As households across Britain begin unpacking their Christmas decorations, a surprising culinary trend is emerging that could transform how we view our festive centrepiece. Instead of discarding your real Christmas tree after the holidays, you can now incorporate it into your cooking with innovative recipes using pine needles.
From Decorations to Delicacies
She Grows Veg, launched in 2023 by Lucy Hutchings and Kate Cotterill, has shared remarkable tips for Christmas sustainability that involve utilising your Christmas tree in the kitchen. The organisation, dedicated to encouraging people to grow their own food for financial and sustainable benefits, has developed several unique recipes that allow you to literally 'eat your Christmas tree'.
The concept might sound unconventional, but pine needles have been used in traditional cooking and medicine for centuries. What makes this approach particularly timely is its alignment with growing environmental concerns about festive waste.
Three Festive Pine Needle Creations
Pine Needle & Ginger Ice Cream offers a refreshing twist on a classic dessert. The recipe calls for adding 280g of Christmas tree needles and ginger to homemade ice cream base, creating an unexpectedly delightful flavour combination that balances the citrusy, resinous notes of pine with the warmth of ginger.
Pine Needle Pickles provide a savoury option for those looking to experiment. By infusing pine needles into pickled vegetable brine, you create a unique condiment that pairs exceptionally well with cheese and crackers. The subtle pine flavour adds complexity to traditional pickling spices.
Pine Needle Simple Syrup represents perhaps the most versatile of the recipes. By infusing pine needles with syrups and sweeteners, you create a fragrant syrup that's recommended for use in hot drinks, cocktails, or as a drizzle over desserts. The syrup captures the essential aroma of Christmas in liquid form.
Sustainable Celebrations
The initiative from She Grows Veg comes at a time when many British households are seeking ways to make their Christmas celebrations more environmentally friendly. With millions of real Christmas trees being purchased and subsequently discarded each year, these recipes offer a creative solution to reduce festive waste.
Published on 17th November 2025, these ideas encourage people to think differently about what we consider 'waste' and how we can extend the life and purpose of natural materials. The approach aligns perfectly with the growing trend towards circular economy principles in our daily lives.
For those interested in exploring these sustainable culinary ideas further, She Grows Veg provides comprehensive guidance on their website. As we approach the festive season, these innovative recipes demonstrate that sustainability and tradition can beautifully coexist, creating new Christmas rituals that honour both our culinary heritage and our environmental responsibilities.
