pine needle tea = lovely. simple, and full of vitamin C

I don't know if the hygienists knew of this, but the chances are, probably no -- since we have pretty much historically cut ourselves off from indigenous common knowledge.
(for example, the French-Canadian explorers were expiring from scurvy and finally thought to ask the Natives how they avoided this, and underneath all the pines where the men were being laid down, the story goes: they simply pointed up. I like to think they were not ONLY pointing to the obvious, but the delicate interplay of it all, which becomes simpler -and more obvious- as we become simpler.

i just tried my first cup of pine tea today, and I love it.
It reminds me, in some resonant way of rooibos(red bush)
which is also loaded with good minerals, etc.

the two together seem a good pairing. I likethat it's easy to collect the pine needles. I used the long needles of the white pine, and cut off the bases. I think this might be a good idea, in termsof taste. But I am also now wondering about making pine needle tincture.


Meanwhile--try it!

please note the caution, however. red all the way through.





ingredients

* Needles, flowers, and candles from yellow pine.

(note: many pines work--nut do avoid yew)

Directions

Crush and snip needles, flowers, and pine candles.
Meantime, boil a pot of water.
Place pine in boiling water, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep from 20 minutes to all night.
What you don't drink hot, refrigerate for a cold, refreshing drink.Experiment with proportions of pine needles to water.
The best tea will be a nice reddish color, and a small amount of oil will rise to the top.

This recipe makes a beautiful red tea, with a mild, pleasant taste. You can sweeten with honey if desired. If you drink this tea every day, it can relieve mild depression. Good for allergies too.

Note: If desired, you can simmer the tea awhile. It will be very strong, but will probably contain less vitamin C. Prepared this way, it is said to be good for coughs. It is also supposed to flush kidneys, although I have not noticed this effect.

Warning:I was looking at the recipes and noticed pine needles, upon looking at the
recipe I strongly felt the need to add a caution to this recipe; pregnant
women must NOT use this as pine needles will cause "abortion" this also
happens in cows, when they eat the pine needles they will drop their calf's
(dead) within a couple of days if not hours. Please add this caution.

Thank you

Tracy Sampson
NWSFA Project Coordinator
Nicola Tribal Association
Box 188
Merritt, BC
V1K 1B8





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