10 reasons you should be drinking pine needle tea (2024)

How to make pine needle tea

How to make pine needle tea

For our bloggers, the instructions were:

  1. Collect pine needles
  2. Build a fire (more to come on this in another post)
  3. Light it
  4. Boil water in a mess tin
  5. Add pine needles and let them infuse in the water
  6. Sieve and serve

Obviously, there’s no need to build a fire (but it was fun). Simply boil a kettle and pour over your pine needles, leave to infuse, then sieve and serve.

Enjoy your tea. Who knows, you might live to be 103 with 20:20 vision, a mind as sharp as a pine needle and no varicose veins. We’ll drink to that!

A word or two of caution: firstly, don’t try pine needle tea if you are pregnant. Secondly, most pine varieties can be used, but steer clear of Yew and Cypress which can sometimes be mistaken for pine. A good rule of thumb is to avoid flat needles. If in doubt, ask a Forest Ranger. Better still, book a cosy hot tub cabin at our Forest of Dean location and let Gerry teach you everything you need to know.

10 reasons you should be drinking pine needle tea (2024)

FAQs

10 reasons you should be drinking pine needle tea? ›

Pine needle tea has a pleasant taste and smell (always a good start). It is rich in vitamin C (5 times the concentration of vitamin C found in lemons) and can bring relief to conditions such as heart disease, varicose veins, skin complaints and fatigue.

Why should I drink pine needle tea? ›

Pine needle tea has a pleasant taste and smell (always a good start). It is rich in vitamin C (5 times the concentration of vitamin C found in lemons) and can bring relief to conditions such as heart disease, varicose veins, skin complaints and fatigue.

Is pine needle tea good for the liver? ›

Anti-oxidative activities are a well known feature of phenolic compounds. The pine needle has many phenolic compounds such as pinene 28 . Thus, PNE can affect liver regeneration through reducing the oxidative stress created by the liver regeneration process.

Is pine needle tea good for the brain? ›

Supports brain health

Pine needle is a great source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps protect your brain from cell damage and aging.

Is pine needle tea good for your lungs? ›

Pine needle tea is packed with powerful antioxidants, vitamins like C and A, shikimic acid, and polyphenols that can boost your immunity, reduce inflammation, improve eyesight and energy, and protect your respiratory health.

Does pine needle tea help kidneys? ›

The pine needle tea has effects of benefiting liver and nourishing kidney, and improving eyesight and relaxing bowel and is suitable for hypertension patients.

Does pine needle tea raise blood pressure? ›

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].

Who shouldn t drink pine needle tea? ›

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.

Are there any side effects from pine needle tea? ›

These plants contain toxins that can cause anything from cramps to liver damage. Additionally, women who are pregnant should NOT drink pine needle tea. Photo: This tree could be a lifesaver when you're lost in the wilderness and needing Vitamin C…which happens all the time.

Is boiling pine needles safe? ›

Every minute. above 184F destroys 10% of the vitamin C and 20%

Are pine needles good for skin? ›

A few of the health benefits of pine needles are the high levels of vitamin A which makes it wonderful for the skin and its extremely high levels of vitamin C (in fact several times more than that of a lemon or a glass of orange juice).

Is there caffeine in pine needle tea? ›

Although it doesn't contain caffeine, the refreshing taste of pine needle tea can help you feel more awake and alert. In this way, it is similar to mint or citrus teas, which are great for brightening your palate and reviving your mind.

Are pine needles antibacterial? ›

Pine needles have antibacterial properties, and leave a fresh, clean scent behind! Alternatively, fill a mason jar with white vinegar and loads of pine needles. Place the lid on and put it in a cupboard for 6 weeks. After the 6 weeks, you can place the liquid in a spray bottle and use as a regular household cleaner!

Is pine needle tea good for anxiety? ›

In keeping with its aroma benefits, a cup of pine needle tea is used in complementary treatments to remedy all sorts of anxiety, fatigue and emotional concerns.

What kind of pine needles are safe for tea? ›

White pine is the most common tree species that pine needles are collected from for tea, and they are easily identified by their needle bundles of five (the only tree species in Ohio to have such needle bundles).

Can you drink pine needle tea cold? ›

Pine needle tea is typically consumed freshly brewed and hot, although it could be chilled and enjoyed as a cold beverage as well.

What does pine pollen tea do to the body? ›

Not only does this amazing drink provide you with abundant nutrients but it will improve your immunity, balance out hormones in women and men by regulating their endocrine system while lowering blood sugar levels improving prostate disorders too!

Is pine needle tea good for weight loss? ›

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.

Are pine needles good for anything? ›

The needles make excellent fire starters, flavoring for teas and vinegars, grill smoke to season meats, air fresheners, and, of course, mulch. They have many medicinal properties as well. Collecting pine needles and processing them correctly can help you harness any of these natural properties.

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