Fir and pine bud syrup with honey
Breathe easy, feel protected - with the power of fir and pine buds!
A natural syrup obtained by gentle boiling and slow infusion of fir and pine buds, sweetened with honey - ideal for cough, immunity, detoxification and remineralization. Intense taste and concentrated therapeutic properties!
Servings
Approximately 2.5 liters of syrup, one tablespoon being one serving (15 ml), results in ~166 servings.
Ingredients
Materials
- - large glass jar (2-3 L)
- - fine strainer or cheesecloth
- - stainless steel saucepan
- - wooden spoon
- - label and marker
Preparation
- Cleaning and preparation:
Wash fir buds and pine shoots thoroughly under running cold water.
Drain in a large sieve or on a clean towel.
Cut a whole lemon (ideally untreated, organic) into thin slices or cubes, peel and zest. Remove the pits. - Boiling:
Put the buds and lemon in a large stainless steel saucepan.
Add enough water to cover everything well.
Simmer ~60 minutes, covered, leaving a small opening so it doesn't burn. In this way:
- you extract the maximum active compounds;
- you don't lose any liquid by evaporation;
- the syrup will taste intense, slightly resinous-citrusy, excellent! - Infusion:
After boiling, put the lid on the saucepan and let steep for 12 hours at room temperature - Straining:
Strain the resulting liquid through a fine sieve or cheesecloth, pressing the buds and lemon well to extract everything. - Add honey and stir:
To the infused liquid add 1.5 kg of raw honey (preferably acacia or polyflower).
Stir well until completely dissolved. - Storage:
Pour the syrup into sterilized glass bottles or jars.
Close tightly and store in the refrigerator or in a cool, dark place.
Observations
➡️ For a thicker consistency, boil the liquid a little longer after straining (before adding the honey), but be careful not to exceed 60-70°C.
➡️ Lemon acidifies the liquid → helps to better extract polyphenols and oils.
Shel shelf life: up to 6 months if stored properly.
In what conditions does this syrup work?
🌬️ Respiratory conditions (very high efficacy)
- Colds / respiratory colds
- Cough (dry or productive)
- Bronchitis
- Hoarseness / sore throat
- Sinusitis (with complementary administration)
- Allergic rhinitis (anti-inflammatory and soothing effect)
🛡️ Immune / general conditions
- Low immunity - supports the immune system
- Chronic fatigue - toning and remineralizing effect
- Post-viral states (convalescence)
🧠 Neurological conditions (gentle support)
- Mild insomnia / restless sleep - due to calming the nervous system (honey + balsamic effects)
- Mild anxiety / stress - mild relaxing effect if consumed in the evening
💧 Urinary disorders (moderately effective)
- Mild urinary tract infections - due to the mild diuretic effect of the buds
- Water retention / general detoxification
🍽️ Digestive disorders (auxiliary support)
- Indigestion / mild bloating - especially diluted in tea
- Ulcers / gastritis (non-eroding) - only in quiet phase due to honey
🍽️ Other ailments
🔸 Important note: although not a primary remedy for liver or cardiovascular conditions, the general toning and detoxifying effect may be beneficial adjuvant in:- Hepatic steatosis
- High cholesterol (due to lemon)
- Spring asthenia
Administration
➡️ Adults: 1 tablespoon 2-3 times daily before meals.
➡️ Children over 1 year: 1 teaspoon 2 times daily before meals.
⚠️ Note: For children under 1 year, consult a doctor before taking.
🕒 Recommended duration of treatment:
For acute conditions (cough, cold, flu):
➤ 7-10 consecutive days, until symptoms disappear.
For immune maintenance or detox:
➤ 15-20 days, followed by a break of 7 days, then can be resumed.
🧊 Other consumption suggestions:
➤ It can be taken as is or diluted in a cup of lukewarm (not hot ❌) water or tea.
➤ Avoid taking immediately after heavy or very cold meals - may reduce absorption.
