Many people are familiar with pine needle or pine bud tea, but have you ever tried tea made from spruce, fir, or even juniper berries? Conifer-based teas can be a valuable addition to your pantry, especially during winter, when fresh herbs are scarce. These teas are rich in vitamins and can provide relief from cold symptoms. They also offer several other health benefits. You may prepare it as quickly as your usual cup of tea. Let’s explore what you should know about harvesting, preparing, and enjoying conifer tea.
Which Conifers Are Suitable for Tea?
Teas made from conifer trees typically use the needles or buds of species like fir, spruce, and pine. The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is easy to recognize—its needles are 4–8 cm long and grow in pairs. Spruce (Picea) and fir (Abies) have shorter, densely packed needles that cover the branches more thickly. Some common species used for tea include
- Norway spruce (P. abies)
- Blue spruce (P. pungens)
- White spruce (P. glauca)
- White fir (A. concolor)
- Balsam fir (A. balsamea)
- Noble fir (A. procera)
Juniper tea, often made from the ripe blue cones (commonly called berries) of Juniperus communis, is also popular for its medicinal properties. While drinking juniper tea is generally safe in small amounts, you should consult your doctor before consuming it regularly.
Other less common conifers like larch (Larix decidua), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) may also be used, but reliable information about their safety and health benefits is limited. Traditional medicine uses some of these conifers for their bark rather than needles. But their potent effects require professional guidance.
Which Conifers You Should Avoid?
Not all needle-bearing plants are safe for tea. Proper identification is essential. Some essential warnings include:
- Urban or ornamental conifers may be contaminated with pollutants or treated with pesticides.
- Yew (Taxus spp.) is especially toxic, and you should never use it. You may mistake it for spruce or fir, but it has red-orange berries.
- Cedar species used in landscaping may contain harmful compounds in large amounts.
- Scientists have studied juniper berries extensively, but they haven’t thoroughly examined the needles. These needles’ impact on the kidneys and digestive system could be significant, so moderation is key.
- Araucaria, a spiny indoor plant that resembles a spruce, is mildly toxic and unsuitable for tea.
How and When to Harvest Conifer Materials?
You can harvest most conifer needles year-round, though late fall and winter are ideal due to the scarcity of other herbs.
- Pine buds: Gather in early spring (February–March) before they open from mature trees (10+ years old). Collect from the lower branches only.
- Pine needles: Pick in winter, remove the twigs, rinse well, and store them in a cold, dry place.
- Spruce fir needles: Snip small green tips from branches with scissors to avoid harming the tree. Spring shoots are suitable for tea when fresh.
- Juniper berries: Harvest them in fall; elsewhere, collect them through winter.
You can use all plant parts fresh, dried, or frozen for later use.
Health Benefits of Conifer Tea
The soothing scent of conifer tea by itself can evoke a feeling of tranquility. Its flavor is refreshing, often with subtle citrus notes. But beyond taste and scent, these teas offer numerous health advantages:
- High in vitamin C and antioxidants
- It may support immune function, heart health, and digestion.
- They ease cold symptoms, coughs, and sore throats.
- Possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer properties.
- Support urinary tract health and help reduce inflammation.
- While pine bud tea is well-known, other conifer-based teas offer comparable benefits.
How to Prepare Conifer Tea
The preparation depends on your taste preference and desired effects. You can use either fresh or dried needles, with or without twigs. Here are two popular methods:
Method 1—Simmering:
- Place a handful of whole or a few tablespoons of crushed needles in a saucepan.
- Add 2 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Let it steep for 5 more minutes.
- Strain and enjoy.
Method 2 – Steeping:
- Put 1 tablespoon of crushed or a small handful of whole needles in a cup.
- Pour boiling water over them.
- Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain before drinking.
- Crushed needles will yield a stronger flavor and color.
When to Avoid Conifer Tea?
Be sure to consult a healthcare professional before regularly consuming conifer tea, particularly if you have any pre-existing health conditions. Important cautions include:
Medication interactions: Juniper berries may interfere with drugs for diabetes or low blood sugar.
Blood clotting: Pine tea may increase clotting, so it is unsuitable for people with heart disease or severe liver, kidney, or digestive disorders.
Kidney stress: Juniper berries strongly affect the kidneys and digestive system.
Pregnancy: Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid conifer due to the risk of miscarriage and lack of investigation.
Do not offer this tea to young children.
Sources:
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/conifer-needle-tea/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-pine-needle-tea
https://arboretumfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/alexander_edible-conifers.pdf
https://bonsaialchemist.com/learning-center/general-guides/can-you-eat-juniper-needles/
https://www.iscientific.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/10-IJCBS-16-09-10.pdf
Associative pictures ©canva.
