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Edible parts
- Young needles (lightest in colour)
- Young green shoots in May (spring tips)
Recognition
- Scots pine identified by blue-green needles in pairs
- Red/orange bark in upper crown, grey bark below
- Cones are rounded, grey-brown
- Resin scent when needles rubbed
Preparation tips
- Tea: handful of young needles in hot water (not boiling), 10 min
- Young shoots eat raw or process in syrup
- NOT: yew (Taxus baccata) — yew needles are DEADLY TOXIC
Dangerous lookalikes
- Yew (Taxus baccata) — red berries, DEADLY TOXIC — identify: needles arranged flat, not in pairs
Medicinal use
- Exceptionally rich in vitamin C (5x more than orange)
- Historically used to prevent scurvy
- Antibacterial, antiseptic (external use)
Never eat a plant you can't identify with certainty. If in doubt, leave it.
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