Pine Needle Tea ( White Pine -P.strobus)

This recipe is for Pine Needle Tea made from the Eastern White Pine AKA Northern White Pine or White Pine


Pine needle tea has been considered an important medicinal tool for indigenous cultures for thousands of years, and is said to have helped scurvy-afflicted European settlers survive their first winter in the New World,  while formal research is somewhat limited on the subject, the anecdotal evidence (of its benefits) is undeniable. Most pine trees are native to North America, and that is what this recipe is designed for.

It contains significant amounts of vitamin C (up to five times as much as a lemon) and is high in Vitamin A. It is also an expectorant (thins mucus secretions) and decongestant. Moreover, it is refreshing!

 * Tablespoon -Eastern white pine (P. strobus) needles, fresh cut, tips and bases removed and then cut into 1/4" to 1/2" long pieces.
 * One cup boiling water

After you have trimmed and cut your needles and have a cup of water boiling, remove from heat and add the cut needles to the water and cover, let steep for 5 minutes - 10 minutes,  (off the heat) and then strain into a cup and enjoy!

Remember to use white pine needles and do not drink this if you have allergies to pine. I happen to have a ton of white pine in my area so I have no experience with other varieties but I found this warning on another site.

 *"A few words of caution: while there are over 100 different varieties of pine, the Ponderosa, Norfolk Island and Yew needles should be avoided, as brewing can prove toxic. You’ll want to collect your needles from trees at a distance from the roadside to be sure they haven’t been exposed to exhaust or chemicals, and far away from dump sites. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid pine needle tea as it has been linked by some sources to miscarriage."*

I have seen recipes that call for giving the needles a hard boil for a medicinal purpose, this releases more oils and tastes pretty gross (Like turpentine) If you are looking for that you will need to find and follow a proper recipe for the Medicinal style pine needle tea.