Use of foraged fir tips
I really enjoy foraging for spruce tips every spring because they are so versatile and nutritious!
In my kitchen, spruce tops are a real deal. The dip them in the honey for a wonderful piney sweetener that is amazing drizzled over cookies or used in tea. And you can't beat baked goods like muffins, cereal, or shortbread made with spruce tops—that bright, refreshing flavor totally elevates them.
But spruce tips aren't just for eating. I also make all kinds of home remedies and personal care items with my foraged finds. A spruce top dressing is so soothing for dry skin. And making a strong spruce tip tea is one of my go-to treatments when I feel a cold coming on—that blast vitamin C does the trick.
What I love most, though, is how foraging for spruce tops connects me to the cycles of nature. Enjoying their unique flavors and benefits reminds me of the revival and renewal of spring that happens all around. It makes me appreciate the bounty of our forests and feel grounded in the changing seasons. Plus, it's just fun to get out there to responsibly collect my food and medicine!
Here are some of the ways you can use fir tips in cooking!
Fresh juice
- Spruce tip tea: A classic way to enjoy fir tips, this tea is not only invigorating with its citrus undertones, but is also packed with vitamin C, providing a natural immune boost.
- Lemonade and syrups: Top up your lemonade by topping it with spruce tops for a cool, woodland-inspired twist. Similarly, making a syrup from spruce tops adds a unique, resinous-sweet flavor to cocktails, desserts, and even your breakfast pancakes.
- Honey with spruce tips: Top the honey with spruce tips to create a delightful spread that combines the sweetness of honey with the bright piney aroma of spruce. It's perfect for tossing on cookies or adding to tea.
Culinary pleasure
- Jams and jellies: Turn the delicate lemony piney flavor of spruce tops into a delicious jam or jelly. Spread it on toast or use it to glaze meat for a dish that's sure to impress.
- Pestos, oils and vinegars: For a wild twist on traditional pesto, mix the pine nuts with nuts, cheese and oil. Infuse 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: Incorporate finely chopped spruce tops into cookie dough, bread and cereal for a subtle, aromatic flavor. These baked goods not only taste great, 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 citrus and pine notes can be used to create unique beers, wines and ales that capture the essence of the forest.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING FIRS
To extend the enjoyment of spruce tops beyond the short feeding season, consider storing them. Soaking fir tips in a brine of vinegar, water, and spices yields a delicious seasoning that can add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and shrimp boards. Alternatively, drying the spruce tops at a low temperature preserves their flavor and medicinal properties for use in teas and infusions throughout the year.
