Forest to Table: Spruce Tips in the Kitchen and Apothecary

Spruce tips are a seasonally foraged ingredient worth demystifying and savoring. Join me for an
exploration of spruce tips through the eyes of a chef-herbalist, where taste, tradition, and
terroir meet.

There is a brief moment each spring when evergreen trees send out new growth in the form of
pale green buds; this is the season of the spruce tip. These wild gifts are far more than a visual
marker of the season. In the kitchen, spruce tips’ tender texture, resinous citrus bite, and
woodland aroma offer a bright, herbaceous counterpoint to meat, fish, greens, baked goods, and
sweets. In the apothecary, they are awakening, invigorating, nourishing, and healing. Spruce tips
are a culinary and wellness treasure.

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WILD FORAGING TIPS

• Generally, all species of spruce are considered non-toxic and safe to consume in moderation.
• The main concern when wild foraging for spruce tips is to make sure you have actually identified a spruce. Proper identification is critical to avoid mistaking toxic look-alikes for spruce.
• The main toxic look-alike plants to be aware of are the Yew and Hemlock.
• To learn more about proper identification, please consult a seasoned forager, a detailed guide book, and/or a video clearly showing the differentiating characteristics between spruce and toxic look-alikes.
• Always harvest responsibly. To do this; only harvest the young, light green, tender tips.
• Avoid taking too many tips/buds from any one branch or tree.
• Never harvest terminal buds (the ones at the very tips of branches) – these are needed for future growth and health of the tree.
• If you hit a cache of trees and harvest more than you can use in a few days, don’t fret. Spruce tips can be frozen for up to one year without significant loss of flavor. To retain color and freshness, I recommend vacuum packing them if at all possible.

CULINARY

As a private chef worth my salt, it’s my job to put something delicious and unique on the table, be it a casual weeknight dinner or a glam event. This means getting familiar with a large variety of ingredients to keep things interesting. The number one answer I give to people who ask how to up their game in the kitchen is “Play with your food. Experiment and get familiar with a variety of botanical flavors and textures, then use them often.” Nothing puts a fine point on artisan food and hospitality like a cook or host who knows how to enchant with unexpected botanicals like fresh spruce tips.

Tasting Notes

• Young, bright, lime green spruce tips at the end of spruce branches are delicious, but become woodier and bitter with age.
• Specific flavor profiles can vary slightly based on the species of spruce.
• Always taste foraged or bought spruce tips for flavor and intensity, then adjust the quantity to be used in a recipe to your preference.
• In general, spruce tips are surprisingly pleasant and not at all overpowering when used judiciously.
• Think of spruce tips as a whimsical forest flavoring or seasoning, not the main show.
• Spruce tip flavor is herbaceous, unique, and complex, with woodsy undertones.
• They impart notes of tart citrus with a resinous, piney quality and aroma. They also contain a hint of bitterness and astringency that can bring balance to other flavors in both sweet and savory dishes.

Suggested Flavor and Ingredient Pairings

• Citrus: Lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange
• Dark Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and cherry
• Stone Fruit: Peach and plum
• Mushrooms: Chanterelles, morel, maitake, porcini
• Vegetables: Sweet potato, russet potato, carrots, parsnips
• Dairy: Cream, butters, yogurt, ice cream, sorbet, sauce, cheese
• Dairy Alternative: Cashew milk, macadamia milk
• Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, game, poultry, organ meat
• Fish and Shellfish: Salmon, trout, snapper, sea bass, oysters, shrimp, scallops,
• Herbal and Green Tea: Mint, lemon balm, ginger, hibiscus, rose hips, dried apple pieces

Suggested Use

• Dry rub for meats or game
• Marinade for meats or game
• Mignonette for crudo or shellfish on the half shell
• Breading for pork chops or fish
• Fresh needles sprinkled in a salad
• Mixed with salt for curing or pre-season fish or meat, or as a finishing salt
• Mixed with sugar to rim cocktail glasses or sprinkle on baked goods
• Simple syrup for cocktails, mocktails, or to glaze pancakes, waffles, bundt, or pound cakes
• Honey syrup drizzled over fruit, cheese, or cheesecake
• Infused cream for custards, ice cream, or whipped cream
• Steeped in water with other herbs to create a functional beverage
• Infuse vinegar for a finishing vinegar or dressing for vegetables
• Compound butter for finishing warm meat or vegetables

Recipe Guide

Two of the most versatile ways to use spruce tips is to make a simple syrup or infused honey. The amounts and ratio of ingredients depend on your personal preference, so use this as a guide and adjust the proportions as you see fit.

