Seen from our coastal trails, towering doug firs and saplings alike pop with the vibrant green color of spring!
The fir tips or young shoots off of the end of the branches are a delicious, and a slightly astringent treat, eaten by themselves or adding flavor to salads. the fir tips can be made into a tea which is good for the common cold as it is rich in Vitamin C. This can be done by adding three tips to hot water and steeping for 15 minutes. This is a traditional remedy of the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. The tips were also used as a traditional remedy for kidney and urinary diseases. This makes sense as in Chinese medicine the astringent flavor helps to bind and support the kidneys
The shoots can also be soaked in cold water to make a mouthwash.
I like to add a large handful of fir tips to a cup of apple cider or coconut vinegar. Throw in slices of fresh turmeric, black peppercorns and let soak in the mixture of about one week. Then you have a flavored vinegar that you can dilute with water to drink, flavor your aioli, or throw on sautéed greens!
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