How to make honey using spruce tips (Fichtenspitzenhonig Rezept) – This spruce tip honey is delicious, healthy and is a perfect substitute for honey!
Several years ago, we got a gift. It was an interesting gift – a vegan honey. We have never heard the term Fichtenspitzenhonig before, so my husband tried it for the very first time and immediately fell in love with this honey made using spruce tips. Not only does this honey taste good, it is also a traditional home remedy for cough.
Can you guess it? Yup, this recipe is requested by my loving husband. I had no idea how to make this spruce honey and after researching on the internet and asking people, I could not find a proper recipe for this vegan honey.
One day, I met an old lady, and she offered me to try out her Fichtenspitzenhonig. I immediately ask her for her recipe and how she made it. Unfortunately, she did not clearly give me a recipe. However, she did teach step by step how I could make this vegan honey. She also gave me some tips.
After trial and error, here you go – a blog recipe for a spruce tip honey.
Tips on making Honey using Spruce Tips
Spruce needles: We picked the spruce tips during May. Spruce tips are light green, and they have a unique “nature” smell. Please pick the needles from different branches and spruce trees. Do not pick the tips all from one branch, so that we do not hurt the trees.
Brown sugar: Personally, I prefer using brown sugar because it is a healthier alternative to refined sugar. However, you can also use white sugar for this recipe. The texture of this vegan honey is more fluid than real honey. I use 1 part of brown sugar to 1 part of the milky broth. The broth must be milky. If you want a thicker version of this spruce tip honey, replace 5 – 10 percent of the brown sugar with preserving sugar.
Kitchen cloth: This is important to use a kitchen cloth to strain the spruce tips and press out as much fluid as possible because the spruce needles come from the nature and there could be particles/ dirt attached to the spruce tips. Other than that, the spruce needles could break apart, and it is easier to remove all impurities with a kitchen cloth.
How to make Honey using Spruce Tips
- Clean spruce tips in a bowl of water.
- Drain spruce tips using a colander.
- Transfer spruce tips into a big pot and add in water. The amount of water should slightly cover the spruce needles.
- Use a suitable plate to press down the needles and allow it to sit for 24 hours in a cool place. The spruce tips should slightly lose their bright green colour.
- Thereafter, bring the mixture to almost a boil over a medium heat. Lower the heat and simmers the needles for another 30 minutes. The broth should turn milky.
- Allow the mixture to sit for another 12 – 24 hours.
- After which, put a large kitchen cloth over another suitable pot. Pour the spruce tip water mixture over the cloth into the pot. Strain the needles and press out as much water as you can using the kitchen cloth. Discard the tips.
- Using 1 part of broth to 1 part of honey, in my case, I add 1.2 kg of brown sugar to 1.2l of broth. Cook the mixture for 2-4 hours. To prevent the honey from burning, stir the mixture once in a while. Take a teaspoon of honey, place it on a plate and place it in the freezer for 1 minute. Check if the texture thickens.
- Clean some heat-resistant jars with lids using boiling water and transfer your honey into the jars.
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How to serve Spruce Tip Honey
After cooking and transferring your spruce tip honey into clean jars, wait at least 24 hours before enjoying them. They will thicken with time. Feel free to get creative with your spruce honey. We enjoy it with our homemade sourdough for breakfast. However, you can have it with your cereals, Muesli, in your tea or send someone a gift!
How to store Spruce Tip Honey
Use clean jars with lids for storage. We use boiling water in this case. You can also use traditional canning method. Thereafter, store the jars in a dark and cool place. They can be stored up till about 12 months. There is no need to store them in the refrigerator.
Do you have spruce trees in your area? Tell me in the comment section below!
Until next time & guten Appetit!
Greetings from the Black Forest,
Pia
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Spruce Tip Honey (Fichtenspitzenhonig Rezept)
Equipment
- 1 Kitchen cloth
Ingredients you need
- 300 g Spruce tips
- 1.2 - 1.5 l Water
- 1.2 - 1.5 kg Brown sugar
Directions
- Clean spruce tips in a bowl of water.
- Drain spruce tips using a colander.
- Transfer spruce tips into a big pot and add in water. The amount of water should slightly cover the spruce needles.
- Use a suitable plate to press down the needles and allow it to sit for 24 hours in a cool place. The spruce tips should slightly lose their bright green colour.
- Thereafter, bring the mixture to almost a boil over a medium heat. Lower the heat and simmers the needles for another 30 minutes. The broth should turn milky.
- Allow the mixture to sit for another 12 - 24 hours.
- After which, put a large kitchen cloth over another suitable pot. Pour the spruce tip water mixture over the cloth into the pot. Strain the needles and press out as much water as you can using the kitchen cloth. Discard the tips.
- Using 1 part of broth to 1 part of honey, in my case, I add 1.2 kg of brown sugar to 1.2l of broth. Cook the mixture for 2-4 hours. To prevent the honey from burning, stir the mixture once in a while. Take a teaspoon of honey, place it on a plate and place it in the freezer for 1 minute. Check if the texture thickens.
- Clean some heat-resistant jars with lids using boiling water and transfer your honey into the jars.
- Store the jars in a dark and cool place. They can be stored up till about 12 months.
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