How peaceful to take deep, slow breaths wandering among the tall pines of Brandon Country Park! Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is the ancient Japanese practice of walking slowly and intentionally in the woods, absorbing their quiet healing powers. Cool, lemony pine is a particularly calming fragrance for mind, body and spirit. So good you could drink it! We’re not even joking…herbalists and indigenous peoples have been brewing pine needle tea for centuries. It’s the perfect natural remedy for winter sniffles, a known decongestant and expectorant with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to boot!

So take a thermos flask of boiled water on woodland walks and you’ll be ready for an impromptu foraged brew!

The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) makes fabulous tea and is easily identified by clusters of 5 long needles growing brush-like from each branch. WARNING! Some conifers are toxic to humans so, as with all foraging, be 100% certain you’re taking the needles from the right kind of tree and don’t leave room for any doubt.

Once you’re sure it’s safe, gather your needles and perch on a sheltered tree stump to rustle up a brew. Here’s how:

• take a fist full of clean, green pine needles
• snip them into small pieces (discard the brown bit holding the cluster together)
• Steep the chopped needles covered by 2 cups of boiled water (take a thermos flask)
• Leave 10-15 minutes

Strain, sweeten with honey if you fancy. Thank the trees. Breathe deeply. And enjoy.