Spruce beer

He boiled the needles of a tree the St. Lawrence Iroquoians called the Aneda (probably Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as "eastern white cedar" and "arborvitae) to make a tea that was later shown to contain 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams.

This method of treating scurvy using evergreen-needle beverages was later picked up by the British Royal Navy, and spruce was regularly added to ship-brewed beer during eighteenth century explorations of the West Coast of North America[5] and the wider Pacific, including New Zealand.

[7] An American recipe from the 1796 edition of American Cookery by Amelia Simmons states:[8] Take four ounces [110 g] of hops, let them boil half an hour in one gallon [3.8 L] of water, strain the hop water then add sixteen gallons [61 L] of warm water, two gallons [7.6 L] of molasses, eight ounces [230 g] of essence of spruce, dissolved in one quart [0.95 L] of water, put it in a clean cask, then shake it well together, add half a pint [240 ml] of emptins, then let it stand and work one week, if very warm weather less time will do, when it is drawn off to bottle, add one spoonful of molasses to every bottle.The Daily Order (11 June 1759) for the Highland Regiment in North America stipulated that: "Spruce beer is to be brewed for the health and conveniency of the troops which will be served at prime cost.

[9] A Canadian recipe using similar ingredients for an unfermented tea from 1757 states:[10] It is made of the tops and branches of the spruces-tree, boiled for three hours, then strained into casks, with a certain quantity of molasses; and, as soon as cold, it is fit for use [...]Today Sitka spruce, native to the northwest coast of North America, tends to be favored, although other species of spruce have also been used.

Lighter, more citrus-like flavors are produced by using the bright green fresh spring growth before the new needles and twigs harden and become woody.

Portsmouth New Hampshire's Earth Eagle Brewings combines locally foraged pine and spruce tips in their seasonal Connie Ferale amber.