Did you know that Pine trees are edible? In fact, the consumption of Pine trees dates all the way back to our ancient Native American ancestors. Everything from pine nuts to pine resin can serve a culinary or digestive purpose, and taste good too! So if you ever come across baked pine cones on a restaurant menu, you won’t be completely shocked; nor will you be turned off by the idea of ordering them! You’ll see that Pine treats are a unique and surprisingly healthy choice, as well as an experience you won’t soon forget.

Continue reading to learn 5 ways you can enjoy eating a pine tree.

❶ Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are more common, so you may have already known about them. You may have even had them before! They are available at many health food stores, raw or roasted, but you can just pick them from your own trees yourself. Pine nuts are actually the seeds, and you can remove them from the husk and eat them raw, or enjoy them roasted. If you want to pick a lot at one time, roasting them wil increase their shelf life.

❷ Pine Needles

Okay, so now you might be out of your comfort zone. Pine needles are spikey, after all. But don’t worry; they are not meant to be eaten. Instead, you can steep pine needles in boiling water to make a delicious and soothing tea. They are a terrific source of Vitamin C too. However, not all species are safe to eat. There are three pine trees to avoid: the Yew (Taxus), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucana heterophylla), and the Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa).

❸ Pine Cones

As mentioned, you might find baked pine cones on a menu. But there are other ways to enjoy pine cones too. They are commonly boiled, but you can also use the springtime pollen of male pine cones (they are smaller) to create a thickening agent. This is great for broths, stews, and even flour. Just be sure to pick pine cones from the tips of branches.

❹ Pine Resin

Do you like to chew gum? The ancient Native Americans chewed on pine resin to treat joint pain and for its antibacterial qualities. You can also steep pine resin boiling water to make tea. This has been said to settle an upset stomach and alleviate arthritis symptoms.

❺ Inner Bark

The inner bark of a pine tree is also edible, and perhaps one of the most versatile constituents. You can boil it, bake it, roast it, or eat it raw. You can even fry it! Just be sure you don’t just cut into a live pine tree. Look for fallen branches to use instead.

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