A cup of pine needle tea contains 5 times the Vitamin C of a cup of orange juice, and is also high in Vitamin A. Pine needle tea may help your body expel phlegm caused by the congestion of colds or coughs and even just inhaling the vapors from the tea may break up mucus in the lungs. Make sure to watch the video below on how to identify Pine Trees. Pine needle tea is quite simple to make just follow the simple steps below.
Step 1. After Identifying your pine tree, pick a handful of pine needles.
Step 2. Remove the brown coverings at the ends of the needles, they just pull right off.
Step 3. Chop the needles into 1/2 inch pieces.
Step 4. Place about a tablespoon of the chopped needles into your cup.
Step 5. Pour a cup of very hot water (not boiling) over the chopped needles.
Step 6. Let steep for ten minutes, you can if wanted strain and sweeten with honey if desired.
Don’t pick poisonous pines!
There are three pines you must avoid, The Yew (Taxus), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucana heterophylla) and the Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), yellow pine.
Caution: Women who are pregnant, or who could become pregnant, are advised NOT to drink pine needle tea in general for fear it could cause abortion.
How To Identify Pine Trees