Contestants are gathering in Dorset at the Dorset Nectar Cider Farm in Waytown, near Bridport, in hopes of being crowned world champion by eating stinging nettles. The World Nettle Eating Championships require participants to strip leaves from the stalks before consuming them, with the empty stalks being counted at the end of the competition. To help alleviate the pain caused by the nettles, participants are provided with cider to wash them down.
One of the reigning champions, Bethan Hodges, will be traveling from Wales to defend her title. Last year, she consumed an impressive 60ft of nettles, leading to some lasting injuries on her fingers and tongue. Another returning contestant, Rob Casey, emphasized the importance of folding up the nettles to avoid the stings and dipping them in cider to minimize the pain.
The tradition of the World Nettle Eating Championships dates back to the 1980s and was formerly held at a pub in Bridport, which has now closed. Ryan Strong has taken over the event at the Dorset Nectar Cider Farm in an effort to preserve this unique competition. Last year, over 2,000ft-worth of nettles were cut into 2ft lengths and measured specifically for the competition. Some participants employ strategies such as pulling off all the leaves at once to test their mind-over-matter abilities.