Spruce Tip Tea

Spruce tip tea is a fresh, citrusy herbal tea made from the bright green new growth on spruce trees in spring. It’s earthy, lightly pine-scented, and surprisingly smooth ~ no harsh flavor at all. Those bright green tips show up right when everything’s waking up in the spring, and they’re packed with vitamin C, along with natural occurring antioxidants. Plus it’s a zero-caffeine way to hydrate!

Please note a handful of people are sensitive to the sap in evergreens, and if you’re pregnant it’s safest to skip conifer teas altogether.

Where to find spruce tips

How to Identify Spruce

All true spruce trees (Picea species) are considered edible, especially the young, bright green tips in spring. But double-check your ID so you’re not grabbing a look-alike.

• Needles are sharp and pointy ~ they’ll roll easily between your fingers.
• They grow individually from small, woody pegs on the branch ~ not in clusters.
• The tree feels a bit “bristly” to the touch ~ think more like a bottle brush.
• Common edible types: Norway spruce, Blue spruce, White spruce.
• Make sure you’re picking spruce, not other conifers like yew or cedar ~ some look similar but aren’t safe to eat.
• If you’re unsure, stick with trees you’re confident in (I have a tree in my yard) or go with a guide or local forager your first time out.

When to Look

• Spring ~ usually April through June, depending on where you live.
• The tips only appear for a few weeks.

What to Look For

• Lighter, brighter green tips at the ends of the branches. That bright spring green really pops!
• Fresh, flexible tips ~ they’ll feel tender, almost velvety, and are much softer than the older needles.
• They should be about 1–2 inches long and easy to pinch off with your fingers.
• Avoid tips that are already stiff or have started to darken ~ those are past their prime.
• Sustainable foraging ~ take only a few tips per branch so the tree keeps thriving.

What to Avoid

• Don’t pick from trees right next to busy roads or treated lawns ~ you don’t want any chemical residue in your tea.

How to infuse spruce tip tea

1. Start with clean rinsed spruce tips. Remove any brown or wooden stems.
2. Place the tips in a tea pot or French press coffee pot.
3. Fill with boiling water.
4. Give it a gentle stir and let steep for about 10-15 minutes. (Adjust the steeping time to your taste, less steeping will give you a milder flavor. Longer will intensify the piney taste.)
5. Strain and enjoy ~ I like to use these borosilicate glasses for hot drinks.
6. A bit of lemon or honey is optional.

How many spruce tips per cup of water?

This varies a lot, there is no set rule and you can experiment. Start with 2-3 tablespoons (or the equivalent) of spruce tips per cup of water. If you want a stronger flavor you can add quite a bit more. I use a loosely packed cup of tips for 2 servings.

Can you use dried spruce tips?

Yes, you can absolutely use dried spruce tips for tea. The flavor will be a little softer and more mellow compared to fresh, but still nice.

• Lay the fresh tips out in a single layer in a cool, dry spot out of direct sun for several days, or use a dehydrator on the lowest setting. Store them in an airtight jar away from light and heat.
• Use about 1 tablespoon of dried tips per cup of water.

Recipe

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Spruce Tip Tea

5 from 1 vote

Norwegians have been brewing up spruce tip tea for generations ~ so have indigenous Americans. But anyone with access to these common trees can take advantage of spring's natural vitamin C boost!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time:2 minutes minutes

steeping:15 minutes minutes

Total Time:17 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• tea pot or French press coffee pot

Ingredients

 

• 1 cup spruce tips, not packed
• 2 cups water

Instructions

• Rinse your spruce tips and remove any brown stems. You should be left with just the soft green sprigs.
• Place the spruce tips in your tea pot or French press. Add 2 cups boiling water and give a quick stir.
• Let steep for 15 minutes, then strain and enjoy.
• Add a squeeze of lemon and/or a touch of honey if desired.

Notes

Please note a handful of people are sensitive to the sap in evergreens, and if you’re pregnant it’s safest to skip conifer teas altogether.

See post for photos and more detailed information about spruce tip tea.

 

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Course: beverage

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: drinks, herbal tea

Nutrition

Serving: 8 oz · Carbohydrates: 1 g · Sodium: 12 mg · Potassium: 30 mg · Vitamin C: 30 mg · Calcium: 7 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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