How to make pine-needle tisane?

Appreciated for their beautiful silhouettes and delightful scents, pines are also useful for gardening, cosmetics and herbal medicine. If the bark and pine needles can be used as mulch in the garden, the needles also allow production of essential oil, bath products and soaps, as well as cleaning products. It is even possible to prepare a delicious homemade herbal tea. Discover how to make a tea with pine needles.

Which pines to use?

Scots pine is most used in herbal medicine and most recommended for consumption. It is therefore best to limit to this species for making a pine needle tea.
At ripeness reaching a height of 30 metres, Scots pine offers a slim silhouette and an irregular habit. It is recognised by its scaly bark of salmon colour and its light needles of a fine grey‑blue green. Hardy and drought‑resistant, it grows quickly in well‑drained soil.
For use in tea, we advise favouring a Scots pine grown organically, without pesticidal or chemical products.
Be careful, yew is toxic and therefore must be avoided for teas and any consumption.

What are the benefits of pine needles?

Pine needles are said to be used for their expectorant, antiseptic and calming properties on the breathing tracts. They are also said to be rich in vitamin C.
In some people, the pinene contained in pine needles can trigger a contact allergy. Use of Scots pine is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for children.

How to make a pine needle tea?

Tea is made from preferably fresh Scots pine needles. But it is also possible to drink teas made from dried needles.
Rinse pine needles under water and remove brown parts by cutting them with a pair of scissors.
Cut the needles into small pieces.
Heat a large cup of water in a saucepan, adding one tablespoon of fresh needles.
Bring to the boil for 1 minute and steep covered for about 10 minutes.
Strain out the pine needles and pour into a large cup to drink.
You can also leave the pine needles in the cup and wait for them to sink to the bottom (careful not to eat them, of course!).
Taste the tea and add sugar or honey if needed. You can also add a dash of lemon juice to taste. Consume in moderation.