Effects and benefits
- Soothes a dry or productive cough 🤧
- Fluidizes and eliminates bronchial secretions
- Natural antiseptic for the respiratory tract
- Boosts immunity 🛡️
- Rich in vitamin C - powerful antioxidant
- Helps remineralize the body
- Fixes calcium in bones 🦴
- Fights colds and flu
- Has expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect
- Improves lung function
- Eases breathing
- Invigorates a weakened body
- Improves digestion
- Natural diuretic - helps eliminate toxins
- General tonic
- Protects liver and kidneys
- Improves sleep quality
- Reduces oxidative stress
- Soothes throat irritations
- Natural antibacterial and antiviral 🌿
Side effects
- Allergic reactions to honey or buds (rash, itching)
- Bloating or nausea at high doses
- Hypoglycemia in combination with certain treatments
- Abdominal pain if consumed on an empty stomach (in some cases)
- Discomfort in people with digestive sensitivity
Contraindications
- Children under 1 year (risk of botulism from honey)
- People with allergies to bee products
- Diabetics (without prior medical consultation)
- People with active gastric ulcer
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women (with medical consent only)
- Asthmatics sensitive to odors/volatile oils
- Severe kidney problems (due to diuretic effect)
- 🔢 Estimated final volume: about 2.5 liters of natural syrup, depending on evaporation and honey quality.
- 🥄 Number of servings: between 150 and 170 servings for adults (15 ml/serving), or up to 500 servings for children (5 ml/serving).
- ⏳ S hel Shelf life: up to 6 months, in a hermetically sealed glass bottle, stored in the refrigerator or in a dark, cool place (below 15°C).
- 🚫 Contains no: preservatives, alcohol, artificial flavors or colorings.
- 💡 Recommendation: use a sterilized container and avoid metal spoons in contact with the honey to avoid reducing its properties.
- 🌿 Compatible with other remedies: can be combined with thyme, lime, elder or poplar bud teas for a synergistic effect.
- ⚖️ Estimated cost: between €15 and €20 for the full amount of syrup, well below the price of a similar treatment in pharmacies.
- 👪 S uitable for: the whole family, including children over 1 year old and convalescents.
FAQ 💡❓
Can I use only fir or only pine buds?
➡️ Yes, but their combination offers a wider spectrum of benefits: fir is more expectorant, pine more anti-inflammatory.
What happens if I boil the syrup after adding honey?
➡️ You destroy the enzymes and active substances in raw honey, drastically reducing the therapeutic effect.
Why is it important to infuse for 12 hours after boiling?
➡️ This stage extracts active compounds that do not come out immediately by boiling, but are slowly released into the hot liquid.
Can I use processed or supermarket honey?
➡️ You can, but the therapeutic effectiveness will be lower. Ideally, use raw honey from local beekeepers.
Is this syrup suitable for diabetics?
➡️ Not without medical advice - it contains significant amounts of natural honey sugars.
How long should I take the syrup for real results?
➡️ For colds - 7-10 days. For immunity or detox - 15-20 days, with regular breaks.
Is it also good for colds or sore throat?
➡️ Absolutely! Soothes irritation and moisturizes the throat thanks to the honey and volatile oils in the buds.
Can I give this syrup to children under 1 year old?
➡️ No. Honey can be dangerous for babies (risk of botulism).
Why is lemon used in the recipe?
➡️ Lemon adds vitamin C, natural acidity for preservation and helps extract the active substances.
Can I store the syrup outside at room temperature?
➡️ It is risky. Safest to store it in the refrigerator or in a very cool, dark place.
What is the role of slow and long boiling?
➡️ It helps to maximize the extraction of resins, flavonoids and volatile compounds without destroying the composition.
Can I consume the syrup beforehand, without chilling?
➡️ Yes! It is an excellent immune tonic and helps detoxify the body.
Am I at risk of allergies?
➡️ Yes, if you are allergic to bee, conifer or citrus products. Test a small amount at first.
Is it normal for the syrup to have a slightly bitter taste?
➡️ Yes. The resin and bud husks can give a subtle bitter note - a sign that the extract is concentrated.
What if the syrup thickens too much?
➡️ You can add a little warm water and stir well. Don't reheat it directly, as this will destroy the honey.