History
Indigenous Alaska peoples harvested young spruce shoots for centuries as a vitamin C source and a seasoning, traded along the coastal trade routes from Sitka to Anchorage. Modern Anchorage chefs use spruce tip syrup, jelly and pickle as a foraged garnish. The Backcountry Eats and Foraging Treats day trip teaches identification and preserving methods through May and June each year.
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Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 300g fresh spruce tips, picked young (April-May)
- 750ml water
- 600g granulated sugar
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 1 packet pectin (50g)
Method
- Inspect the spruce tips for needles still in their papery sheaths; remove any brown bits.
- Bring the water to a boil and steep the spruce tips for 15 minutes covered.
- Strain through cheesecloth, pressing gently to extract all the liquid.
- Return the spruce-infused liquid to the pot and add the sugar, lemon zest and juice.
- Bring to a rolling boil, then stir in the pectin and boil hard for 2 minutes.
- Ladle into sterilised jars, leaving 6mm headspace. Seal and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
- Cool and store. Use within 12 months.
Tip from the editors. Pick spruce tips from white or Sitka spruce only. Never harvest from yew, which is toxic. The window is just 2-3 weeks in spring.
Where to eat spruce tip preserve
Spruce tip preserve in Anchorage
South Restaurant and Coffeehouse ★ 4.5
South Restaurant runs an all-day brunch on Old Seward Highway with a Croque Madame, seared scallops and Kaladi Brothers coffee bar at the South Anchorage.
OrderCroque Madame with seared Alaska scallops on the side
Crow's Nest ★ 4.6
Crow's Nest is Anchorage fine dining: 20th floor of Hotel Captain Cook, sommelier-led wine programme and Chef Cameron Richardson driving Alaska seafood.
Book1-2 weeks ahead
More places near South Restaurant and Coffeehouse and Crow's Nest
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Cynosure Brewing Belgian, about 100 m away
- Cafe Del Mundo Coffee roaster, about 650 m away
- Cafe Del Mundo on 51st Café, about 650 m away
- SteamDot Coffee Fairbanks Street Coffee roaster, about 1.0 km away
- Kaladi Brothers Coffee Coffee roaster, about 1.9 km away
- Kaladi Brothers Brayton Roastery Cafe Café, about 1.9 km away
More cities are in research. Want spruce tip preserve covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.