Ever tried Pine tea? Its purported to have up to 5 times the concentration of Vitamin C you’d find in a lemon. The Native Americans are generally credited with generously introducing the brew to scurvy-ravaged European sailors who infamously arrived on their shores in the 16th Century.
The actual process for making pine tea appears to be relatively simple. You heat up some water until it’s hot but not boiling, add a portion of pine needles, and then leave to infuse for approximately half an hour. Different Christmas tree varieties will produce different flavours and many people tend to use honey or sugar as a sweetener. However, if you are going to give pine tea a whirl make sure you steer clear of using the needles of the yew tree as these can be highly toxic! Pine tea connoisseurs suggest that varieties such as Blue spruce or Nordmann Fir might be the best option for those of you willing to try a new brew.