Can you make alcohol out of pine needles?

Answer 1

Yes, you can make a tea out of pine needles. The tea is high in vitamins A and C and was used by Native Americans to prevent scurvy and coughs among other things. Researchers from the Institute on Aging at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea found that, "pine needles exhibit strong antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antiproliferative effects on cancer cells and also antitumor effects in vivo and point to their usefulness in cancer prevention." see link below

Additionally, researchers at Yeungnam University College of Medicine found, "pine needle water extract may be considered for use in therapy to control obesity." see link below

Some websites claim pine needle tea shouldn't be consumed by pregnant women due to a danger of miscarriage.

Also, be sure to distinguish pine needles from the broad, flat "needles" of the yew tree which are toxic.

Answer 2

Yes

Here is the recipe

Ingredients:

Half a dozen of pine needles

1 bowl of water from boiled potatoes (This makes yeast)

1 cup of sugar

Some water

Method:

1. Pour the sugar into a bottle

2. Pour the water from the boiled potatoes into the bottle.

3. Put the pine needles into the bottle.

4. Pour the water into the bottle.

5. Put the cap on the bottle tightly and allow the beverage to ferment for a few weeks until the bottle feels solid.