April 2020

Drinking Assets from a Pine Trees

Joseph Parish

Many years ago, I attended a survival training class on “Winter Wild Edibles”. During the class the instructor gathered some pine needles from a near-by tree and proceeded to make the class a pot of Pine Needle Tea. From these humble beginnings experienced at Killen’s Pond State Park in Delaware, I have since enjoyed this great beverage when I can.

Naturally, as with gathering any sort of wild plants it should be determined without a doubt that the plant is not poisonous or dangerous in any way. To forgo this basic rule would result in sickness and possibly death. An example of the dangers present would be the ever-dreaded plant Poison Ivy. This plant is a vine and travels up the side of a tree and is likely to be found in different colors according to the season. In autumn its leaves will likely turn yellow, and begin to drop off. The vine will still remain and the poison will be held within that vine even if no leaves are attached. This is a common hazardous plant which is found everywhere in Delaware, and normally may have as many as 20 leaves although in the winter time its twig may be seen sticking up from the ground with no leaves, the twig itself is still poisonous. With this in mind always pay attention to what plants may be growing on the trees you select. So far, we have been lucky as I travel around my three acres, I have not noticed any Poison Ivy.

Remember "Leaves of three Let it be"

One of the requirements which I set for my homestead has been the planting of several pine trees. We were fortunate with this home purchase as there are a few fully grown trees on our property. This means I have an endless supply of Pine Needle Tea. You can buy commercial packaged tea in some grocery stores or through Amazon, however, it is rather costly. I bought one box a couple of years ago and it cost me $14.95 for 25 tea bags.

The White Pine Tree is a large towering tree native to the eastern section of North America. It can be found from as far north as Newfoundland and as far south as the Mississippi Basin. It is also commonly called white pine, northern white pine or soft pine. In a mixed forest this tree will tower over all others. It provides both food and shelter for forest birds and small mammals such as squirrels.

The leaves or needles are in bundles of five with a deciduous sheath. They are flexible, bluish-green, finely serrated, and 2 - 5 inches long and persist usually about 18 months. The cones are slender 3 - 6 inches long (rarely longer than that) and 1.5 - 2 inches broad when open and have scales with a rounded apex. The seeds are 3/16 inches long.

Eastern white pine needles contain five times the amount of Vitamin C as do lemons and make an excellent drink. The cambium of the tree is also edible. The Ojibwe Indians enjoyed the young cones in a stew with some meat. The seeds of the tree are sweet and nutritious.

One of the features offered by the pine tree is the drink made from the pine needles. For those of you who may be new to this type of survival you can make a safe and simple tea from the common Pine trees which grow in the woods and forests. Pine Needle Tea has long been a favorite of traditional and indigenous peoples for not only its refreshment value, but, for its medicinal benefits as well.

As we mentioned above, Pine Needle Tea contains five times the Vitamin C of fresh-squeezed orange juice or lemons and is high in Vitamin A. Not only does it taste good but it's good for you also. Each pine variety has its own specific taste so you may wish to experiment and see which needles you like best. Always remember that while all Pines may be evergreens, not all evergreens are Pines.

Start by collecting a small bundle of green needles. (A small handful will be plenty.) Remove any of the brown, papery sheaths that may remain at the base of the needles by pulling it off. You can leave them whole or you can chop the needles into small bits of about ¼ to ½ inch long.

Heat a cup of water to just before its boiling point. Pour the hot water over about a tablespoon of the chopped needles. Allow to steep covered for 10 minutes while the majority of the needles settle to the bottom of the cup. Now enjoy your tea.

With the cold and flu season in effect at this time, the Pine Needle Tea is a gift of health as well as an enjoyable experience. Since Pine is best used fresh it is a perfect excuse to get out and enjoy the change of seasons.