Use of bred spruce tips
I really love foraging for spruce tips every spring because they are so versatile and nutritious!
Spruce tips are a real workhorse in my kitchen. I infuse them in honey for a deliciously piney sweetener that is delicious drizzled over cookies or used in tea. And there’s nothing better than pastries like muffins, scones or shortbread made with spruce tips; the bright, refreshing taste takes them to the next level.
But spruce tips are not just for eating. With my collected finds I also make all kinds of home remedies and personal care items. An ointment with spruce tips is so soothing on dry skin. And brewing a strong tea with spruce tips is one of my favorite treatments when I feel a cold coming on – that explosion of vitamin C Do it.
What I like most, though, is how foraging for spruce connects me to the cycles of nature. Enjoying their unique flavor and benefits reminds me of the revival and renewal of spring that is happening all around us. It makes me appreciate the generosity of our forests and feel rooted in the changing seasons. Plus, it’s just fun to go out and responsibly gather my own food and medicine!
Here are some ways you can use spruce tips in cooking!
Refreshing drinks
- Spruce Tip Tea: A classic way to enjoy spruce tips, this tea is not only invigorating with its citrusy undertones, but is also packed with vitamin C, which provides a natural immune boost.
- Lemonade and Syrups: Give your lemonade a boost by adding spruce tips for a zesty, forest-inspired twist. Likewise, making a syrup from spruce tips adds a unique, sweet, resinous flavor to cocktails, desserts and even your morning pancakes.
- Spruce Tip Honey: Add honey with spruce tips to create a delicious spread that combines the sweetness of honey with the bright, piney flavor of spruce. It’s perfect for sprinkling over cookies or adding to tea.
Gastronomic delights
- Jam and jelly: Transform the subtle lemon-pine flavor of the spruce tips into a delicious jam or jelly. Spread it on toast or use it to glaze meat for a dish that is sure to impress.
- Pesto, oils and vinegar: For a wild twist on traditional pesto, mix the spruce tips with nuts, cheese and oil. Add oils and vinegars with spruce tips to create dressings and marinades that bring the essence of the forest to your table.
Baked goods
- Cookies and bread: Work finely chopped spruce tips into the dough of cookies, bread and scones for a subtle, aromatic flavor. These baked goods not only taste delicious, but also carry the fresh scent of spring.
Craft brews
- Beer, wine and mead: For the home brewer, spruce tips offer an exciting ingredient to experiment with. Their citrusy, piney notes can be used to brew unique beers, wines and meads that capture the essence of the forest.
TIPS FOR PRESERVING SPIRS
To extend the enjoyment of the spruce tips after their short foraging season, consider saving them. Pickling spruce tips in a brine of vinegar, water and spices creates a spicy seasoning that can add a burst of flavor to salads, sandwiches and deli meats. Alternatively, drying the spruce tips at a low temperature preserves their flavor and medicinal properties so they can be used in teas and infusions all year round.