Doug Fir branch tips are the newest and are usually a lighter green color. They are tender and edible, and can become a tea rich in vitamin C. An infusion of the needles can also be beneficial as a healing wash for arthritis. Most conifers are not only edible, but they are also medicinal.
Every part is useful, including bark, needles, resin, nuts, and cones. All pines, firs and firs have edible needles. They often have different flavors, so it's worth trying other coniferous species to see which one you prefer. What you might not have thought could be edible is a pine needle.
Pine needles are edible when prepared correctly, that is, in the form of tea. Collect the required amount of pine needles, cut them finely and fill them with hot water. After infusing the tea, strain the needles, and voila, the drink will be ready. Allow them to dry in a basket or gently tap the needles with a spoon to release compounds, which will also produce more flavor for immediate use.
After all, any part of pine, whether pineapple, pine needle, pine pollen, walnuts, or inner bark, is a great source of vitamin C. Pine needles have a stronger, woody flavor profile than spruce and fir, which has a more citrus flavor. Almost every part of the tree can be used in a survival situation, from using the sap to make a lamp, waterproofing buckets with pine tar, or adding pine nuts to dinner. Honestly, I've never heard of this topic even in years of looking for pine, but I did some research to make sure you were.
In addition to that, imagine that you are lost in the middle of a pine forest with no hope of getting food because your fishing rod or YoYo reels are lost along with the rest of your equipment. When the water acquires a color similar to green tea, you can drink it, having previously filtered the needles. In addition to pine nuts, very few people would consider pine trees when thinking about having a snack or a drink. An edible pine tree can save your life if you run out of food and only have a knife or sharp object.
This post focuses on everything related to pine needles, from how to feed them to what to do with them, including how to make tea from pine needles, as well as a summary of five pine needle recipes. Similar to harvesting bark, intentionally injuring a tree to harvest pine resin will leave a scar on a tree and provide access to insects and microbes that could stunt or kill the tree. Many people don't even imagine that they will be in the middle of an excellent food source if they get lost in a pine forest. There are many pine trees with edible pine needles such as fir pine and only a handful of inedible pine trees that people should watch out for.
Of course, nothing is 100% sure and everyone reacts to plants in different ways, but there is no evidence that pine needles cause problems in pregnant women (at least I can find that, reviewing studies on pine needles and abortions). Pine tea is the reason people of southern New Jersey are often referred to as “a pine tree,” which is sometimes considered an insult, as those living in South Jersey are often considered “lower class, poorer in education, medical and dental care.”.
