Nature Tea: Foraging For Herbs

Foraging for herbs to create nature tea is a wonderful way to experience nature. We have been trying to add more movement and nature into our lives and nature herbal tea is a great way to do so!

My Introduction To Nature Tea

The idea of nature tea is not a new one for me. It has been many years in the making.

When my eldest was in kindergarten (he’s now 12), we joined a local homeschool group. One of our field trips was a nature walk with an amazing guide. It was early spring and the migratory birds were using parts of the escarpment where thermals helped lift them up the edge of the natural landscape. The woman who ran the tour, Carla, was so incredibly knowledgeable; sharing her knowledge on the local animals and environment.

The walk was not designed for plant identification but as we walked, she would point out different plants. The kids (and parents/caregivers) touched and smelled certain plants to see if any of them could identify what they were. She showed us the variety of plants that could be used for food in an emergency (with strong disclaimers of making sure you knew what you were picking before eating it).

We had signed up for a nature tour to learn about migratory birds but instead was my first introduction to wildcrafting and herbalism – and I didn’t even realize it at the time.

One piece of information that really stood out to me was pine needle tea.

Pine Needle Tea

“Take a handful of pine needles and put them in a glass jar full of water. Leave the jar in the sunlight to infused. If at home, use boiling water to speed up the process. What you are left with is a delicious tea rich in vitamin C.”

My jaw dropped. Mind blown.

Before this moment, I had no clue that simple pine needles could be used in a delicious and nutritious tea. I had no clue about herbalism and, honestly, at that moment my life changed.

I cannot remember if this piece of advice was given on our migratory bird walk or on another of the nature walks I took with Carla (I went on every single one she offered for the group). But I am not exaggerating that my life changed. I had always been a fan of nature but at that moment I realized there was a whole other level of interaction with my natural environment that I had been missing. Nature had so many hidden secrets I was just beginning to uncover.

I wish we still lived in that area because I would be on one of her walks every time she offers them! I highly recommend finding a person who is passionate about their craft like Carla. It makes learning so much easier!

Grow Wild

Fast forward almost a decade. I was reading the book Grow Wild by Katy Bowman. In the preorder kit for the book, there is a 30 Ways To Move More With Kids pdf (see more about this in my review).

One of the items on that list is to search out nature tea.

10 years later and my life is coming full circle back around to the memory of Carla sharing her knowledge of pine needle tea.

We happened to be on vacation visiting family, so I took my kids on a hike through the woods on our family property to see what we could find for nature tea. I knew that there was mint in one of the garden beds – it has been there for decades, perhaps even almost a century. It had been years since I had been to the area of the property and was unsure if the plants were still there. Perhaps someone had dug them up and planted something else in its place.

We found the mint. The plant was as gorgeous and abundant and I remember it being as a child.

On our walk, we also kept our eyes open for other goodies. It is amazing what you can find when you are willing to look for it. We gathered mint, dandelion greens, and pine needles.

We couldn’t forget the pine needles.

Herbs For Nature Tea

Depending on where you live, the herbs you choose for nature tea may vary.

There are so many different herbs you can use. Make sure you do your research to know which plants are safe and how to properly identify the plants you are harvesting.

You can go foraging for plants or plant your own nature tea garden.

Some of my favourite plants for tea are:

• Mint
• Dandelion
• Camomile
• Lavender
• Rosehips
• Thyme

Even if you cannot forage wild plants or from a garden, don’t forget about the grocery store! Mint, thyme, and basil can be found in most grocery stores. Perhaps, instead of walking into the woods, you take the time to walk to your local grocery store. Using fresh herbs, no matter how you obtained them, is a different experience from simply using a tea bag or ordering tea from the cafe.

This website offers a list of many other herbs you can use. Just remember that there are plants and herbs that can be toxic, so research which plants you want to use to make sure they are safe for consumption.