Learn how easy it is to forage and make your own pine needle tea. This herbal tea tastes subtly of citrus and pine and has many health benefits while also being a delicious way to spend a chilly evening.
![a cup of pine needle tea](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-featured-image.png)
Making pine needle tea is a great way to celebrate the fall and winter months.
If you are looking for a light flavored tea that you can forage all year long, you have found it!
The best part about this tea is that it doesn’t taste like a Christmas tree.
And yes, that is what I thought it would taste like.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the taste, however!
If you are not sure if you want to give it a try, here is your nudge to go for it.
You won’t regret it!
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![pine tree branches](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-3-1024x768.jpg)
What pine trees can I collect needles from?
The most common varieties of pine trees that can be made into pine needle tea are:
- Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus)
- Western White Pine (Pinus Monticola)
- Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa)
- Sugar Pine (Pinus Lambertiana)
I am using the needles from an eastern white pine tree to make tea out of.
Make sure that you know exactly what kind of pine tree you will be collecting needles from because some kinds of pine trees (and pine tree look-a-likes) are toxic.
![pine needles in a mug](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-15.jpg)
Benefits of drinking pine needle tea
Vitamins and Minerals
Pine needles contain high amounts of vitamin C along with vitamins A, D, E and K.
These nutrient dense needles also contain magnesium, calcium and iron.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are essential in the body to fight free radicals. Free radicals can cause harm to your body’s cells, harming not only cells, but on a larger scale, organs.
The vitamin C (which is an antioxidant) in pine needles absorbs free radicals, rendering them harmless.
Antifungal
Pine needles can help fight fungal infections such as ringworm, athletes foot, psoriasis, eczema, thrush and yeast infections.
Antibacterial
Because pine needles are antibacterial, they have been used to help fight infections, particularly, UTIs.
![pine trees](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-1-768x1024.jpg)
Anti-inflammatory
Pine needle tea can help ease inflammation, making it beneficial in helping fight cancer and chronic disease, lower cholesterol levels, as well as, helping to prevent blood clots.
Diuretic
This tea is a great way to get rid of water retention and edema because of the diuretic properties contained in pine needles.
Immune support
Pine needle tea helps boost immune function by providing needed nutrients such as, vitamin C.
boosts collagen production
One of the vitamins that is needed for the body to complete collagen synthesis is, vitamin C.
Pine needles lend that needed vitamin C, as well as, vitamins K and A which are also needed for collagen synthesis.
how to collect pine needles
Make sure you have identified a pine tree that has edible needles.
Using a small pruning shears, cut off a few small branches.
![cutting pine branches](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-6-1024x768.jpg)
how to make pine needle tea
Put some water on to come to a boil.
Start stripping the pine needles off of the branches.
![stripping pine needles off of the branches to make pine needle tea](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-12-1024x768.jpg)
If you want to give your pine needles a quick rinse, do so now and then pat them dry.
Next, cut the pine needles into 1 inch pieces. Add about 2 tablespoons of the chopped pine needles to a mug.
![cut up pine needles in a mug to make pine needle tea](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-18-1-1024x768.jpg)
Pour the boiling water over the needles. Cover the mug and let the tea steep for 15 minutes.
Take the lid off of the tea, strain out the needles and enjoy!
![a mug full of pine needle tea](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea7-1024x768.jpg)
the best time to harvest pine needles
Feel free to harvest pine needles are year long!
There is supposed to be the most vitamin C in the needles during the spring, however, just harvest them whenever you have time.
Pine needles are something you can forage for even during the fall and winter, making it a great cold season herb.
If you aren’t able to harvest your own pine needles, pick some up here.
what else can you do with pine needles?
Besides using pine needles to make tea, try making a pine needle salve, syrup, or vinegar.
You can even add pine needles to household cleaners or make cookies out of them!
![a cup of pine needle tea](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Pine-Needle-Tea-featured-image-300x300.png)
Pine Needle Tea
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp pine needles
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Start boiling some water.
- Cut pine needles into 1 inch pieces.
- Add 2 tablespoons of chopped pine needles to a mug.
- Pour boiling water over the needles and cover.
- Let this steep for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and strain out the pine needles.
- Enjoy!
pin it for later
![how to make pine needle tea pin image](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-pine-needle-tea-pin-image-1-576x1024.png)
other posts you may be interested in
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (how to make and benefits)
Mullein Leaf Tea from Fresh or Dried Leaves
Have you tried making pine needle tea?
Or have you tried making anything else out of pine needles? Let us know in the comments!
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