SPRUCE TIPS

Spruce tips (Picea spp.) are the new growth on a spruce trees, such as Norwary, white or blue spruce trees. These easy to harvest bright green tips deliver a strong piney, lemony flavor.

How to Store: In a plastic container with good air circulation/air holes under refrigeration. Can freeze.

How to use: Add to salt, breads, stir fries, cookies and desserts, rice, cocktail syrup. Has a piney, lemony flavor.

Foraging tips and further reading: find more information about spruce tips, including spruce tip syrup mocktail, see Into the Weeds, pages 192. Read How to Cook with Spruce Tips -- Plus a Wild, Lemony Pilaf on Food52.com

Recipes: created by Chef Eddy Leroux in our 2012 James Beard nominated book Foraged Flavor.

Chilled Mango Soup with Sweet Spruce Tips (adapted from Foraged Flavor)

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup large tapioca pearls

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup (about 40) soft spruce tips

2 ripe mangos, peeled and diced

PREPARATION

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the tapioca, reduce heat to low and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until pearls are translucent and slightly gummy. Drain, then rinse to cool and prevent the pearls from clumping together. Refrigerate until needed.

  2. In a small saucepan, bring 1 3/4 cups water and sugar to boil. Add the spruce tips and cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, pour the syrup and tips into medium bowl, and refrigerate.

  3. Add cooked tapioca pearls and diced mango to the spruce tips and syrup. Serve cold in dessert bowls.

Image from Juneau Empire