Wild plants extract nutrients from the soil and concentrate them in various parts of their anatomy to survive times of harsh weather and scarcity. Spruce tips are one such example and are the tender young shoots that will become full-sized branches. In essence, eating spruce tips is snacking on a condensed adult spruce branch.
At the Canadian Pine Pollen Co., we sustainably wild-harvest spruce tips in Western Canada's pristine forests. After harvest, we freeze-dry the spruce tips to maintain their freshness and nutrient profile - most notably high levels of Vitamin C. Our spruce tips are also rich in potassium, magnesium, chlorophyll, and other phytonutrients.
The First Nations of Canada, Southeast Alaskans, Norwegians, and Russians have used young Spruce Tips for thousands of years as a healing forest food medicine.
Spruce tips often provide a burst of energy without jitters or anxiety. Try Spruce Tip tea during the cold season, as it may reduce coughing and remove mucus from the airways and lungs. Inhaling the steam from a fresh cup of Spruce Tip tea is also an effective administration route, especially for coughs that won’t quit.
Spruce tips are also rich in chlorophyll, an excellent nutrient for tissue regeneration and oxygenation. Chlorophyll also scavenges free radicals, may balance blood sugar, accelerate wound healing, and detox heavy metals from the body
Spruce tips are the small needles at the tips of the branches. We harvest our spruce tips from the Eastern White Spruce Tree in spring when the tips are tender and new. At this stage, they have a delightful and pleasant citrus taste. The citrusy balsam flavor of the spruce tips makes them a perfect addition to tons of recipes - salads are our favorite.
Most would describe the flavor of spruce tips as ‘lemony.’ This is likely due to the presence of the terpene limonene, high organic acid, such as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that protects the developing spruce branch.
Polyphenols: These antioxidents provide energy to mitochondria and can improve digestion, weight management, neuro-protection and cardiovascular health.
Flavonoids: Powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune benefits.
Carotenoids: Anti-inflammatory and immune benefits, as well as potential heart healthy effects.
Pinenes: Aromatic oil with anti-inflammatory properties.
Shikimic Acid:a natural organic compound, generally utilized as a starting material for industrial synthesis of antivirals.