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APOTHECARY

Beyond flavor, these emerald green buds carry a rich history of use in traditional medicine. The following is a list of the most common uses.

• Immune Boosting: Spruce tips are notably high in vitamin C, making them valuable for boosting the immune system and an aid in the fight against cold and flu. Historically, spruce tips were used to help fight scurvy, a deficiency of vitamin C.
• Respiratory Health: Spruce tips can work as a natural expectorant, helping to loosen and clear mucus from the respiratory tract. This is beneficial for coughs, bronchitis, and congestion.
• Sore Throat: Traditionally, spruce tip tea and syrup has been used to sooth sore throat
• Antiseptic: Antiseptic qualities of spruce tips may make it a beneficial ally in the fight against infections like pneumonia, whooping cough, and croup. Steam inhalation of spruce tips was traditionally used to provide relief of sinus infections and lung issues. A dilute spruce tip tincture can be used as a mouthwash to help fend off gingivitis.
• Antimicrobial: Because spruce tips have antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities, they can be used in topical preparations like salves, oils, creams, and poultices to aid in the treatment and healing of minor cuts, abrasions, eczema, boils, and acne. Adding spruce tips and Epsom salt to bathwater can be beneficial for the skin as well.
• Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects: Spruce tips contain compounds that help reduce muscle and joint pain when applied topically as a liniment, salve, or infused oil.
• Antioxidant: The antioxidants in spruce tips may help protect the body against cell damage.
• Nutritional Value: Besides vitamin C, spruce tips contain vitamin A and E, as well as minerals like potassium and magnesium.

*** It is important to note that while this is an impressive list of benefits, individual results and reactions vary. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any ailment and is intended for general recreational knowledge only.

TERROIR AND BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Spruce is a coniferous evergreen tree belonging to the Pinaceae (pine) family.
2. There are approximately 40 species of spruce.
3. Spruce trees have a broad distribution in cooler climates and boreal regions of North America, parts of Europe, and Asia.
4. The most common native spruce found in Appalachia (my local flora and fauna) to the upper Northeastern states, is the Red Spruce (Picea rubens). You can also find non-native species like the Norway spruce (Picea abies) due to its use in landscaping and for Christmas trees.
5. Red Spruce is a long-lived tree with some individuals living over 400 years or more.
6. Identified by its pollen, the oldest known spruce fossil was found in western Canada and dates back to the Cretaceous period, around 136 million years ago; meaning spruce has been around since the dinosaurs.
7. The spruce tree is a powerful symbol of resilience, longevity and protection across various cultures and mythologies. Some of my favorite lore comes from Switzerland, where spruce trees were believed to be inhabited by a special forest spirit known as “the wise man of the forest.”

SOURCING SPRUCE TIPS

Spruce tips can be foraged or bought during the spring months. If you’re going to forage for spruce tips, be sure to consult a seasoned forager, and/or learn with 100% accuracy, how to properly identify spruce. If buying spruce tips, you can often find them at specialty grocers, farmers markets and online sources.

CONSIDERATIONS

Consume spruce tips in moderation. If you have allergies, are taking medication or are pregnant, consult a healthcare professional before consuming spruce tips. Potential side effects can include digestive upset, skin irritation and other issues specific to an individual’s constitution.

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Did you try this recipe or have prior experience foraging and using spruce tips? I’d love to hear how the forest made its way into your kitchen! Share your experience in the comment section.