Signs of the Season: How to make pine needle tea : Sycamore Land Trust (2024)

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Signs of the Season: How to make pine needle tea : Sycamore Land Trust? ›

Pine needles can be collected at any time of the year, however, they are the most tender and aromatic in the spring, which is also the best time to collect bark and resin from pine trees to make tinctures, salves and oils.

Pine needles can be collected at any time of the year, however, they are the most tender and aromatic in the spring, which is also the best time to collect bark and resin from pine trees to make tinctures, salves and oils.

While most people can safely consume the tea, if you have pine allergies you should avoid drinking pine needle tea because it could result in skin rashes, respiratory issues, nausea or diarrhea. If you're new to pine needle tea, it's best to start with small amounts to see how your body reacts.

Therefore the boiling of water would never reach a temperature that would cause the vitamin C to be boiled off. Instead, the vitamin C would be dissolved (vitamin C is water soluble) in the water, which with a tea is what we are going to drink.

The needle drop season runs roughly from June to January in a series of waves, depending on weather (and probably species of pine tree). My way around this financial dilemma is to collect the needles myself. Harvesting pine needles is labor intensive but requires very little in the way of tools.

These notes mean it pairs perfectly when blended with citrusy or minty teas. People often comment that it has a slight astringency, but that can be combated with a sweetener. Mature pine needles have a more bitter taste than young ones. Pine needle tea can be transparent, golden or green in colour.

Pine needle tea is a rich source of arginine — an amino acid responsible for dilating blood vessels to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Arginine metabolizes synergistically with vitamin C in a way that relaxes stiff arteries and improves the flow of blood to vital organs [source].

However, pine needle tea is also an expectorant, which means that it acts to clear phlegm and mucous from your airways. As a result, it is a great herbal tea to choose when you have a chesty cough or blocked sinuses, helping you to breathe more easily.

Helping the process along through Pine Needle Tea consumption could lead to your body burning fat quicker and more efficiently. But there's a catch. Drinking it for weight loss only works when you're burning more calories than you consume through your diet and physical activity.

How to preserve pine needles for tea? ›

It's best to store an abundance of fresh pine needles in the freezer, in an airtight freezer-safe bag. When ready to use, take out the amount desired, rinse well under fresh water and the needles will immediately thaw. Snip to desired size and steep. Keep in the freezer for up to one year!

Learn how to identify and safely forage for Eastern White Pine needles (Pinus strobus) and Virginia Pine needles (Pinus virginiana) - two of my favorite edible pine trees! These are a sustainable food source that you can wildcraft year-round.

Yes, you could drink pine needle tea if you fancied. I wouldn't recommend using pine needles from commercially produced Christmas trees though. You could end up infusing yourself a brew of fire retardants or some other toxic chemicals.

Disclaimer: Before bringing the kettle to a boil, know which tree needles you are brewing. Several trees are toxic – including ponderosa pine (such a shame considering its local abundance), common yew, and Norfolk Island pine.

Cultures around the globe have used the needles, inner bark, and resin for similar ailments. Internally, pine is a traditional remedy for coughs, colds, allergies, and urinary tract and sinus infections. Topically, pine is used to address skin infections and to lessen joint inflammation in arthritic conditions.

Ponderosa pine needles cause abortion and a poorly described toxicosis when eaten by cattle.

Learn how to identify and safely forage for Eastern White Pine needles (Pinus strobus) and Virginia Pine needles (Pinus virginiana) - two of my favorite edible pine trees! These are a sustainable food source that you can wildcraft year-round.

The Eastern White Pine makes a great tea, but any variety of pine, spruce, or hemlock tree can be used. Avoid using needles from any Cypress or Yew tree as they can be toxic.

In spruces and pines, interior needle shed is common August – November. In these instances, summer needle shed is not usually cause for concern.

How do you make Christmas Tree Tea? The process is quite simple really heat water until it's hot but not boiling, add a generous helping of pine needles and then leave them to soak for around half an hour. The water will take on a yellow or reddish tinge and the darker it is the more Vitamin C will be present.