SPRUCE & FIR TIP LIQUEUR

 SPRUCE & FIR TIP LIQUEUR

Liqueur made from spruce and fir tip syrup
(Picea abies & Abies alba)

 Traditional preparation method

Spruce and fir tip liqueur is prepared using a two-stage traditional process.

Fresh young spruce and fir shoots are carefully harvested in spring. The shoots are then layered in a glass container: a layer of shoots followed by a layer of sugar, repeated until the container is full. The final layer is sugar.

The closed container is placed in a sunny location, where it remains for approximately 50 days. During this time, the sugar slowly extracts the juices and aromatic compounds from the shoots, forming a thick, dark forest syrup.

After the extraction period, the syrup is strained and combined with alcohol. This final step transforms the aromatic syrup into a liqueur, which is then left to rest and mature before consumption.

 Traditional use in folk tradition

In Alpine, forest, and Central European folk traditions, spruce and fir tip liqueur was traditionally consumed in small quantities:

• as a digestif after meals,

• during colder seasons,

• in periods of physical fatigue,

• as part of winter household traditions,

• for a sense of warmth and grounding (traditional context),

• as a seasonal liqueur made from spring forest harvests.

Traditional use always emphasised moderation and respectful consumption.

 Detailed description

Young spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies alba) shoots have long been valued in traditional forest-based preparations. The sugar extraction method, combined with sunlight and time, gently draws out the plant’s aromatic and resinous components without heat.

By blending the resulting syrup with alcohol, the preparation gains stability and depth while preserving the characteristic forest aroma. The final liqueur is rich, warming, and unmistakably connected to woodland landscapes and seasonal cycles.

Each bottle reflects patience, tradition, and the careful transformation of forest shoots into a refined herbal liqueur.

 Warnings

• alcoholic beverage

• consume responsibly and in moderation only

• not suitable for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women

• keep out of reach of children

• do not use before driving or operating machinery

 Sources

Traditional Alpine and forest household practices
European ethnobotanical records
Hoffmann, D. – Medical Herbalism
European herbal and liqueur traditions