Spruce up your mealtime
In 2007, Crookedstane started to pilot a food and drink range using spruce shoots, brash and essential oil.
Having trialled various foodstuffs through the year (see product list at end), they decided to focus initially on the commercial production of spruce-based drinks, in particular soft drinks, because all the ingredients can be sourced locally, and can be made on site, and because they believed there is a niche for a new, healthy, delicious, zero carbon, ‘green’ beverage.
They now have orders for spruce flavourings from Uncle Roy’s (Moffat-based) 2008 gourmet condiments range to be sold in Waitrose and are due to complete organic registration (Soil Association) of their spruce trees in May 2008.
Spruce is traditionally used in all the countries where it grows, to flavour food and drink. Various species of spruce grow all over the northern hemisphere. Crookedstane spruce trees were named after the seaport of Sitka in Alaska. Sitka spruce grows only on the coast, beside the fast-flowing rivers running into the Pacific, in close relationship with five types of Pacific salmon which return annually to them to spawn.
Spruce has a delicious, subtle, refreshing and unique taste - a bit like ginger, toffee, a hint of lemon....
Spruce beer was a regular import to Britain, probably from Germany, in the 16th century. Evidence of this trade endures in the expression: ‘Would you like a spruce?’ , used in Northamptonshire to this day when offering a cold drink. There are many historical descriptions of recipes for spruce beer as brewed in 16th, 17th & 18th century. There is evidence that spruce was used to maintain health of sailors on long sea voyages and for the army in the winter in N. America eg in Boston.
Crookedstane Kindling Ltd™ product list Dec 2007
Crookedstane Rig Elvanfoot, Biggar ML12 6TJ tel: 01864 505277
For further details contact: info@crookedstanekindling.com
Spruce & lemon ice Cream: Made to our own exclusive recipe by Cream O’Galloway - delicious with winter puddings, after spicy oriental or fish dishes
Gourmet vegetarian spruce sausages: made for us by Wicken Fen in Duns, flavoured with our very own organic Crookedstane™ spruce shoots
Vegetarian spruce mini bites – perfect for festive occasions through Christmas and on into 2008
Ayrshire Pork Sausages with Crookedstane™ spruce shoots: wonderful traditional sausages with a twist: up to 90 per cent meat
locally made in Thornhill
Speyside Beef Spruceburgers (in packs of 2): up to 90 per cent beef, with Crookedstane™ organic spruce shoots
Spruce Jelly in 275ml jars: made for us by the Leadhills Jam Factory
Spruce soda: - very refreshing, a new ‘green’ non-alcoholic health drink, flavoured with our own organic spruce shoots
Spruce beer and spruce liqueur: – in development
Dark, milk or white chocolates: filled with spruce flavoured ganache
Spruce teabags
Fresh spruce shoots to use as herbal flavouring
Do let us know if you would like to be taken off the circulation list for future newsletters.
Contact::
Elizabeth Roberts and family
Crookedstane Kindling Ltd
Crookedstane Rig, Elvanfoot, Biggar, ML12 6TJ
tel 01864 505233 mob 07968 801178
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