Young pine cones, which many mistakenly consider garbage, turn into a flavorful delicacy and a valuable source of vitamins if you know how to prepare them correctly.
When and where to look for milky buds
Harvest only 2-3 weeks a year in a clean forest, and not near the highway. In the middle zone this is the end of May – beginning of June, in the south – earlier. The main rule: the lump should be soft. Pierce it with your fingernail, if a mark remains, the raw material is perfect.
The size of a suitable specimen varies from 2 to 4 cm, the color is bright green, without dark scales. Avoid hard or darkened fruits. Before cooking, be sure to rinse the buds in running water. To remove excess bitterness, soak them for 2-3 hours in cold water.
How to make jam from pine cones
We will need:
- 1 kg of cones;
- 1 kg sugar;
- 1.5 liters of water.
First, boil the buds for 5-7 minutes. Then add sugar and cook for 15 minutes. Let it brew for a day. Repeat cooking for 15 minutes for two more days, and on the third day increase the time to 30 minutes. Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars, reports NEWS (18+).
Real reviews
“For years now I’ve been doing this – I put pine cones + sugar in a 1:1 ratio in a three-liter jar and close it with a lid and don’t open it on a sunny windowsill until autumn, stirring periodically in a circular motion. I filter it, and it turns out a honey-colored aromatic syrup. I add it to tea in the winter,” noted Anatoly Kalabin.
“In the Caucasus, such jam has been brewed and sold for a long time. We always bought a jar for the winter in case of colds. The only thing is that the cones there were very small – no more than 2 cm in length,” added user Eylul.
Personal experience
Every summer I collect a bucket of green pine cones from a young pine forest outside the village. I made jam from them according to this recipe – my husband is now asking for more. A great addition to tea!
Conclusion
Don't miss out on young pine cones in early summer – they're a rare seasonal product available for only two weeks a year. Collect soft green specimens from clear forests and make jam. But remember: this is a fragrant delicacy with a bright pine taste, and not an ordinary dessert, so try it a little at a time.
