How should I eat walnuts in pine cone syrup?

This preserve is best treated as a spoon sweet rather than a spread you pile on thickly. The nuts are dense and the syrup is intensely flavoured, so a modest portion is usually enough.

• Served alongside hot drinks — a small dish with tea or coffee lets you taste the conifer notes slowly.
• Stirred into plain yogurt — the nutty pieces and syrup give a plain breakfast a quick, more interesting texture.
• Used to finish toast, pancakes, waffles or pastries — add it after cooking, not during, so the walnuts keep their bite and the pine aroma does not boil off.
• Spooned over porridge — the earthy walnut flavour works well with oats.
• Added to a cheese board — it can be used the way people use fruit pastes or honey, as a sweet partner for cheese.

Because the pine cone extract has such a pronounced flavour, this is not a neutral topping; it will be noticeable in whatever you put it in. A single spoonful is usually enough for a bowl of yogurt or a portion of porridge. As a sugar-based preserve, it is meant for occasional enjoyment, not as a large daily serving.