I love spruce tea, my most favourite. As a child my mom would always get us spruce gum (resin) and we chewed that a lot when we went to our cottage. I have used spruce tips for tea but never eaten them, looking forward to enjoying some next spring. Very informative video, thanks for sharing! :)
Could you do another video about the differences between spruce species when it comes to: medicinal uses, culinary uses/taste, growth habits/requirements. Things to know when choosing which kind of spruce use or plant.
I could but I am not sure how much value it would have. We have only three native species of spruce (Red, Black and White). I talk about them in the video. I do have another video using spruce tips to cook with. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft thanks for your reply! We have blue spruce and pine in our yard. I can see the tips are young and soft. But they are a bit larger than some harvest videos I have seen so I’m wondering if they are still ok or if I am a bit past their prime. Also if they are more intense in flavour, what is the best way to use them?
@@alexandraderry7086 I like eating them raw but if they are too tough or to intense you could simmer them in sugar and candy them. I don't eat sugar anymore but when I did, they turned out nice
Excellent information, I knew people made tea from them and I've always thought spruce tips looked like they should be tasty but didn't realise you could eat them raw. We have the sitka spruce here in Wales and it's actually our most common tree. I can't wait for next spring now.
Do you ever do anything with the pollen or baby cones? The only ones Ive ever tried, and I have tried many, tasted kind of like Varsol . It wasn't very pleasant, but I'll try some more next year.
mark, thanks for your response on my uberlubem cup, im new at this ,still confused,haven't used my new cup, so if i wash it with warm water ,do i coat the inside before use,and then wipe out the olive oil real dry , will coffee taste funny, and then when i stor it do i just rinse with warm water before use again. any way mab i'll try your method eith flax seed . is the process still the same ,just rinse before use after applying flax seed oil.
There should be no need to oil it before first use. The company has coated it with a food safe sealer to protect the wood. Over time, hot water, coffee, tea will start to dry the wood out. That is when you should re-coat it with some type of oil. When you do, let it soak in and dry for a few days or a week. The longer the better. Then give it a rinse out and you are good to go. Occasionally, I see a bit of oil floating on top of my coffee first time after oiling but so little I don't notice it. Pre-warming the mug, especially if very cold will help with removing any oil and help prevent shock to the wood that may cause a crack. Hope this was a better answer
They are not native to our area but to the best of my knowledge, yes they are edible. The only tree you must avoid (that I am aware of) is the Canada Yew. Thanks for commenting
That's good information, Mark. Unfortunately, spruce trees don't care for the Texas heat. But the tender, young shoots of many vegetables are edible. Sweet potatoes are an excellent example of this. Many sprouts are delicious and nutritious. The vitamin C requirements of U-boat crews were met by eating mung bean sprouts.
Great video Mark. Going to try it when I get out this week.
Right on. Spruce tips should still be out. Thanks for commenting
As always, lots of great useful info.
As always, thank you for your support Lonnie
Thanks for the ‘good tips.’
Excellent video.
ATB
Clever😉 Thanks for commenting
Excellent information Mark. I tried them this spring, citrusy favour.
Glad you found it helpful. Lots can be done with them and they store very well. Thanks for commenting
That's Brilliant to know
Thank You !
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
Super useful! Hope summer has been great to you!
Glad you liked it. Summer has been great so far. Thanks for commenting
Great video, I knew about making tea, but hadn't heard of eating the tips. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
I love spruce tea, my most favourite. As a child my mom would always get us spruce gum (resin) and we chewed that a lot when we went to our cottage. I have used spruce tips for tea but never eaten them, looking forward to enjoying some next spring. Very informative video, thanks for sharing! :)
I used to chew spruce gum as a kid as well. I actually prefer black spruce tea over all the other conifers. Thanks for commenting Jackie
Very informative , thank you. Funny just had a beer from my local brewery with spruce tips, very tasty.
Garrison Brewing here in Halifax makes a great, original recipe spruce beer...very tasty. Thanks for commenting
If either of you are in Southern Vermont, Hermit Thrush Brewery also makes a tasty spruce tip beer. Thanks for the great info Mark!
Mmm Setting By A Babbling Brook Enjoying a Cup Sure Is The Best ! Thanks Mark ! ATB T God Bless
Yes sir. Thanks for commenting Terry
Could you do another video about the differences between spruce species when it comes to: medicinal uses, culinary uses/taste, growth habits/requirements. Things to know when choosing which kind of spruce use or plant.
