Harvesting and Dehydrating Pine Tips 

I absolutely LOVE my Stanley all-in-one, boil + brewer French Press! ❤️ It beats steeping my wild teas with a tea ball hands down. Hooking it to my belt is a bonus. Thank you for watching!

Agreed! I usually recommend low heat or no heat dehydration to maintain medicinal and vitamin quality. Thank you for watching!

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching!

Thank you very much!

Definitely! I use them for herbs, teas, and even as decoration with marbles we had as kids. Thank you for watching ❤️

That’s the first time I’ve heard that - haha! I never watched the Soprano’s but I’ll have to look her up.

Thank you for watching and for your comment!

Doug- you're welcome and thank you for watching!

Thank you for watching 😊

Hi Lilian! You're welcome and thanks for watching!!

You’re welcome and thank you for watching 😁

Thank you for watching! It’s great as a Vitamin C boost and we use it for tea every winter.

Great tip! I use honey and love that too :) Thanks for watching!

Glad you liked the video! Stay tuned for more :)

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve I'm form India are you know India country

Yes it is!! Thank you for watching our videos :) -Marilyn

Yes, we always note when giving foraging classes that it is important to know the area you are foraging and to be certain there aren't sprays being used. Even state forest areas may spray for things like EEE but they normally do have to post or provide information on this when asked. An informed forager is a smart forager!

Thank you! I'm not a fan either and it was so funny that I had said I was washing things off and going through to make sure there weren't any little "friends". My husband got the tick off and then was laughing so hard he said that had to go at the end of the video. Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! - Marilyn

That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for watching our videos! We're working on a video about dandelions and hope to have it done soon. Stay tuned! - Take care and God bless!-Marilyn

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve We just started looking into the Pine tea but all the videos we could find were for the needles. I love this option. Thanks Again!

You're very welcome, glad our information was helpful!

easy, have been harvesting mainly leaves, drying up and using in cooking or as a tea. Each part has its benefits.

That’s awesome! It’s great to have that on your own property. Thanks for watching.

That's awesome! We actually prefer air drying but inpatients sometimes wins and we break out the dehydrator. We also freeze dry if we are storing for long term.

Hi Sarah! Thanks for watching my videos. I had the same problem a few years ago but thanks to the power of Amazon and the building popularity of canning and jarring of dry goods, I finally found both the wide and regular mouth jar rubbers. I've attached a couple affiliate links to the ones I purchased and I've bought about 20 boxes already so I can use all my old jars- regular mouth: amzn.to/3ciaWSF and wide mouth: amzn.to/3gJNfX5 We use these for our dry goods we aren't jarring extra long term. Have a great time filling your jars and let me know if there are other canning or food prep videos you would like to see us cover!- Marilyn

Dinahmite Ideas thank you for watching! We were actually just talking about all the great things you can do with dandelions :) I've made tea with dandelion flowers and leaves and I've made a coffee substitute with the roots. I'll see about putting together a video all about the dandelion soon! The glass canning jars with the tops are just the old fashioned style canning jar. You can find them at yard sales, flea markets, and sometimes places like Goodwill. I was lucky enough to have gotten the ones my mom had so have a nice supply. Good luck in finding some for your pantry too. I've added a link in the video description for the rubber seals if you find some of the jars. Have an awesome weekend!-Marilyn

Thank you for your comment. I personally would not recommend using mulch as it is probably not "food grade" and may contain contaminants. Here is a link to pine needles specifically for tea - amzn.to/2SQauHS I will also add this to the video description for others that cannot collect Pine where they live.

I'll send you some. I live in Ct & I'm going to start selling them but I'll send you a huge bag of them to try for free. Let me know.

Pauline - Yes that would work as well. We dehydrate ours to keep freezer space available for other items as we are limited on freezer space. Thank you so much for watching our video and we are planning more foraging videos soon!

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve Hey, so instead of dehydrating, is freezing a good alternative?

