5 Comments
User's avatar
Naomi Knoble's avatar

Another gorgeous piece, thank you. Your phrasing of "[Spruce tips...] a small green proof that the calendar is still alive" sensitively, respectfully honors Chef Nature as your seasonal culinary expert and source. I'm inspired to consult the seasonal sources in my own landscape and make tradition a living practice.

Dr Ouliana Hanly's avatar

Beautiful and most interesting. Pine and larch needles are an exceptional source of resveratrol — in addition to those valuable terpenes. Apart from pinecone jelly, fermented kvas drinks from conifer needles have a long tradition in Eastern Europe.

Jp McMahon's avatar

Yes. We've pickled larch needles as well

Hugh O’Neill's avatar

Fascinating stuff. However, isn’t it the case that not all pine/ spruce tips are edible. I’m curious about the Sitka, common throughout Ireland, yet a non native cash crop invader. Is it safe?

Jp McMahon's avatar

Yes sitka is safe. Yew is the one to stay after from.