As a Florida edible you may wonder how pine can be considered a wild food foraging plant. Pine is not just an edible plant but it is one of the most important survival plants in Florida and throughout the world. For thousands of years native Floridians have survived by using this incredible plant.
Pine has many useful parts for the Florida survivalist. It offers food, shelter, drink, fire, fire starter, medicine, and cordage. This wonderful survival food has several edible parts including the needles, nuts or seeds, and the inner bark. Find out just how to harvest and prepare each part, including the inner bark.
Florida has so many edible pine trees and when out hiking, backpacking or camping you may not have noticed just how many there really are. As a Florida edible, the needles from this tree can be made into tea by steeping the fresh green pine needles in hot water. You can nibble on fresh Florida edible pine needles and taste the acid in them. It is said that there is actually more vitamin C in a cup of fresh pine needle tea than in an orange. Of course you can also make a lemonade type drink if you prefer a cold drink.
Nuts/Seeds
While hiking Florida you probably notice all the pine cones on the ground. These pine cones have probably already lost their nuts/seeds. Nuts are a good source of protein and fat (the good kind) and if you are lucky enough to find a cone with the nuts/seeds still inside, you will have a nice treat. On your next hike in Florida look for pine cones that are brown and still closed. Green colored pine cones are not mature and opened brown cones have already lost their nuts/seeds. Place the cone in a pan near the fire or in foil and the edible seed will roast out of the cone. You can also eat this edible Florida treat right out of the cone.
Inner Bark
Some are scratching their heads about eating the bark of a tree. Don’t knock this Florida edible till you try it. First things first: the edible inner bark is the layer between the rough outermost bark and the hard woody innermost bark of a tree. The edible inner bark of the Florida pine tree (or any tree) is a very thin layer and it is a lot of work to remove it.
The inner bark is full of protein and essential fatty acids and other needed nutrients. As a Florida edible, it can be eaten raw by chewing it until it becomes a gummy consistency. If you want to cook this edible Florida treat, just cut the thin strips into pieces that will fit in a fry pan and fry them in your favorite oil. These are Florida pine chips and are quite delicious.
Note:
If you are chewing the inner bark of this Florida tree and it is woody, you have not properly removed the outer or inner woody part from the inner edible part of the pine. You may notice sap forming on the part of the pine tree where you removed the bark. This is the pine trees’ way of healing itself. You can later use some of this sap for starting your fire on a rainy day.
Always properly identify any potential edible plant before eating. Seek the advice of a local professional whenever you are foraging for Florida edible plants.
More Florida Edible Plants & Such From Teresa:
How to Harvest and Cook Kudzu Leaves
How to Make Kudzu Jelly (Tastes Like Grape)
How to Catch Rain Water While Camping
How to Build a Stone Oven While Camping
Sources
Personal experience
Reference:
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/6192814/how_to_catch_rain_water_while_camping.html?
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/5536932/how_to_harvest_and_cook_kudzu_leaves.html?c
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/5661864/how_to_make_kudzu_jelly_tastes_like.html?ca
