Spruce Tip Recipes

D

uring the springtime, women folk travel to the southernmost part of The Northern White Foreststo harvest Spruce Tips. Spruce tips are a favourite spice that is used during the winter solstice. Folk use the following recipe for many traditional desserts.

Aged Spruce Syrup

Made with the bright green spruce tips and rich brown sugar, this simple recipe is a delightful treat. After mixing, transfer the contents into glass jars and seal. Leave the jars in the sun during the summer to macerate. As a result, you have a beautiful and deeply flavoured syrup ready to be used in many dishes.

Ingredients

• Two and a half handfuls of clean spruce tips, coarsely chopped
• Two handfuls of brown sugar

Equipment

• A clean glass jar with a tight-fitted lid
• A bowl to mix the ingredients
• A wooden spoon
• Pot

Instructions

In a bowl, mix the chopped spruce tips and the brown sugar together. Transfer the mixture to a clean jar and seal with the lid. Place the jar outside in a sunny location for a month. As the mixture macerates, the volume will reduce. Gently, invert and turn the jar regularly to blend the mixture together. As the volume decreases, add more sugar and spruce tips following the ratio of ingredients, which is one and a half spruce tips to 1 brown sugar (1.5/1.) This will reduce the amount of air in the jar and prevent mold.

Once the mixture has aged for one month, transfer the mixture to a pot over medium fire. Gently boil to dissolve any remaining sugar. Strain through a cheesecloth and transfer the hot syrup to a clean jar. Seal with a lid and invert the jar and let cool upside down to create a seal to prevent mold. If you wish, you can also place the jars in a pot of water and bring the water to a gentle boil to seal. Once ready, store the syrup in a cold store room.

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