I've personally never frozen pine tips but I'm sure it would work. Dehydrating, Freeze Drying, drying in a solar dehydrator or even an oven on the lowest heat possible all work as well. We dehydrate or freeze dry as it gives us the longest shelf life and doesn't load up our freezer which never has enough room :) Thanks for watching our video and following up on this question.

Thank you for watching!! In the video at 5:54 minutes in, there is a list on the screen of conifer trees that you can make tea from. Definitely DO NOT use needles from Yew trees.

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve Thank you!

Do not use Ponderosa Pine. It is toxic. White Pine and Red Pine varieties are best.

@@shawnabloom Thank you Shawna! I think that you are Beautiful Soul, serving the Light. Have a fantastic day. Love to you!!

@@rebeccaivaschenko7027 you are welcome!! I had to do quite a bit of research as we live in an area that is full of Bull-Pine (Ponderosa Pine) and that’s the common pine that grows wild in our area. Fortunately, the people that lived here before us had planted a live Christmas tree on the property which happened to be a red pine. It has thrived and that is the tree that I take my Pineneedles from as I know they are safe from that particular tree. If you don’t have red pine or white pine that grow naturally in your area, (we are on the west coast) you can always get a red pine at most nurseries and plant it. Or if you are on the East Coast you can find a white pine fairly easily. Hope that helps. 😊

I don’t cut the tips or needles smaller as I can crush them later if needed. Whenever you dehydrate time can vary. If you’re concerned check often to see if they are still damp or bend. The most important thing is to make sure your ingredients are fully dry so you don’t get mold.

The pine tips (needles) we discuss in our video are non-toxic, we discuss different uses in the video, I hope that information is helpful.

Possibly. It sounds totally feasible to me though I’ve never tried it myself 😊 Thanks for watching!!- Marilyn

Vivienne - You can definitely still pick the pine needles for tea in the fall and even in the winter. They may not have the same nutritional value or flavor as the tips but they are still loaded with Vitamin C among other things and a great boost to your immune system. Thank you for watching and happy harvesting!!!

The hemlock we referred to was the hemlock conifer tree which is not poisonous at all. There is also a plant that looks like a wild carrot called hemlock or poison hemlock which you should avoid and definitely not make a tea from. I'm sure there are some nutrients left in your pine needles but the best way is fresh and if you want to store them by drying them, the faster the processing time the more nutritious they will be. Freeze dried would be best, dehydrating with a dehydrator is good, hanging to dry is okay. Your method should work fine as long as there isn't any mold on the needles but also keep in mind the older they are the less nutritious and less flavor they will have.

April thank you for watching! We normally only collect from trees on our own property that we know have not been sprayed with any chemicals. We still wash off the pine tips and needles to make sure there isn't anything on them. If you're planning on collecting in an area where you are not certain what may have been used on the trees, you may want to check with the town responsible for that area to see if they know if the trees have been treated but I would suggest only collecting in areas you know are safe.

The loss of Vitamin C can vary from 30% to 60% depending on the type of pine and the drying method. The lower the heat used the less % you lose which is why we switched a lot of our drying to using a freeze dryer which keeps the most nutritional value. Dehydrating on the herb or lowest setting you have may take longer, but will retain more nutrients.

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve : thank you very much for your response. I suspected that it would be a great deal of loss like that. And that was the other thing on my mind, other methods to circumvent that problem, such as freeze drying or even possibly making a syrup that vitamin C would not get a chance to escape. Even then, so much would be lost with evaporation unless there was a Middle Eastern type terrine used, which prevents the escape of vapor. All the same, last night at the end of the day, I did go out and gather up some tips to dry. It’s well worth trying the original recipe first, before making any changes whatsoever in technique. I absolutely love pine tea, And can hardly wait to see how this tastes. :-). Thank you very much for this video! Edited to correct an “auto correct” error.

Myra- I wouldn't suggest giving it to pets personally but you can check with your vet to get their opinion. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more videos soon!

No we do not make DMSO. There are many listed potential bonuses and also side effects from DMSO so it is something we would recommend thorough research on before considering making on your own.

