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Pine needle tea is made from (surprise!) pine trees. It contains significant amounts of vitamin C (up to five times as much as a lemon). [1] X Research source Moreover, it is refreshing and can serve as a decongestant. [2] X Research source Here is how to do it.
Ingredients
- Approximately 1 cup of water
- A bunch of fresh pine needles from a green white pine ( Pinus strobus ) (see "Tips" and "Warnings" below for collection advice)
Steps
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Gather the pine needles, clean them, and then put them in the cup or mug.Advertisement
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Pour the boiling water into the cup while the pine needles are in it and stir until the color of the pine needles starts to pale.
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For more flavor, add the juice of 1 lemon or a squirt of lemon juice. Also try a squirt of honey or stir in a sugar cube. [4] X Research source
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If you have more time, try this method.
- Chop 1/2 a cup of pine needles finely. Add them to the boiling water in the saucepan.
- Reduce the heat and simmer the tea for 20 minutes. Don't heat any longer as the vitamin C is heat sensitive. [5] X Research source
- Remove from the heat and allow to steep for another 20 minutes or overnight. [6] X Research source The tea will gain a red tinge. Warm it up to serve or refrigerate if not drinking yet.
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Finished.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use dry pine needles to make tea? If so, do I use more or less needles?Community AnswerYes, you can use dry pine needles. You will need more because the natural juices are sucked out when dried, so to get more flavor you will need to add more needles.
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QuestionWhat can I use to clean pine needles properly?Community AnswerJust wash them with water and rub them with a cloth to get dirt off.
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QuestionWhat kind of pine tree is used for pine tree tea ?Community AnswerMost pine trees are safe to make pine needle tea. Some varieties of them are poisonous though, like Yew (Taxus), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucana heterophylla) and Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa). So check the variety carefully before picking up any needles.
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Tips
- The pine needle tea can be sweetened using any sweetener of choice. However, it is recommended that you try the tea first, for provided you've used fresh, young pine needles, it will have its own sweetness.Thanks
- Select the pine needles that are youngest as these will be the freshest and have the most flavor and nutrients. They are the ones that look slightly greener than the remaining pine needles, found at the end of each tree branch.Thanks
- Suggested steeping times vary anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour according to whose recipe you read. You might like to try different steeping times to find the amount of time that creates a pine needle tea that you like.Thanks
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Warnings
- Make sure to clean the needles. Who knows what could be on them. There could be bug eggs, dirty water, etc.Thanks
- As with any wild food, be sure to collect from an area free from pollution and avoid any trees with disease.Thanks
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Thanks
- Hemlock trees are not poisonous . The hemlock tree is coniferous tree and a member of the Tsuga genus (family Pinaceae). The poisonous perennial, herbaceous hemlock plants that grow near streams and in fields (e.g. water hemlock, poison hemlock and hemlock water drop-wort) are members of the family Apiaceae. Therefore the two are totally unrelated and bear no physical resemblance to each other either. The reason why hemlock tree came to be named thus is because someone thought that when you crush the needles (it's a pine tree) the smell is similar to that obtained when you crush poisonous hemlock leaves, but that's the only connection.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Cup or mug
- Fork
References
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_White_Pine
- ↑ James Wong, Grow your own drugs , p. 178, (2009), ISBN 978-1-60652-119-9
- ↑ https://www.dummies.com/food-drink/cooking/how-to-boil-water/
- ↑ https://joybileefarm.com/pine-needle-tea/
- ↑ http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/nov2013/Effect-Of-Heating-On-Vitamin-C-Content-Of-Some-Selected-Vegetables.pdf
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-make-pine-needle-tea/
- ↑ https://joybileefarm.com/pine-needle-tea/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make pine needle tea, boil 1 cup of water in a pot or kettle, and clean fresh pine needles from a green white pine. Place the cleaned needles in a cup or mug, and pour the boiling water over the needles. Then, stir the water until the needles begin to lose their color. You can add a squirt of lemon juice or some honey to the tea for extra flavor. Finally, use a fork or spoon to scoop out all of the pine needles and enjoy your drink! For tips on making a stronger tea, read on!
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- "I live in the mountains with tons of pine trees. My husband wants to make pine tea and this article makes me want to question what type of pines we have and will it make my husband sick. Great article, thanks!" ..." more
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"I live in the mountains with tons of pine trees. My husband wants to make pine tea and this article makes me want to question what type of pines we have and will it make my husband sick. Great article, thanks!"
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"My husband was diagnosed with influenza and after 7 days he was left with a very bad cough. I used this recipe for pine tea and he was better instantly. No more coughing!"
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"I just made this, and I love it! Totally making this again in the future! I used Frazier fir needles, but still tasted just as good!"
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"Did not realize how pine needles were so good for a person, much thanks."
"I am ready to try this, and I think I will next time I go on a hike."
