Just adding some knowledge for you folks here:
Boiling the pine needles is the incorrect way of preparing pine needle tea IF, and I say IF, you are trying to get the most nutritional value from the tea. Vitamin C is heat sensitive and boiling temperatures will destroy the vitamin content (a documented nutritional fact). The best method for preparation is as follows, (taken from this website if you want to know more
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3126/):
-Gather a good handful of fresh young pine needles.
-Rinse the needles with water if you like.
-Chop the brown ends off and the rest of needles into small pieces, then bruise with a spoon for more flavor.
-Place the chopped pine pieces in a cup.
-Bring 8 to 10 ounces of water to a boil, and then promptly remove from heat.
-Pour the hot water over the needles in the cup.
-The bright green needles will float to the surface of the water.
-You can cover the cup with a saucer if you wish. This will hold in more of the essential oils, but take longer to cool.
-Allow the tea to steep until the needles turn a dull green and sink to the bottom of the cup, or overnight.
-Depending on the type of pine needles used, your tea can be clear, or a light golden brown to reddish brown.
If you don't care about the vitamins then boil that shit until you can tar a roof with it. Or something.
