Raspberry Spruce Tip Mojito
This recipe uses spruce tips picked from Spruce trees. The tips are made into a syrup for the base of the drink, creating a refreshing blend of piney and citrusy flavours.
Spruce trees are evergreens that grow in boreal regions. Almost every part of the spruce trees, in varying stages of growth, can be used as a resource for Indigenous peoples. Fresh spruce tips carry a citrus-like flavour that changes with the seasons. Spruce tips can be used in many forms, dried, frozen, or ground into a powder. Historically, spruce trees provided the Gwich’in not only with food and medicine, but also with materials for tools.
Berries hold cultural significance for Indigenous peoples as a source of food and medicine. Raspberries are enjoyed in sweet recipes and drinks like this one, while their stem and leaves offer medicinal properties to treat stomach ailments. Learn more about the versatile uses of raspberries here.
Teetlit Gwich’in Language Lesson
Berries | Jak
Raspberries | Ts'eenakal
Spruce | Ts'iivii
INDIGENOUS PRODUCT FEATURE
This recipe uses spruce tip powder sourced from Boreal Heartland, an Indigenous-owned and operated company that sustainably harvests products from boreal forest plants.
"When someone in my home got a cold, my dad would gather spruce branches for my mom to boil in water on the stovetop. This would help with coughing and congestion. We also used spruce branches during our time out on the land after setting up a traditional canvas tent. We would always fill the inside with fresh spruce branches to act as a cleanser for the tent and help keep the air clean. Being connected to the land is a huge part of who we are as Indigenous Peoples."
- Chef Stephanie
Meet The Chef
Steph Baryluk
Chef Steph Baryluk, a proud Teetl’it Gwich’in from Teetl’it Zheh (Fort McPherson), Treaty 11 Territory, draws deep inspiration from her Arctic upbringing, where hunting, fishing, and land stewardship shaped her connection to food and cultural heritage.
With more than 10 years of experience as a Red Seal Indigenous Chef, Steph is passionate about preserving and sharing Indigenous culinary traditions through education, culinary training, and community engagement.
Named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024 and a recipient of the WXN Food Industry Award, Chef Steph is a leader in advancing Indigenous food systems. From community kitchens to the global stage, she combines her culinary expertise with advocacy to inspire future generations while promoting sustainability and celebrating Indigenous cultural heritage.
EXPLORE MORE ROOTED DISHES