Telling the difference between the types of trees is normally done by the bark and the needles. Depending where you live, different species will be growing. It is best if you are going to forage from the wild that you take a class in your area given by certified professionals who can identify the different types of trees and plants that are safe in your specific area. Thank you for watching and leaving us a comment!

You can use hand sanitizer for both. The alcohol breaks down the sap but it’s gentle enough not to burn your hands and it won’t hurt you cloths. After rubbing it into the sap on your cloths and scrubbing off the sap, put your cloths in the wash as normal. The should work on most materials. Isn’t sap fun? 🤣

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve it’s so wonderful. I haven’t had luck getting it out but I haven’t tried hand sanitizer. Thank you!😊

We have listed in the video conifers to try at 5:54 and the only one we know of to NOT use are from Yew trees.

Hi Momo Gobbo and thanks for watching our videos!! Yes you can do the same for pine needles. You can dehydrate in an oven though you have to be very careful of your temperature. Normal dehydrators do herbs at approximately 95 degrees Fahrenheit and most ovens only go as low as 170 degrees Fahrenheit and you run the risk of actually cooking them instead of dehydrating them which can cause you to lose the nutritional value of your herbs. You can also dehydrate herbs by hanging them in a dry area the gets a breeze like they used to do years ago! I hope this information is helpful and again, thank you for watching our videos and sharing our adventures!! - Marilyn

Would it work to freeze the pine tips in small freezer bags?

Yes you can freeze the pine tips as well but we choose to dehydrate ours to keep freezer space available for other items as we are limited on freezer space.

​@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve If dehydrating pine needles, I know you need to use the herb setting on the dehydrator. Do you cut them before dehydrating them? Do the pine needles dehydrate for the 4 hours even though they are thinner? Thank you

When we collect the pine tips we are cutting most of them at 1-3 inch lengths when gathering them so there is no need for us to cut them smaller. Pine needles don't have to be cut either. You can cut either one smaller if putting in a small tea-ball for ease of use. The length of time you dehydrate the needles or tips can vary depending on humidity so it's great to check them every few hours. The important thing to remember is they need to be dry - they should snap not bend so you know you are eliminating the possibility of mold if you're planning on storing them. Thank you for watching and commenting!

I normally use a tea-ball with the pine tips inside it loosely packed. I'd say ultimately try it with a small amount an see how you like the flavor. Like any kind of tea, the longer it steeps the stronger it gets :) Thanks again for watching!! - Marilyn

Great information! What’s the taste difference between the pine tips and the pine needles? Is one or the other better medicinally?

Medicinally they are basically the same. I prefer the taste of the pine tips as I feel they are a bit more citrus flavored and as new growth may contain a bit more of the nutrients as the tree is sending all its energy in to their production.

Lilian, We would suggest you never put oxygen absorbers in a jar with anything that has 10% moisture or more. If you are concerned about moisture, try using silica packets like you get in things like vitamins or other items that need to be kept dry. Oxygen absorbers are to remove oxygen, not moisture. If you add an oxygen absorber to an item that has 10% moisture or more you run the risk of creating botulism. I would suggest reading on both silica packs and oxygen absorbers as it can get confusing based on what you are trying to store and the best way to keep it for storage without potentially causing other issues. Thank you for asking the question as I'm sure there are a lot of other people who don't realize the difference and the risks.

I normally brew by the pot but for a 16 oz cup you can start with about 1 Tbsp of dried pine needles or 2 Tbsp of fresh. It really is to taste though, so you may decide to use a little more or a little less. The strength will also vary depending on how long you let it steep. Start with 10 minutes, taste and decide if it needs more time. Thanks for watching.

@@KeepingItRielwithMarilynSteve thank you.... that gives me a starting point and I can adjust to taste... stay safe & healthy friend

Yes you can eat the pine tips raw. Hikers often refer to this as "Trailside nibbling". Thanks for watching our videos and for your question!! - Marilyn

The tree in the video is an Eastern White Pine also known as a Five Needle Pine. Thank you for watching!!

