Spruce Tip Sugar, Salt, and Syrups
Instructions
- Pro tip: swap rose petals for spruce tips in our shortbread recipe for a springy treat! Something to drink? Try Spruce Tip Milk Tea with handmade yarrow pearls. Want some savory spruciness? How about Spruce Tip Gravlax? Spruce Tip Salt Grind equal parts coarse sea salt (I’m partial to the Atlantic grey salt) and spruce tips in a food processor, and then dry the mix in a food dehydrator or a low oven with the door open for a couple of hours. Store in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. Light-Spruce Tip Syrup Combine equal parts water and sugar and bring to a low simmer. When sugar is dissolved, add 1 part spruce tips, and simmer for 5–10 minutes. Strain, and reserve tips to make sugared spruce tips. Refrigerate or freeze the syrup to store. Sugared Spruce Tips Lay reserved spruce tips in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, or in a food dehydrator. Heat in dehydrator or in low oven with the door open until completely dry. Store in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. Amber Spruce Tip Syrup Combine equal parts water and sugar and bring to a low simmer. When sugar is dissolved, add 1 part spruce tips, and simmer for 1–2 hours, or to taste. The syrup will reduce significantly and become dark in color. Strain the tips and discard. Refrigerate or freeze the syrup to store. First published in the Summer 2019 issue of Edible Alaska.
