Pine Needle Tea Is Like Green Tea’s Earthy, Vitamin C-Rich Cousin—and It’s Packed With Benefits

Maintain studying for the fundamentals on pine needle tea—together with what it tastes like, its major well being advantages, and the way to make it.

What’s pine needle tea?

Pine needle tea is strictly what it feels like: tea made by steeping edible pine needles in scorching water. Many Indigenous cultures in North America (notably in what’s now Canada) drank teas constructed from pine needles or different conifers for medicinal functions², however it’s also generally consumed in Japan, Korea, China, and Russia.

You can also make pine needle tea from many alternative styles of pine, says Kate Spurgin, RDN, LDN, a dietitian primarily based in Portland, Oregon. She says edible varieties embrace jap white pines, Douglas firs, and Japanese purple pines. Nevertheless, she warns that not all pine timber are edible, together with ponderosa pines and yew timber (which may simply be confused with pine timber). To be on the protected aspect, go for the shop purchased stuff–or deliver an skilled individual together with you should you select to forage.

What does pine needle tea style like?

Based on Spurgin, pine needle tea constructed from mature needles tastes gentle and is mildly candy. “It’s an earthy tea with inexperienced tea undertones and a pine taste that lingers after every sip,” she explains. In the meantime, pine needle tea brewed from youthful spring suggestions of pine timber has a brighter taste and a extra floral aroma. “It’s extra advanced, with notes of citrus and a barely bitter style along with pine,” she says.

4 pine needle tea advantages

1. It’s a nice supply of vitamin C

In the beginning, pine needle tea is a wonderful supply of vitamin C. Actually, Spurgin says that pine needle tea was reportedly used to remedy scurvy³, a type of vitamin C deficiency, earlier than meals sources of vitamin C turned accessible year-round. “This essential nutrient is an antioxidant that helps us heal from accidents and kind bodily tissues and bones,” she shares.

2. It’s wealthy in antioxidants

Pine needle tea can also be an excellent supply of vitamin A, “an antioxidant that helps wholesome imaginative and prescient, immune techniques, and organ perform,” Spurgin says.

You possibly can get pleasure from different antioxidants and flavonoids (science-speak for health-promoting plant compounds) in pine needle tea, Spurgin says. These overachieving micronutrients “can scale back the harm to our cells brought on by oxidation, which lowers our danger of diseases like most cancers and coronary heart illness.” (Older analysis⁴ in mice additionally means that pine needle tea might supply anticancer results.)

The quantity of those helpful plant compounds you get in your tea will differ primarily based on which timber are used, Spurgin says. For example, per a 2023 research⁵ revealed in NFS Journal, Japanese purple pine (Pinus densiflora) tea has the next content material of catechins—potent plant compounds linked to a wholesome intestine microbiome and longevity—in comparison with inexperienced tea.

3. It’s anti-inflammatory

“Pine needle tea has many potential advantages that researchers are nonetheless exploring,” says Spurgin. One research from 2021 discovered that extracts of a selected sort of pine (P. taiwanensis) have vital anti-inflammatory (and doubtlessly anti-aging) properties⁶. Extra analysis is required to know the implications of those properties; Spurgen hopes specialists look into how the anti-inflammatory nature of the tea could possibly be used to cut back ache, stave off power illness, regulate metabolism, and extra.

4. It might increase coronary heart and mind well being

Different potential advantages of pine needle tea come courtesy of its numerous flavonoid content material. These plant compounds work their magic to decrease blood stress and preserve the center and mind wholesome, says Spurgin.

Find out how to make pine needle tea

The simplest option to make pine needle tea—and drink your option to its protecting well being advantages—is to buy a mix on-line or at choose tea outlets. Spurgin says that the perfect pine needle teas can be sourced from wild areas (i.e., within the thick of nature versus denser, extra populated environs) as they’re much less prone to accumulate PFAS, artificial chemical compounds related to severe well being issues. (Crops like pine timber can take up PFAS from contaminated soil and groundwater.) “These chemical compounds⁷ have been linked to immune system issues, delivery defects, most cancers, and different well being points,” she warns. As such she advises selecting respected sellers to make sure your tea is as protected and high-quality as potential.

Feeling adventurous? You can even go into the wild and forage your personal pine needles. Nevertheless, newbies can be all of the wiser to take action below the steerage of knowledgeable or an area foraging group as a result of once more, not all pines are edible or protected for people.

Regardless of which route you are taking, when you’re able to brew, goal to make use of scorching (moderately than boiling) water to retain pine needle tea’s protecting potential. In the event you’re utilizing free pine needles, the Ohio Division of Pure Assets recommends steeping a half-cup to a 3/4-cup of pine needles in 4 cups of water for as much as 10 to fifteen minutes. (The longer you steep, the stronger it’ll be, nevertheless it’ll be good to go as soon as the tea turns into pale yellow.)

Spurgin gives a couple of parting tricks to customise the style of your pine needle tea. (In any case, the extra you get pleasure from it, the extra you’ll devour it, thus maximizing its well being advantages.) “To make pine needle tea’s taste extra delicate, get pleasure from it iced,” she shares. “For a extra acquainted style, attempt it blended together with your favourite teas,” whether or not that’s an energizing natural tea or a winter natural tea to enhance pine’s inherent cold-weather seasonal vibes. After all, you possibly can at all times improve the flavour with widespread components equivalent to honey, lemon, or milk.

Who shouldn’t drink pine needle tea?

You’ll wish to keep away from pine needle tea if in case you have a pine or conifer allergy. “For others, extra analysis is required to find out potential uncomfortable side effects,” says Spurgin. Since research on the results of pine needle tea on people are sparse, she says you’re greatest off consulting your health-care group if in case you have any medical circumstances, take medicines to handle them, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.