Pine Needle Vinegar
Fans of Balsamic Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar should clear space on the shelf for a surefire fan favorite: Pine Needle Vinegar! While it’s possible to purchase pre-made Pine Needle Vinegar from online retailers such as Korea Depart, those living in areas with naturally abundant evergreens will be rewarded by brewing their own.
Making your own Pine Needle Vinegar is quick and easy, though it does take a little patience to wait for the full flavor and copious nutrients to infuse out of the needles and into the vinegar. Eat Weeds has posted a representative recipe online for those eager to enjoy the many benefits of pine in yet one more way. As with all home-made and natural preparations, do your research into the pros and cons of preparing pine products – some evergreens (such as Yew) can be toxic and others are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Pine Liqueur
One might think liqueur made from conifers would taste like turpentine… and have the correspondingly ill effect on one’s health. That’s not the case with Zirbenz, “The Stone Pine Liqueur of the Alps”, handcrafted and bottled in Austria by the Josef Hofer family distillery since 1797.
According to the company website, “Zirbenz draws its hallmark pine floral aroma, flavors and reddish hues from the freshly picked fruit of the Arolla Stone Pine found high in the Alps,” and instead of overtones of bitter varnish it’s said to taste smooth and mildly sweet. On the downside, drinking too much on Christmas Eve can leave you as hungover as Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree the next morning. Good grief!

