Pen & Cob Spruce Syrup

We’ve never tasted anything quite like this spruce syrup from Maine’s coastal Downeast. Pen & Cob, a family-run farm, makes it in small batches from just two ingredients: organic brown sugar and sustainably hand-harvested spruce tips. Each spring, there’s a one-week window when spruce trees put out fragrant, soft, edible tips; they are harvested before they harden, then macerated with brown sugar to draw out their natural oils. The liquid is then boiled until it reaches the ideal viscosity—not too runny, not too thick. The final result is sweet, surprisingly citrusy and bursting with the fragrance and flavor of spruce. We love using it anywhere we’d use maple syrup or honey—think vinaigrettes, sauces and marinades. Other favorite applications: Drizzling over ice cream, granola or yogurt; stirring into seltzer with bitters or fresh citrus juice for a hint of sweetness; and finishing meats (you read that right) and roasted vegetables. The possibilities are endless—we keep finding new, delicious ways to use it.