Pine Needle Tea

Debates rage over the amount of vitamin C in pine needles. Some say it can be five times as much as an orange. If so, that is a great deal considering the pine needles just outside the door. Both pine needles and pine bark make excellent natural vitamin C supplements. 

Explorer Jacques Cartier learned of the benefits when his crew was cured of scurvy with a tea of pine needles and bark prepared by the Iroquois. His men had suffered months of nutritional deprivation at sea. Even though the crew boiled the decoction, which destroyed a significant portion of the vitamin C, there was enough ascorbic acid and various amino acids to reverse their symptoms of scurvy.

The tree used for the tea became known as “tree of life”. There’s no way to determine exactly what species it was, but we know the tree of life was a conifer. Eastern white pine is just one of the handful of candidates that could have been used. The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content of pine needles seems to vary significantly depending mainly on the species of pine and the age of the needles.

Research shows that ascorbic acid content increases with the age of needles. Does that mean older needles are best for pine needle tea? Not if you’re after taste. Older needles make a stronger, bitter, more piney tasting tea, so if you want a milder, more delicate tea, look for brighter green young pine needles.

The big lesson: don’t boil them. Boiling not only destroys vitamin C, but it also releases more terpenes, the organic compounds that make pine smell like pine or, in this case, turpentine. Other research indicates that balsam fir needles have significantly more vitamin C than white pine, so species matters, and the bark of white pine has more than needles. If you want a more potent brew of vitamin C, throw in some pine bark.

There have been a number of studies done on the nutritional qualities and healing powers of pine needles and bark. These range from cancer prevention to antioxidants to immune function cleanser to treatment for anxiety, depression, and dementia. 

Not all pines are good pines. Thirty-six species of pine are common in North America. Some species like the Ponderosa pine, as well as trees that look like pines, but actually aren’t, like the yew species and the Norfolk Island pine, are toxic to drink. But many others, including eastern white pine and noble fir (actually in the pine family) are delicious and safe to drink. Make sure to do your homework on identifying the type of pine you’re harvesting.

If you're worried about it, stick with tried and true Eastern white pine, and drink it in moderation. My rule of thumb, drink it while in the bush. That will ensure both moderation and maximum enjoyment.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup young, bright green Eastern white pine needles

3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS

Bring water to a boil.

Add pine needles to water and reduce heat.

Simmer for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Cover and let sit overnight or continue to next step and serve.

Strain out pine needles, sweeten to taste, and serve tea hot or cold.

Make sure not to boil the pine needles in order to preserve the vitamin C and prevent the release of bitter terpenes. Vitamin C doesn't last long, so drink the tea as soon as possible.