Forage it Pineapple Weed Tea

The pineapple weed is blooming… This charming little pineapple-scented flower looks like chamomile, all the petals missing.

Pineapple weed is an edible, medicinal plant that closely resembles wild chamomile.  It’s prolific in the western U.S. (although I believe it can be found in the eastern U.S.). 

Wikipedia has a good article with some identifying characteristics and where to find it. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll start noticing the lacy foliage and tiny yellow flowers popping up in disturbed areas with poor soil.

I live on a very hilly property, and anywhere that a bulldozer flattened out once upon a time now has pineapple weed growing all over it. 

I use this plant in place of chamomile for tea. It makes a soothing, mellow flavored tea that is wonderful with a little bit of honey. To use the herb fresh, snip off about a tablespoon of the yellow flowers and steep in hot water for a few minutes.

To harvest and store for later use, gather it into bunches first thing in the morning and hang it in a cool, dry place to dry.  Snip off the buds and put them in a jar to preserve the flavor and aroma.

You can make tea with pineapple weed alone, but I like making mixtures with whatever I have.  A cup of this is especially good if you’re feeling like crap…

Pineapple Weed Tea

Makes: one 32 oz. french press (although  you could easily change the amounts for whatever size press you have)

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs. dried pineapple weed – or- a few sprigs of fresh pineapple weed
• 5 fresh mint leaves
• 1 tbs. loose-leaf tea, such as Oolong
• honey to taste
• a few tablespoons of milk (optional, to taste)

(I’m wondering if I need to write directions out for this? I will anyway, though…)

Heat a kettle of water to just shy of boiling.

Put pineapple weed, oolong tea, and mint leaves into a french press.

Pour hot water into the press and let everything steep for 3-4 minutes. Press, and pour into cups. Stir in honey and milk to taste.

Remember….

When you’re foraging for plants, make sure they’re not from an area that’s been contaminated by pollutants such as runoff from a road. Also, make sure that your dogs haven’t been peeing all over it (my dogs like peeing all over everything, it’s true).

Also, if you pick poison hemlock because you think it looks the same, and then you die, it’s not my fault. Use your eyeballs.  With that said, happy foraging and enjoying your tea.

11 thoughts on “Forage It: Pineapple Weed Tea.”

1. Pingback: Follow up on Trendspotting | Life Currents
2. Damon and Karmel, Neat! We got lots of this stuff, and it does taste really nice.
3. fashionfreak MAY 19, 2012 AT 8:54 PMcool, my mom told me about this stuff; we have it all over.
4. seapunk2JULY 26, 2012 AT 8:10 PMJust picked some today. I noticed that you use the leaves, as well. Most sources suggest only the flower heads. Thoughts on this?Reply
5. Pingback: Pineapple Weed – Weekly Weeder #29 + Wildcrafting Wednesday Blog Hop
6. TheBuxomGourmandAUGUST 20, 2012 AT 4:03 PMwonderful stuff, isn’t it? I was just about to write a post about corn silk tea and pineapple weed tea and stumbled on your blog! I have tons growing on my property, and I have three dogs who pee on everything, so I know what you mean! Reply
7. ZoeOCTOBER 21, 2012 AT 4:27 AMCan somebody send me some seedlings or seeds of this? I’m in love with this plant!!Reply
8. Ariadne Vogel-Brouwer, NetherlandsJANUARY 11, 2013 AT 11:10 AMGoodmorning. I would like to receive/buy these seeds as well. Is it possible to order these seeds? Thanks in advance!!