Pine cones jam

A dear friend from Ukraine has gifted me a glass of pine cones jam. I’ve never before thought pine cones actually are edible! To my big surprise the cones in jam have exquisite taste, a combination of caramel and pine tar aroma. And not to mention the small pines, they are actually soft and tasty!

The recipe is not very complicated, either.

Pine cones have to be harvested in may, by the time they are still small, green and soft.

Wash the cones carefully. For 0.5 kilo of cones use 0.5 kilo of sugar, put them both in pan and boil. When jam boils reduce the temperature to cool down. Repeat three to four times, by the time color of cones changes from light green to dark caramel or crimson color and the consistency of syrup resembles honey. Put in sterile jars and close still hot. Adding some vanilla, cinnamon or honey will change the taste. A kind advice: do use the stainless pan, as cones are rich of tar and might ruin enamel pans 😉

Now you can enjoy in wonderful taste of pine needles and tar in caramel like syrup! Even more as the treat is said to be quiet healthy, good against cold, flu, asthma and more.

Bon appetit!

P.s.:

I’ve painted a small pine tree bonsai, have a look here

Pine cones jam

A dear friend from Ukraine has gifted me a glass of pine cones jam. I’ve never before thought pine cones actually are edible! To my big surprise the cones in jam have exquisite taste, a combination of caramel and pine tar aroma. And not to mention the small pines, they are actually soft and tasty!

The recipe is not very complicated, either.

Pine cones have to be harvested in may, by the time they are still small, green and soft.

Wash the cones carefully. For 0.5 kilo of cones use 0.5 kilo of sugar, put them both in pan and boil. When jam boils reduce the temperature to cool down. Repeat three to four times, by the time color of cones changes from light green to dark caramel or crimson color and the consistency of syrup resembles honey. Put in sterile jars and close still hot. Adding some vanilla, cinnamon or honey will change the taste. A kind advice: do use the stainless pan, as cones are rich of tar and might ruin enamel pans 😉

Now you can enjoy in wonderful taste of pine needles and tar in caramel like syrup! Even more as the treat is said to be quiet healthy, good against cold, flu, asthma and more.

Bon appetit!

P.s.:

I’ve painted a small pine tree bonsai, have a look here

Courtyard of the pigna, Vatican City

Pineapple etymology

English word pineapple was first used to name the reproductive organs of conifers. Therm ”pine cone” was documented some 300 years later, around 1690. European explorers found the new fruit similar to the pineapple (now named pine cone) and there comes its name from. The name ananas comes from Tupi language, where nanas stands for excellent fruit.