How to Make Flavorful Pine Needle Sun Tea

Pine needle sun tea is high in Vitamins A and C. One can actually taste a sour spurt of vitamin C after chewing a couple pine needles. Though it takes a bit longer than pine needle tea where you boil the pine needles, there is a slightly different taste and aroma that I prefer. This can be attributed to the sun slowly heating the water surrounding the pine needles to let the vitamin C release into the tea.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pine needles
• aluminum foil
• glass jar
• warm sunny day

1. Break off a handful of pine needles from the end of a pine tree branch. Try to get a little sprig. (It is better to get the younger pine needles at the end of the branch.)

2. Rinse it in cold water to get rid of any debris.

3. Grab a clean jar. (I usually use a clear glass jar because plastic isn’t good to heat and it’s fun to see the pine needles in the tea.)

4. Stick the sprig of pine needles into the jar. Cover the top of the jar with aluminum foil.

5. Put it outside all day in a place where there is direct sunlight on it. The sun and time are the essential ingredients here. (If you look closely, you can see bubbles form on the pine needles and release into the water.)

6. After keeping the jar out in the sun all day, take off the cover from the jar and enjoy! (I like to leave the sprig inside my jar because it enhances the aroma of the pine needle tea.)

Tips & Warnings

• Drink it slowly and breathe in deeply the freshness of the pine needles in your pine needle sun tea. It’s best when it’s still warm from the sun’s rays.

[soanyway]

on 11/7/2009 I guessing you cover the pine needles with water? I have never heard of this...but I have hundreds of pines all around me and will definitely try this! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward to all! ;-)