How to eat a spruce tree

Big farm to table dinner coming up. I'm showcasing the vegetables that are readily available this season. There is a beautiful spruce tree on the farm that I'd like to incorporate into a brisket. I have already kicked myself in the butt for not picking the spruce tips and or collecting the pollen. Timing is everything, I have to wait until next spring. But, there are still the needles. I understand the potency of flavor. Bitter is what I want. Plenty of fat to balance. I'm pairing with a black IPA that has piney and citrus notes.

So, my questions are:

If I was to do a long cold smoke with the needles and or wood, how long and how "hot"?
Should I just simply braise the brisket with the needles? Or both?
Sap?
What are your thoughts on cooking with spruce?

Best Answer

I have many years of BBQ experience smoking briskets. I would not recommend spruce as a cooking/smoke wood for brisket or for anything. It will not taste very well. Too much creosote. Use oak, hickory, mesquite or any fruit or nut wood. If you are cooking the brisket via another heat source and using the spruce needles as a flavoring agent, that may work. Not very appealing to me, but.

Pictures about "How to eat a spruce tree"

How to eat a spruce tree - Scenic landscape of weathered cottages located on foggy green hill

How to eat a spruce tree - Squirrel eating cone in forest

How to eat a spruce tree - Spruce branches and cones on woody background

Can you eat spruce pine?

Spruce tips have a bright, citrus flavor that works well in both savory and sweet dishes. Almost all conifer tips are edible, and the only exception is yew trees. Pine and fir tips have their own unique taste, and as an added bonus, all conifer tips have medicinal properties.

Is spruce pine poisonous?

In fact, all parts of the tree are non-toxic. Native Americans were creative in their use of spruce, eating any parts of the tree that they could prepare to be palatable.

How do you harvest spruce?

To harvest spruce tips, pop the tips off the end of the bough as if you're picking berries. When you're done picking, remove and discard the papery casings, and discard any hard stem that may have broken off with the tip. The spruce tips are now ready to use.

Is spruce tea good for you?

The tea is a wonderful spring tonic that helps boost your immune system as it is packed with vitamin C and minerals. Traditionally, this tea has been used to combat scurvy, colds, coughs and fatigue.