Tea time.

[Andy B]

Just wanted a few ideas on wild teas to refresh ones head on a cold morning in the wild.

I know spruce needles, but is it any old spruce?

 

[Gary]

Pine needles are good. Try rose hips or neetles or birch leaves or dried bramble leaves or tea bags - ok I was joking about the tea bag!

Well that will start you off anyway.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Rosehip would be my preference. tastes great and rich source of vitamin c

 

[Buckshot]

Do you crush the seed pods of Rosehips and then filter them out after a while in the water?

Cheers

Mark

 

[Gary]

Split the hips open and remove the seed heads inside. Boil your water and the pout this into a cup - add the hips and stir. Let stand for a minute or two and its ready.

You can filter out the hips - well dig em out with a spoon or I just drink the tea and eat the hips.

 

[jakunen]

One of my favourites is elderberry and melissa. Chuck a handfull of berries and a handful of melissa (lemon balm) in a cup and add boiling water.
Or mint. Crush a handful of leaves and pour water over.
DELISH!!! (we need the licking lips smilie off Huge Furry-Whippingstools River cottage website!)

 

[Kath]

Pine needles are good.

Sounds good, Gary! Which type of pine or are they all ok?

 

[Gary]

Elderberrys - now your talking! Excellent fruit tea.

I once lived for three days on nothing but elderberry tea and roast beech mast - the tea is quite uplifting!

 

[Gary]

Sorry Kath we must have posted at the same time.

All pine is good, at least I have never heard differently and in my own experiments I have used all sorts with no ill effect - some better than others obviously go for the younger tips as these will be fresher.

One word of warning dont mistake Yew for Pine!

 

[Kath]

Cheers for that Gary. Off to the woods for tea break!

One word of warning dont mistake Yew for Pine!

Good point! Thanks!!

 

[Keith_Beef]

Elderberrys - now your talking! Excellent fruit tea.

I once lived for three days on nothing but elderberry tea and roast beech mast - the tea is quite uplifting!

Three days eating nothing but beech masts?

I thought we were doing well, when my wife and I lived on wild almonds, pomegranates and prickly pears for a couple of days

Keith.