Thank you for watching!! In the video at 5:54 minutes in, there is a list on the screen of conifer trees that you can make tea from. Definitely DO NOT use needles from Yew trees.

Telling the difference between the types of trees is normally done by the bark and the needles. Depending where you live, different species will be growing. It is best if you are going to forage from the wild that you take a class in your area given by certified professionals who can identify the different types of trees and plants that are safe in your specific area. Thank you for watching and leaving us a comment!

SunnyDay, thank you so much for watching and leaving a comment on our video! We don't sell pine needles or pine tips but there are sellers on Amazon, just always make sure what they are selling is food grade not craft or mulch grade.

This video was made the end of May (Memorial Day Weekend) which was a great time for harvesting the pine tips in our area. This timing may vary depending where you live.

There is no guarantee of "no side effects" from any natural remedy which is why I always recommend doing your own research and checking with your doctor before trying something new. I do note in the video at 5:54 a list of conifers to try excluding YEW trees (toxic) and a helpful comment from @shawna marie bloom notes that the Ponderosa Pine -also known as bull-pine in her area is also not to be used as it is also toxic. Normally White Pine and Red Pine are the two most commonly used pine trees. Thank you for watching and commenting!

Yes, you can freeze them as well.

I'm not a fan of any kind of tick :) reminds me of an armored spider - ha ha. Thanks for watching and have an awesome summer!!

Thank you for your comment. That is a very respectful practice. We should all appreciate what nature has to offer us.

I totally agree. We’re all part of nature and it’s a good respectful way to ask if there is something you want that’s not yours. That’s why I am a vegetarian, because I can’t ask an animal if I can have a piece of their body on my plate.

Hmm...I think God already gave permission....when u pick instead of talking to the trees...how about just thanking the creator of the trees for providing nature in general for us to glean from.🙂

@@Beyondme7700 Amen. 😊💕

I must say, the native way, because we are the traditional caretakers of said medicine we always remember to never take without giving back. We show respect for what the creator has given to us by giving way for regeneration of the plant and only taking what we need. We do not over harvest we take what we need so others including animals can eat of the plant depending on what it is. I was taught to harvest every 3rd branch of whatever I'm harvesting. For me and from what I understand it IS about respecting and honoring what Creator has created in a sacred way. You would still ask permission to borrow something from your neighbor wouldn't you? Respect is respect. The most high put a piece of his spirit in every living thing including you yourself who has breath in your lungs each day. Intentionally giving him thanks for and in everything that we do shows the greatest respect honor and gratitude thus anointing and blessing you your family and your medicines. This is why we sing a song or say a prayer before harvesting or leave tobacco. I always say a prayer or sing a song to the creator the most high in highest sincere gratitude and connection to what he has given to our people and given to nourish the land and soil. This makes the medicine stronger. Your intention and connection matters whether you realize it or not. In the same way that your intention affects the ripple patterns of WATER and is a matter of negative self talk or joy laughter song etc. Or even...nothing at all. Which would create nothing. If you dont have intentional respect and love for what you gather it will not be as good. And I proudly serve The great I Am and his only begotten son! All praises to the most high for THAT💕have a blessed day! #Exodus3:14-15KJV

Yes! You can use your oven set at it's lowest temp (I mention this in the video) or you can use them fresh any time of year, or you can air dry them by spreading them out on a piece of screen. Thank you for watching!

A lot of people confuse the name “hemlock”. We are talking about the evergreen hemlock tree which is very different from the poison hemlock plant. The only thing they share is a name. They are very different species.

Vivienne- The needles nutritional value is great no matter what time of year so pick as many as you need now to hold you through for tea until next spring. The needles are very woody and may not contain the same amount of nutritional value or flavor but are still great for helping to boost your immune system. If you saw the clip at the end of the video you know we had issues with ticks here when I did the video as well :) Thanks for watching and happy picking!