strip leaves from the stalks before consuming them in a bid for victory.