River Cottage

Also seem to recal a RC prog recently when H F-W was collecting them but seem to recall that was for burning to cook with - mussles? maybe?

im not sure of the process he used but when i was on holiday a short time ago, the owner of the taverna we used gave us free liqueur shots each night of different flavours, one of which was a pine based liqueur. he wouldnt tell us how to make it though, he was quite protective of his family recipes.

but the pine liqueur was very unusual and had a strong pine taste i liked it i think you can use pine needles for the flavour but i would removed them as a waste product before eating or drinking though

How SURE are you that it wasn't toilet duck!    

It was probably derived from Pine resin, rather than pine needles - as per retsina, the greek pine-flavoured wine.

Hi Tommy and everyone. Hmm, pine needles? I am wondering why anyone would want to eat them??

Although having said that, I am sure you all know that Moomins always line their stomachs with pine needles before hibernating. What's that - you didn't know?

Roger Philips mentions pine needle tea in Wild Food, and does not say they are poisonous.

Plants for a Future have a great database, have a look at

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus sylvestris

They mention cooking with the inner bark, not the leaves, and medicinal use of the leaves.

For some reason the link took me to the Balsam Pine which is not the Scots Pine it should have led to. At the beginning it said that contact with the leaves could cause contact dermatitis. The inner bark is suggested variously as good to eat uncooked or emergency food only. Other parts used were the tips of the branches which will be softer than the leaves.

I would suggest not using pine needles to eat as there is some doubt. If you do feel you have to experiment, get as much information about the food as you can suggesting that it is edible including anything it shouldn't be taken with (some fungi must not be eaten with alcohol, even beer, for instance). Only have a small amount and never give it to anyone else. Make sure someone else knows what you have eaten so they can tell A&E in case it goes wrong.

It's pine resin the Greeks put in retsina, isn't it?

I am still a bit baffled why anyone would want to eat pine needles! can understan using them as a flavouring, scent or for burning on top of mussels ( i really want to try that!), but eating...

I've never heard of eating pine needels but I have had retsina made from pine needels. This christmas we also bought a four box set of historic Scotish ales one of which was made from pine needels.