Can anyone tell me if it's ok to use any pine needles, or must it be a particular variety? Also, how many needles makes a good cuppa?
Pine Needle Tea...
- Thread starter Mick w.
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Be a bit careful with anything that isn't pine, such as spruce and fir. As mentioned, yew is very poisonous, so is hemlock.
Scots pine can be ID'd from a long way away's and the needles are unmistakable. Double prong, 3-6 inches.
Try steeping some for 15 mins or so, and then some overnight, reheating. The latter is much more tea like.
Try steeping some for 15 mins or so, and then some overnight, reheating. The latter is much more tea like.
+1to that, orrible in my opinion. Its like drinking hot disinfectant. Depends on your taste I suppose, probably smells more like it than tastes. Either way, I'd have to be in a survival situation to drink it.
It's a, 'what are you used to', kind of tea 
If you like milky, sweet, or tar like, tea, then pine needle tea will seem just wrong.
If you like a tea that tastes of tea, appreciate a white or blue tea, not tannin heavy, and can appreciate both the smell and the taste (faintly lemony, pine, not disinfectant) then you'll look forward to having it fresh
I get fed up of coffee, of tanniny tea, I like the herb ones I grow or will forage; pine's a very pleasant mugful of something hot and gently fragrant.
Pine in pairs...........the only toxic ones are Yew and Yellow Pine (Ponderosa pine, not native here). Lot of mince spouted about toxicity because folks hear that yellow pine is toxic and so all pines must be toxic
They're not. They are rich in both Vitamin C, and are a blessing in our cold dark fruit poor northern winters, and Vitamin A. Good agin the scurvy
I think there's an Australian one that's toxic too, but I've never come across it.
Never seen a Scots Pine with 6inch long needles, The Big Lebowski, up to about 3 maybe....where did you find them so long ? they'd do for basketry at that length
cheers,
Toddy
If you like milky, sweet, or tar like, tea, then pine needle tea will seem just wrong.
If you like a tea that tastes of tea, appreciate a white or blue tea, not tannin heavy, and can appreciate both the smell and the taste (faintly lemony, pine, not disinfectant) then you'll look forward to having it fresh
I get fed up of coffee, of tanniny tea, I like the herb ones I grow or will forage; pine's a very pleasant mugful of something hot and gently fragrant.
Pine in pairs...........the only toxic ones are Yew and Yellow Pine (Ponderosa pine, not native here). Lot of mince spouted about toxicity because folks hear that yellow pine is toxic and so all pines must be toxic
They're not. They are rich in both Vitamin C, and are a blessing in our cold dark fruit poor northern winters, and Vitamin A. Good agin the scurvy
I think there's an Australian one that's toxic too, but I've never come across it.
Never seen a Scots Pine with 6inch long needles, The Big Lebowski, up to about 3 maybe....where did you find them so long ? they'd do for basketry at that length
cheers,
Toddy
There's some well established tree's on an old ruined estate by me. At a guess, 200-300 years.
The picture's not the best, but if you look at the top needles, they are bound 2' onto the hazel hoop with jute.
The picture's not the best, but if you look at the top needles, they are bound 2' onto the hazel hoop with jute.
greensurfingbear
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Lovely wreath
I don't think that's Scot's Pine though; might well be wrong, but Scot's pine really doesn't have long needles, it's one of the descriptive characteristics.....that said, I went looking and there's a Mongolian sub species that has needles up to 12cms long, about 4.5 inches
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_Pine
Interested to figure out your tree If the needles are six inches long, then they are definitely fit for basketry
cheers,
Toddy
I don't think that's Scot's Pine though; might well be wrong, but Scot's pine really doesn't have long needles, it's one of the descriptive characteristics.....that said, I went looking
and there's a Mongolian sub species that has needles up to 12cms long, about 4.5 incheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_Pine
Interested to figure out your tree
If the needles are six inches long, then they are definitely fit for basketry cheers,
Toddy
Next time I'm down there I will have a better look, the wreath was a made for a friend 3 years ago.
They also make a rather nice brew
They also make a rather nice brew
I now have an excuse for something to do on Monday!
Maybe it is Corsican pine and I'm wrong. There's various 'collections' on the estate, and possibly one of the largest
Yew populations I've ever seen.
Maybe it is Corsican pine and I'm wrong. There's various 'collections' on the estate, and possibly one of the largest
Yew populations I've ever seen.
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