Pine Needle Soda – A Homemade Sprite

Pine Needle Soda is a fizzy soda made with 3 ingredients. Also called pine needle Sprite, this soda recipe is a foraged and fermented drink with a distinct citrusy pine needle taste. 

Pine trees are fascinating with their appearance, scent, and even their distinct citrus flavor with a hint of mint. In addition, they have a high vitamin C content, making them a valuable immune-boosting source. 

Once you get familiar with the conifers, you can use them in natural remedies (cough syrup or spruce tips tincture) or even use them in homemade cosmetics.

What type of pine Needles are Edible

Pine trees from the Pinaceae family are edible and can be found throughout the year. The easiest way to identify them is by examining their needles, which are not flat and you can roll them between the fingers. These needles grow in clusters of 2 to 5, known as fascicles, and are recognized for their strong aroma.

When foraging for pine needles, look for a local species and research it to avoid mistakenly harvesting toxic yew, which has flat needles with a white underside. If you’re uncertain, this foraging book shoud help you out.

Additionally, some studies have raised concerns about potential dangers associated with Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), which may cause abortion in pregnant cattle. It remains unclear whether these effects extend to humans, so it’s best to avoid them if you are pregnant.

White Pine Needles

Several pine species make delicious pine needle soda, but the most popular is Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), known for its excellent flavor. 

Native to North America, this tree is unique because it has five needles per bundle, while Yellow Pine or red pine (Pinus resinosa) has only two or three needles per bundle.

This fast-growing evergreen features long blue-green needles, which are different from the brighter green needles of some other pines. You can also see a thin line on the underside of the needle, which is a row of stomata.

Alternatively,  you can also use other edible conifer needles like Douglas Fir, or spruce needles.

Benefits to forage white pine

White pine needles had been used since the 16th century when sailors faced scurvy due to a lack of vitamin C during long voyages. Jacques Cartier documented how his crew used a decoction made from the needles and bark of evergreen conifers, later known as “Annedda,” highlighting its remarkable healing properties and earning it the nickname “tree of life” or “arbre de vie.”

This study confirms that they also have a high level of antioxidants, which may help inhibit the growth of leukemia cells.

In addition to being rich in vitamin C, pine needles are also high in vitamin A, which is beneficial for eyesight and bone health. It also supports healthy skin and hair. Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, a little fat is needed for absorption; a spoonful of whole milk or cream should suffice.

Lastly, this study suggests that drinking pine needles concoction can boost mood and have an antidepressant effect.

Tools

• Fine mesh strainer
• Funnel
• Flip top bottle, however you may also use a screw top glass jar or a mason jar.

Ingredients to make pine needle soda

Pine needles

It may surprise you, but we won’t be using store-bought yeast in this recipe to start the fermentation. Instead, we’ll use wild yeast, which people have used for thousands of years to ferment drinks and make bread rise. This wild yeast naturally exists on the surface of pine needles as an invisible layer. To ensure successful fermentation, avoid washing the needles. It is the best to collect your pine needles after a good rain and just mechanically remove any dirt or debris.

This wild yeast interacts with the sugars in honey in the mixture.

I used whole pine bundles, including a small piece of the branch. Whole bundles seemed to ferment better and faster than cut pine needles, but feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. You can also use dried pine needles

Filtered Water

Use filtered, bottled or spring water. Avoid using tap water as some municipalities have additives that may inhibit the growth of yeast.

Honey

I used raw honey as the enzymes and wild yeasts present in raw honey can help promote fermentation. You can also substitute it with other natural sugars like brown sugar or maple syrup.

Pine Needle soda recipe

First Step: Prepare the pine needles.

Once you identify the pine needles, observe them to remove any dirt or debris. You can chop some of them to help to release their flavor. However, leave the rest with the wooden ends that help with fermentation. Put the pine needles into the flip top bottle

Second step: Add water and honey

Pour over the water to cover all pine needles but leave some space at the top so there is a room for air bubbles during fermentation. Add raw honey and close the bottle with caps or corks. Shake the bottle well to distribute the honey and mix it with the mix with the yeast on the pine needles.

Third step: Ferment the soda

Let the bottles sit at room temperature for 1-3 days to ferment. Avoid direct sunlight, find some place you can check them daily to release excess pressure by opening the caps slightly. I lost two corks during this process. It took 3 days for the soda to start fermenting and producing carbonation. Be careful when opening the bottle as it is very bubbly.

Fourth step: Strain the soda

Remove the needles by straining the soda with a fine mesh sieve. Put the bottle in the refrigerator to stop the fermentation.

How to serve it?

Serve this fizzy soda with pine needles cold, poured directly from the bottle into a glass. Add ice cubes and garnish it with citrus slices, like orange or lemon. Consider adding a sprig of fresh pine needles

You can also mix the Pine Soda with with orange juice or a splash of ginger to create a unique mocktail. 

For adult version, serve it with spirits like gin vodka or orange liqueur to create a fancy cocktail, 

Does Pine Needle soda contain alcohol?

This Pine Needle Soda can contain a small amount of alcohol due to fermentation, but negligible, similar to kombucha or non alcoholic beer. During fermentation, wild yeast converts sugars (from the honey) into alcohol and carbon dioxide, creating fizzy effects.

If you allow the fermentation to continue longer, the alcohol content can increase, but if you refrigerate it promptly and consume it within a few days, it should remain low.

How does Pine needle soda taste?

Pine Needle Soda has a refreshing and unique flavor, combining a light citrusy taste with subtle earthy and herbal notes. The natural sweetness from the honey balances out the slightly resinous pine flavor and creates a crisp taste similar to a mild herbal tonic.

When carbonated, the fizz adds a bright, bubbly sensation that makes it feel similar to sparkling lemonade or a homemade “Sprite,” but with a wild, foraged twist.