Douglas Fir Tip Tea

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Douglas Fir Tip Tea

Douglas fir tree tips are edible. And believe or not they actually are quite yummy. We have a huge Douglas fir tree in our back yard and I get so excited when I see those lime green new growths showing. Each year the tree will shoot out new growths on the end of each branch. When these shoots come out they are tender and flavorful.

Douglas fir tips have a citrus-watermelon flavor. That’s how I describe it for people who have never tried it. When I harvest the tips I usually make sun tea or cloud tea (we are in the pacific northwest). It’s also referred to as a cold infusion. I fill up a jar halfway with tips and then fill it with water and let it sit in the sun for 12 hours and then I put it in the fridge. Sometimes I just put it directly in the fridge. The first time I did this, I was surprised by the watermelon citrus flavor.

Douglas Fir Info

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are evergreen trees, meaning they keep their needle-like leaves year-round. There are 2 varieties, Coastal Douglas fir, and Rocky Mountain Douglas fir.

Douglas fir is called by some other names like Douglas spruce, and Oregon pine. Douglas Fir is actually not a true spruce, pine, or fir tree. The Latin name Pseudotsuga means “false hemlock”.

Coastal Douglas firs grow closer to the water on the west coast. They prefer more damp and mild climates. As where the Rocky Mountain Douglas firs grow inland more and in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and also the Rocky Mountain range. The Coastal Douglas Fir grows faster. It can reach up to 300 feet tall and live a long time. The needles are dark-yellow green, some can also be a blueish green. Rocky mountain variety grows slower but is hardy and rarely grows above 130 feet. Needles are bluish green and sometimes can be yellowish green. The pine cones are around 3 inches and the bracts bend upwards.

History

Douglas fir is named after botanist David Douglas. The tree was introduced to the European botanical society in 1827. The latin name for Douglas Fir is Pseudotsuga menziesii), which is named after botanist Archibald Menzies.

Harvesting Tree Tips

The best time to harvest tree tips is in springtime when the new growths appear. Some people will say it’s best to get them before they open. I rarely get to harvest them when the new growths are still somewhat closed. So usually by the time I get to harvesting them they are slightly open to all the way open. As long as they are still tender I will pick them.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and April-May tends to be the best time to pick and harvest. Sometimes if I go way up into the mountains at higher elevations I have seen tree tips that are prime picking in June and sometimes even early July. It just depends on the year and the weather and the elevation. But generally, April or May is the best.

When Harvesting you shouldn’t pick all in one area. You should move around the tree and pick from different branches. Remember these are the tree’s new growth so don’t over harvest one tree. Make sure to examine the tips you’re going to pick. You’ll notice some have bugs and others may not. Obviously, choose the ones without bugs.

Processing Tree Tips

Processing them is really simple. I like to rinse mine really well and let them soak in a bowl of water for 15/20 minutes. Doing this helps to get any dirt or bugs.

Once the tips are rinsed place them into a glass jar and fill with water. I like to have at least half a jar of tips. So if I pick 1/2 a gallon of tips I pour in 1 gallon of water. Place outside in the sun if it’s cloudy you can just place the jar in the fridge. This is how I like to use tree tips. It is called a cold infusion. I leave it in the fridge overnight and strain it the next day. The water has a citrus watermelon-like flavor. Everyone that I give a taste to is so surprised how good it is.

Medicinal Benefits of Douglas Fir Tips

Douglas Fir needles are medicinal. They contain good amounts of vitamin C. They are a great tea if you’re coming down with a cold and feeling under the weather. The needles are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial. They are good for respiratory health.

The essential oils of needles, wood, and cones of Pseudotsuga menziesii contained the constituents terpinen-4-ol, β- and α-pinenes, sabinene, Δ-3-carene, and limonene.

Ever wonder what that wonderful smell is walking through the forest? That pine smell, it’s so invigorating yet calming. That pine scent is pinene. The two types of pinene that are constituents in Douglas fir are alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. Alpha-pinene is known to have anti-inflammatory activity. It’s been shown to be effective in inhibiting bronchitis, skin inflammation, ear edema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and osteoarthritis. 

The limonene in Douglas fir offers great antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties(1). Limonene was also shown in studies to relieve anxiety and stress (2). Sabinene in Douglas fir has been shown in studies to have anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal(3). It’s also been shown to be beneficial in skin conditions, helps with digestion, and can help relieve arthritis pain (4).

Other Ways to Use Douglas Fir

Douglas fir tips can be chopped fine and put in baked goods, as a flavoring and as a garnish. I have seen it baked in cookies and bread.

You can infuse alcohol. I have heard of people infusing the Fir tips in alcohol for 4-6 weeks, although I have never done this myself. I have been told gin is the best alcohol to use for that. Some of my fellow herbalist friends tell me it is really delicious.

You can make infused vinegar. You can have it on salad dressings or you can use the infused vinegar as a multipurpose cleaner. It smells wonderful. I like plain white vinegar

White Vinegar

You can infuse Fir tips into salts for eating. One year I infused some kosher salt with fir tips and used the salt on chicken. You guys, it was so delicious! You have to try it!

Tea, cold or hot. My favorite way to use Douglas fir tree tips is as a cold infusion. I use these jars off of amazon.

1 Gallon Jars

1/2 Gallon Jars

Infused bath salts. You can take Epsom salts and put some chopped Douglas fir tree tips in with them in a jar and mix well and let it sit for a few weeks. I like to shake it up every few days and let it sit for about 2-3 weeks. It smells amazing when you use it in your bath. These are the jars I use for infused bath salts.

Glass Jar for Bath Salts

Have you ever foraged for Douglas Fir Tree Tips or Pine Tree Tips? How did you use them? Let me know in the comments.

Much Love,

Melissa

If you enjoy foraging or making your own herbal medicine check out this post on Usnea.

This website is for educational purposes only. The information provided by Renaissance Path is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Please consult a qualified health care professional for medical advice.