Italian Syrup Delivers Taste of Evergreen.

[elleng]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/dining/12pine.html?ref=dining

[Denninmi]

1. Hmmm, another interesting concept.

$28 is pretty steep for not quite half of cup of liquid. But, perhaps this could be made easily enough at home. I have several mature Mugho pine shrubs I planted back in the 1980's when I relandscaped.

[grasswire]

2. that sounds deeeelicious

I love evergreen scent and flavor and will often pull one new needle from a pine tree and pop it in my mouth.

I want this as much as I want that pure ginger syrup that can only be bought in a few stores in Hawaii.

[trud]

3. yews are poisonous?

I think, so be careful what you do this with.

[Denninmi]

4. You are correct, Yews are poisonous.

However, this syrup isn't made from yew (genus Taxus). It's made from the buds of Pinus mugo, Mugho or Mugo Pine, which is a dwarf or semi-dwarf pine native to alpine regions of Europe. I haven't ever heard of pines being poisonous per se -- at least the seeds aren't, since they are the source of pine nuts. Apparently the sap/resin isn't either, at least not in small quantities.

FWIW, the pericarp on the yew berry, which is the red fleshy part, IS edible, but the seed inside is poisonous. Can be used in a pinch as a survival food as long as you spit out the pit. Tastes like, well, not much of anything, sort of just there.

[tigereye]

5. as someone obsessed with the smell and qualities of pine

this sounds intriguing to me. Pricey, though. Fascinating!