Black Spruce

The Black Spruce is a majestic conifer with a height of 8 to 20 meters that watches over our Canadian forests from coast to coast to coast. These trees look after our Canadian forests from coast to coast, because this conifer grows where other species cannot grow. Favoring moist, sandy or peaty soils, this tree covers North America mainly from Canada’s Far North to the edge of the low Arctic tundra, as well as the northeastern United States. Its twigs are rough and its frayed bark is reddish brown when young and darker when mature. Its greyish-green needles are straight and tight along its branches. Its fruit is a small purple cone that changes to light brown. Of the forty varieties of spruce, it is the most resistant to very cold climates. It can withstand up to -60 degree Celsius temperatures according to some studies. Without its biggest enemy, which is fire, this tree could live up to 280 years.

Native Americans have been using the many medicinal plants of the boreal forest for thousands of years to heal themselves. This knowledge comes from an oral tradition. For example, the Cree used Black Spruce as an antidiarrheal by preparing infusions from the cones. Needles and cones helped diabetics. In order to reduce the effects of a burn, they made salves from Black Spruce resin and chewed the cones to relieve toothache.

The Montagnais used it to prepare infusions for sore throats and coughs. Amerindian children chewed the resin to keep their teeth white. They attributed powerful anti-scurvy properties to black spruce.
Used mainly to build settlers’ dwellings, the tree was also used to brew spruce beer, made from the needles, cones and molasses. Under the pretext of preventing scurvy, this beverage flowed freely at clergy parties!

In 1772, the English physician, Henry Taylor, discovered a method to extract the essential oil from the spruce and recommended it for respiratory diseases. Dr. Taylor is also the founder of the first distillery in Québec City.

Black Spruce hydrosol contains 300 mg/L of essential oil and 99.9% pure water with a pH of 4.2 to 4.4. To be specific, the product results from the steam distillation of the branches and needles of the Black Spruce and not from a mixture of water and essential oil.

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