Balsam Fir Syrup

I can’t imagine anything that tastes more like Christmas than this pine & warm spiced syrup. The acid in it cuts the sweetness making it the perfect mixer for cocktails (especially gin), tea (hot or iced), and it makes a wonderful instant soda mixed with sparkling water. But don’t stop there! You can also pour it over baked goods, drizzle it on yogurt, make marshmallows with it, make a sweet +savory glaze for fowl or game… sky’s the limit!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Ingredients

8 cups of water
4 cups granulated sugar
4 cups light brown sugar
3 cinnamon sticks crushed
1 nutmeg crushed
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
pinch of ground cloves or 6 whole cloves lightly crushed
pinch of mace optional
pinch or two of salt
2 tsp citric acid or 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1.5 cups balsam fir or other edible conifer needles roughly chopped

Instructions

In a large saucepan bring the sugar and water to a boil together, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar.
Remove from heat and stir in all the other ingredients. Let steep at least until the mixture is completely cooled. I prefer to steep mine over night. Stir occasionally. The next morning strain through a cheese cloth lined mesh strainer into bottles. Store in the fridge. Should keep a few months due to the acid.

Notes

Make sure you wash your trimmings very, very thoroughly unless you are certain you have a tree that wasn’t sprayed with chemicals.