How to Make Spruce Tip Syrup
Herbalism and foraging quite often go hand in hand. This is especially so if your living situation doesn’t allow you to have a garden or you’re not ready to take the leap into growing some herbs yourself. Learning both herbalism and foraging can also provide an abundance of gratitude and confidence in sustaining you, your family and your community. This spruce tip syrup is one of the best places to start as a “quick win” in anyone’s herbalism or foraging journey.
What is Spruce Tip Syrup?
Spruce tip syrup is an infusion of Spruce tips and sugar. By layering sugar in-between the Spruce tips, the vitamin c rich liquid from the Spruce tips is extracted and the sugar dissolves.
Where do Spruce Tips come from?
Spruce tips are the new growth on the branches of Spruce trees. This new growth is easily seen at the much lighter green section of the branch. Since they are new growth, they are much softer and can be eaten directly off the tree!
When can Spruce tips be harvested?
Depending on the area, Spruce tips are typically available and ready to be picked in early spring. This harvest time frame can range from March-May.
How To Identify Spruce Trees
Spruce and fir trees can be easily confused if you just have a quick glance. By looking up close, you can tell a difference by one main characteristic.
By picking just a single needle from the branch, you will be able to easily determine what kind of tree it is. If it’s square, you can roll it easily between your thumb and pointer fingers. If it’s Square, it’s a Spruce.
How do I harvest Spruce Tips?
Gently pull at the base of the lightest green tips of the Spruce branch. Remove any brown pieces from the base. Add the Spruce tip to your jar or basket. It’s that easy!
Why Make Spruce Tip Syrup?
Spruce tips are incredibly nutritious by providing a high amount of vitamin c. Although there are many species of Spruce, they are a member of the evergreen family and are completely edible.
If you keep the syrup on your shelf, you’ll have a quick and easy way to increase your vitamin C intake. This is especially convenient to have on hand if you or a family member start feeling a little under the weather.
What does Spruce tip syrup taste like?
Since there is generally quite a bit of sugar used in making this syrup, the syrup is very sweet. In general, spruce tips have a lemon or citrus type flavor. This lemon/citrus flavor will vary depending on which subspecies of spruce you collect from.
How to use Spruce tip syrup?
This syrup can be used in just about anything such beverages, to top pancakes, waffles or any other bakery. Spruce tip syrup can also be sued as a delicious tea sweetener.
Due to its high vitamin c content, spruce tip syrup is wonderful to be used as a cough & cold syrup.
Considerations when harvesting Spruce tips
Although evergreen trees generally seem quite sturdy and resilient, their branches do not regrow once they are removed. Because of this, be careful with how much you harvest from one tree and be cognizant of how developed the tree is.
If you harvest too much from a young tree, you may stunt its growth and prevent it from growing much more. Exercise caution with younger trees and always be on the lookout for more harvest locations.
Looking for more herbal inspiration? Try this Elderberry Syrup or this Elderberry Oxymel!
Ingredients and Tools
2 cups Brown Sugar
2 cups Foraged Spruce tips -remove any brown parts
A quart Glass jar with and air tight lid
Directions
Layer the Spruce tips and sugar in the quart jar. Pack down the ingredients with each layer.
Keep this jar in a cool dark place for at least 14 days but be sure to remove the lid and mix the contents every few days.
After 14 -30 days, strain the solids from the liquid syrup into a clean storage container.
Use right away to flavor drinks and on some pancakes or store in the fridge or freezer for later use.
If stored in the fridge, this Spruce tip syrup can store for a long time. If it’s been quite some time since you’ve checked on it, express caution before deciding to use it.
Spruce Tip Syrup FAQ:
How to use spruce tip syrup?
Spruce tip syrup can be used in just about anything such beverages, to top pancakes, waffles or any other bakery. Spruce tip syrup can also be sued as a delicious tea sweetener
Due to its high vitamin c content, spruce tip syrup is wonderful to be used as a cough & cold syrup.
What does spruce tip syrup taste like?
Since there is generally quite a bit of sugar used in making this syrup, the syrup is very sweet. In general, spruce tips have a lemon or citrus type flavor. This lemon/citrus flavor will vary depending on which subspecies of spruce you collect from.
When should spruce tips be harvested?
Depending on the area, Spruce tips are typically available and ready to be picked in early spring. This harvest time frame can range from March-May.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Spruce Tip Herbal Syrup
Equipment
- Glass Jar with an airtight lid
Ingredients
- 2 cups Brown Sugar
- 2 cups Foraged Spruce tips -remove any brown parts
Instructions
- Layer the Spruce tips and sugar in the quart jar. Pack down the ingredients with each layer.
- Keep this jar in a cool dark place for at least 14 days but be sure to remove the lid and mix the contents every few days.
- After 14 -30 days, strain the solids from the liquid syrup into a clean storage container.
- Use right away to flavor drinks and on some pancakes or store in the fridge or freezer for later use.
- If stored in the fridge, this Spruce tip syrup can store for a long time. If it’s been quite some time since you’ve checked on it, express caution before use.
