I have spent so so much time among conifers and pines over the years and I never know you could eat them! Can't wait to learn how the syrup turns out. <3
When urban foraging, make sure the tree and the property haven't been sprayed or treated with pesticides…the chemicals are taken up by the plant and can persist for years in leaves, needles, cones, etc. (I'm sure your friend doesn't use chemicals, but others should be aware. Also, I try to collect outside the dog "pee zone.")
This is reminding me of how my mother used to give us kids evergreen "candies" when we were sick. They were cough drops from Europe (Swiss or German, I think) and had syrup in the center, so if you cracked them open or sucked them until they dissolved, you would get this thick syrupy stuff that coated your throat and tasted like a liquified Christmas tree. They were so good!
Enjoy snacking from the trees! I bet there are many herbs closer to the forest floor that you could snack on them too. Miner's letucce is one for sure, I used to snack on it by Land's End in SF. It is worth to get to know a few safe ones and not too difficult.
LOVE your writing, Jonathan! So happy to read this, although retsina has never been a favorite.
I have spent so so much time among conifers and pines over the years and I never know you could eat them! Can't wait to learn how the syrup turns out. <3
When urban foraging, make sure the tree and the property haven't been sprayed or treated with pesticides…the chemicals are taken up by the plant and can persist for years in leaves, needles, cones, etc. (I'm sure your friend doesn't use chemicals, but others should be aware. Also, I try to collect outside the dog "pee zone.")
Can cane sugar be used?
This is reminding me of how my mother used to give us kids evergreen "candies" when we were sick. They were cough drops from Europe (Swiss or German, I think) and had syrup in the center, so if you cracked them open or sucked them until they dissolved, you would get this thick syrupy stuff that coated your throat and tasted like a liquified Christmas tree. They were so good!
Enjoy snacking from the trees! I bet there are many herbs closer to the forest floor that you could snack on them too. Miner's letucce is one for sure, I used to snack on it by Land's End in SF. It is worth to get to know a few safe ones and not too difficult.