How To Make White Pine Needle Tea
Cover and let sit overnight or continue to next step and serve.
How to make white pine needle tea. Bring three cups of water to a simmer turn off or remove from heat important and add about half a cup of fresh needles to the water. Pour two cups of boiling water over the needles cover the pot and allow to steep for a few minutes. If you want a stronger tea simply add more needles rather than increasing the heat. Once the water is at full boil remove from heat the put the pine needle pieces in the water and stir and let sit for five ten minutes.
Like any recipe the directions differ slightly but in general all follow this pattern. Strain out pine needles sweeten to taste and serve tea hot or cold. Place the pine needles in a tea strainer. Bring water to a boil in a stainless steel pan.
Cover to inhibit the volatile oil from escaping in the steam. 1 4 cups of boiled water 1 cup per person 1 4 tsps raw organic honey optional but advised. Never boil your pine needle tea. Or sweetener of your choice slices of lemon optional tsp.
Making pine needle tea is similar to making other herbal teas like mint tea ginger tea or catnip tea. A small handful should be sufficient for a strong cup of tea. Boiling tends to break down vitamin c and release terpenes that make the tea more bitter. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan or pot.
I like to avoid pouring boiling water directly on the needles to preserve all the nutrients and vitamins. Simply bring water to a boil and then let the water cool for one minute. After the needles are added reduce heat to a simmer and partially. Some folks add a squirt of lemon or mix with another tea too.
Place the tea strainer in a mug. Add pine needles to water and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Chop the needles into 1 4 inch chunks.
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. 1 4 tbs of chopped fresh pine needles alternatively use dried leaves or pre packed tea bags 1 bag per person or 1. Cut off any of the brown ends or sheaths of the needles they can also just be pulled off. Harvest a 1 2 cup of young green needles from the pinus strobus step 2.
While the water is boiling separate the pine needles from the twigs cut off brown buds and chop into about 1 4 pieces. The tea will turn a pale green with a light piney smell.