Drink Your Christmas Tree

This time of year, evergreens are a feast for eyes. But did you know that they are truly edible? People have been cooking with pines for hundreds of years. They provide vitamins A and C, antiseptic properties, antioxidants, and they add a delicious and unexpected twist to your holiday table. Interested in consuming your Christmas tree?

Step 1: Identify your tree.

Pine family trees include fir, Larch, Cedar, spruce, Douglas-fir, hemlock and Pine. Pine is both a family (Pinaceae), and a genus (Pinus). The entire Pine family has been used for food and medicine, but let’s focus on pines (pinus) and spruces. Both are widely available and have excellent flavor.

Identify spruces by their stiff, four sided needles that are individually attached and can roll between your fingers. Pines have clusters of needles bundled in groups of two, three, or five. For additional help, check out Iowa State University Extension’s, ‘Pine, Fir, or Spruce Tree?’ Visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/nov/061401.htm.

As always, seek expert advice when you are unsure. Don’t consume anything you cannot conclusively identify. Also, be aware that many commercial Christmas trees are sprayed with fire retardant and pesticides. Know your source and collect needles from chemical-free trees.

Identify spruce by its four-sided needles.

Step 2: Make simple syrup.

Place your needles in a pot with enough water to cover them. Add sugar or honey to taste—I add one cup of sugar for two cups of water. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Allow the syrup to simmer 1 hour, then remove from heat and steep overnight. Strain out needles.

Syrup from Colorado blue spruce.

Step 3: Mix drinks!

Your conifer syrup can be used in many ways. Try adding it to tea, mixing it into fruit salads, or pouring it over ice cream. For some real holiday cheer, mix cocktails! Below is a recipe for an evergreen martini.

Evergreen Martini:

2 ounces gin
1 ounce spruce or pine syrup
Champagne or cava
Spruce or pine sprigs, pomegranate to garnish

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with gin, syrup, and ice. Shake and pour into glass.
2. Top with champagne. Add garnishes.

Enjoy! Happy holidays.

Evergreen martini.