Balsam Fir Tea

A Cree inspired treat.

Refreshing and easy to make, this treat incorporates two of the things Canada has in abundance: coniferous trees and maple syrup.

And while the medicinal properties of coniferous needles have not been proven by modern science, coniferous trees are famous in Canada as the cure for scurvy for Jacques Cartier (the first European to reach the Atlantic coast of Canada) and his crew. For those that do not know, scurvy, or scorbut, is caused by lack of vitamin C, a vitamin that most coniferous trees (including balsam fir) are rich in.

In small quantities, such as the ones we're using to make our tea, balsam fir is safe to have and is not known to pose any risks for healthy people.

This recipe is part of the 2021 - Week 5 - Indigenous Peoples in Canada Menu. Look under Menus for the other recipes of the series or Subscribe to our mailing list and receive complete weekly menu ideas with everything from the grocery shopping list to all standardized recipes in a menu, as well as an organized Order of Cooking list to save you time in the kitchen.

Download the standardized recipe here:

Balsam Fir Tea

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