I could but I am not sure how much value it would have. We have only three native species of spruce (Red, Black and White). I talk about them in the video. I do have another video using spruce tips to cook with. Thanks for commenting
Thanks for the information Mark, I will do my research and try them. Cheers my friend!
Right on. Thanks for commenting
Thanks again Mark for a very helpful and informative video. Never realized those pine, fir and spruce tips were edible.
Glad you found it helpful. Easy to eat little trail snack. Thanks for commenting
inspiration for me, thank mark for share, please stop by in my simple kitchen ,, hehe
Glad you liked the video. Always happy to help out
@@MarkYoungBushcraft thanks pleaseee come in my kitchen
Can you harvest and eat from blue spruce?
Yes you can. The flavour is more intense. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft thanks for your reply! We have blue spruce and pine in our yard. I can see the tips are young and soft. But they are a bit larger than some harvest videos I have seen so I’m wondering if they are still ok or if I am a bit past their prime. Also if they are more intense in flavour, what is the best way to use them?
@@alexandraderry7086 I like eating them raw but if they are too tough or to intense you could simmer them in sugar and candy them. I don't eat sugar anymore but when I did, they turned out nice
I just am trying to make spruce syrup. Just started working, I see the syrup starting.
Great information
I was wondering if mashing the tips up before adding them to the water, you'd get more out of them.
Thanks for the video
What I often do is to cut them up a bit before adding them to the water. I have not tried mashing. Should also work. Thanks for commenting
Excellent information, I knew people made tea from them and I've always thought spruce tips looked like they should be tasty but didn't realise you could eat them raw. We have the sitka spruce here in Wales and it's actually our most common tree. I can't wait for next spring now.
I have not tried sitka spruce. Let me know what you think of it. Thanks for commenting
can I do this with a Norway spruce
Yes. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
I Love Spruce Tee and i love Spruce in Whiskey, but i have to say its great to see u out in the Woods
Have not tried spruce whiskey...yet. Thanks for commenting
Do you ever do anything with the pollen or baby cones? The only ones Ive ever tried, and I have tried many, tasted kind of like Varsol . It wasn't very pleasant, but I'll try some more next year.
LOL...actually, I am making a video on pine pollen to be released soon. Thanks for commenting Jim
mark, thanks for your response on my uberlubem cup, im new at this ,still confused,haven't used my new cup, so if i wash it with warm water ,do i coat the inside before use,and then wipe out the olive oil real dry , will coffee taste funny, and then when i stor it do i just rinse with warm water before use again. any way mab i'll try your method eith flax seed . is the process still the same ,just rinse before use after applying flax seed oil.
There should be no need to oil it before first use. The company has coated it with a food safe sealer to protect the wood. Over time, hot water, coffee, tea will start to dry the wood out. That is when you should re-coat it with some type of oil. When you do, let it soak in and dry for a few days or a week. The longer the better. Then give it a rinse out and you are good to go. Occasionally, I see a bit of oil floating on top of my coffee first time after oiling but so little I don't notice it. Pre-warming the mug, especially if very cold will help with removing any oil and help prevent shock to the wood that may cause a crack. Hope this was a better answer
are blue spruce edible as well?
They are not native to our area but to the best of my knowledge, yes they are edible. The only tree you must avoid (that I am aware of) is the Canada Yew. Thanks for commenting
Hey Mark, another informative and entertaining video. I was wondering what Shunpyke is/means?
To shun the main road, stay off the pike. "Take the path less traveled".
Right on, Rob Parsell has said it perfectly
Yes...well said my friend
Made spruce tip tea last weekend. My wife wouldn't try it lol
She doesn't know what she is missing😉 Thanks for commenting
That's good information, Mark. Unfortunately, spruce trees don't care for the Texas heat. But the tender, young shoots of many vegetables are edible. Sweet potatoes are an excellent example of this. Many sprouts are delicious and nutritious. The vitamin C requirements of U-boat crews were met by eating mung bean sprouts.
For sure. I love to forage early spring shoots from plants I have researched as edible. So may good ones out there. Thanks for commenting Jim
First!
hehe..
BTW, as far as I know, all Yew trees are poisonous. The ones here in the UK certainly are.
Good to know. We don't have the other type of Yew here. Thanks for commenting