These tender, newly formed shoots appear on spruce trees early in the growing season before the needles harden and darken. Foragers and specialty growers harvest them while they are still soft and pliable. They are highly valued in culinary and brewing applications for their distinct citrus and pine flavor profile.
Heard on the job
We need to get out to the north block and harvest the spruce tips before they get too woody.
Insider tip
The window for harvesting is incredibly short; once the tips lose their bright green color and papery casing, they become too bitter and tough for commercial use.