Baby, it's cold outside, which means it's time for festive drinks that warm the body and free your mind from the stresses of the season. But after you get done trimming your tree, save some of those pine, spruce, and fir needles for your teas and cocktails. It might sound unconventional and you probably won't find this tip in our ultimate tea guide , but Julia Georgallis , who combines food with the arts and is the author of " How To Eat Your Christmas Tree " told Daily Meal in an interview that your fragrant Christmas tree is what your tea and boozy drinks are missing.
Weird? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. If you're transforming those needles into a tea, Georgallis said, "Spruce and fir have a lot more flavor than pine, so are better for teas and tisanes.
" Add pine needles to your loose-leaf tea or brew a cup of Christmas tree cheer with them — but be careful to only use the needles from pine, spruce, or fir trees. The author notes, "If using alone, I really would recommend adding a little squeeze of lemon or a spoonful of honey. I also really like drying the needles and using them in a tea strainer alongside other complimentary herbs and flavors like juniper berries and citrus peel.
" Prepping your needles Because those tree needles can be prickly, Julia Georgallis recommends wearing gloves and using scissors when removing them from the branch. And don't forget to thoroughly washing before adding to a tea. And while adding the aromatics and tastes of these holiday trees to .