Knowledgebase

Pine Needle Tea? #167065

Asked February 16, 2014, 3:19 PM EST

I have been curious about making pine needle tea for a while.  There are a few kinds of evergreen in the backyard, and if you could tell me which kind of pines (if any) are suitable for making tea with, it would be greatly appreciated! 

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

All pine tree needles are toxic when they are consumed in considerable amounts. This is because all pine needles contain toxins such as resins and mycotoxins. These toxins can produce adverse reactions in animals, especially livestock. The amount in tea will be small but some people are sensitive or allergic to pine resins or pollen and even small amounts could make them ill. In your culinary adventures be sure to distinguish between pines and other evergreens. Yew is a very toxic evergreen.
Your question is outside of the expertise of this forum. Researching this topic at the library or on line would be a way to find out which varieties or stages of growth are the tastiest. Many things are edible or not toxic but are unpalatable.

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