Jake & I made pine needle tea while camping in Hoosier National Forest.
First, gather pine needles. Avoid dry needles if possible; they lack flavor & nutrients. Try to harvest ones that appear to be young and healthy. Pick out & discard the driest ones.
Wash the needles if necessary.
Wash the needles if necessary.
Next, put the pine needles into the water to soak for a few minutes before turning on the heat source. Boil the water and needles for at least 3 minutes.
Then, cover the and allow the needles to continue steeping for another 3-5 minutes.
Once ready, the pine needles will be softened from their original state. A slight change in color might also be noticeable. Allow the tea to cool to the desired temperature and drink.
It's not a necessity to transfer the tea to a new mug or to remove the pine needles before drinking; it's merely a preference. I do not usually remove mine.
