Archeological occurrence. During the Middle Ages, juniper berries were used to ward off disease and infection. Common junipers are found growing wild throughout North America, as well as Europe and Asia. In fact, the name “gin” is derived from either the French or Dutch (no one knows for sure) word for juniper. The dusty coating on juniper berries is actually a wild yeast, so juniper berries have also been used for centuries in beer-crafting and breads; many sourdough starter recipes call for juniper berries. Caution: Do not use the European Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus for food at all. J. sabina, often planted in North America as an ornamental, cannot be used either berries or leaves. Juniper berries have antimicrobial properties An antimicrobial is an agent that Juniper berries have a strong, bitter, slightly peppery-flavor and gritty texture. Nowadays, juniper berries are primarily used to make gin---or, in small amounts, to enhance the flavor of wild game, but they can … Just as juniper trees stay the test of time and can live to be hundreds of years old, juniper berries have been an enduring flavor in the repertoire of distillers through the centuries. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. They are the required ingredient that flavors gin. The spicy, aromatic, dark berries of the juniper tree can be used fresh or dried, crushed or whole, to flavour casseroles, marinades and stuffings and complement pork, rabbit, venison, beef and duck. Most varieties are edible but avoid the poisonous ones! Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The Juniperus monosperma should not be eaten as it is unpalatable. All have lacy, leathery evergreen foliage. 4 oz resealable bag 4.3 out of 5 stars 70 $6.99$6.99 ($1.75/Ounce) Save more with Subscribe & Save © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Known in folk medicine and some modern research as a natural antiseptic and antioxidant, the essential oil of juniper berries is a popular therapeutic oil. Juniperus communis is the most common juniper in cooking. But all are not, and some of them are just too bitter to eat. Cedar berries come from eastern red cedar trees (Juniperus virginiana) that can grow as tall as 50 feet. When trying to identify juniper berries, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind so you don't mistake poisonous berries for edible juniper berries. They can be added whole and fresh off the shrub to marinades, meat rubs, wood chips when smoking meats, or added to pickling meats. In addition to Juniperus Communis, other edible species include Juniperus Drupacea, Juniperus Phoenicea, Juniperus Deppeana and Juniperus Californica Throughout history, different parts of juniper have been used in different culinary and medicinal recipes, though it is the juniper berries that are used in junipers most noteworthy recipes. 4.7 out of 5 stars 325 $10.69 $ 10. The Eastern red cedar is hardy in USDA zones 2 through 9, notes the North Carolina State Cooperative Extension. Search 123RF with an image instead … The Tam Juniper shrub ( Juniperus sabina ) is native to southern Europe and is popular for landscaping in the US. However, the most prominent use for common juniper berries is in the flavoring of gin. Plums, apples, pears and juniper berries make for a dessert that’s equal parts) Juniper berries have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and current research suggests that they may offer various health benefits. Juniper berries from the plant Juniperus communis are edible. I am in Idaho and I see Juniper berries all the time when I am out and about. A hardy evergreen, juniper varieties are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 to 9, notes the University of Florida. Which juniper plant is edible both leaves & berries? (via Domestic Gothess) Cheesy Ham, Juniper and Tomato Sauce The piney, citrusy flavors of juniper are a great way to lighten up heavier dishes. (1) One of the major uses of these berries is in juniper berry essential oil. Some species produce berries with a low toxicity to humans due to an oil called thujone. It has also been cultivated for use in the garden landscape. (via An Edible Mosaic) Hazelnut Sweet Potato Pancakes With Juniper Syrup ... Made with juniper berries and bitter lemon peel, along with lemon juice and gin, this sorbet is an adults-only dessert that makes for an elegant end to any meal. Here are 10 tasty wild berries to try — and 8 poisonous ones to avoid. Most juniper berries used in recipes come from the species Juniperus communis, a plant that grows in northern climates. Upon reading this, you may be wondering are all juniper berries edible? Junipers are often grown as shrubs for screening and hedges and are also grown as small trees. During the Renaissance, juniper berries were thought to have medicinal properties, and they were used to cure snake bite, plague and pestilence. All junipers contain the powerful oil Thujone (can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and kidney problems if ingested in large … The most common culinary use of the juniper berry is as a spice used to flavor gin. Do not eat juniper berries if you are pregnant, nursing or if you have kidney or liver problems, as the berries may irritate symptoms. Read on for that answer. It wasn't clear whether the OP actually found his juniper berries, as he didn't respond, but maybe the thread info will be useful for you, aside from the berry picking location reference. Avoid harvesting from junipers which grow alongside roads, parking lots, driveways, or landscapes which are treated with pesticides or where they may receive chemical drift or runoff. Pear, Plum and Juniper Berry Pie You don’t often see a fruit pie suited to winter, but this honey-glazed pastry is the exception to the rule. Liquids present challenges to archaeologists, as they leave only fleeting traces, so knowledge of ancient brewing practices is limited. The juniper sapling is a plug plant, which means it comes ready to go in compost. Many of these species have been cultivated for use in the home landscape. Are there specific types of juniper berries that can be used in cooking or will they all be suitable? But the berries of some species, such as Juniperus sabina, are toxic and consumption of them is inadvisable. Instead, just a small quantity of mature juniper berries are added to recipes as a flavoring or spice. Each juniper berry contains half a dozen seeds which are triangular, hard and black, and are dispersed by birds which eat the berries. Many berries are commonly available in grocery stores, but other, equally delicious ones are abundant in the wild. Juniper berries can take about two years to mature for use. There are over 45 different types of juniper. They are sold at nurseries, and the berries are not edible. So many different species, do you know which you can eat? This oil causes mild digestive upset. Juniper berries are used in medicine, spirits and as spice. But beware of the variety Juniperus sabina also known as Savin Juniper! At most, three or four berries are used for flavoring a dish. Native Americans used juniper berries as a medicine to treat sore throats, colds, pain, fever, headaches, joint inflammation, dizziness, kidney stones, as well as to flavor wild game, cakes and breads. The berries are greatly enjoyed by birds. Caution: Do not use the European Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus for food at all. Medicinal uses include the ubiquitous cure for a cold and other chest aliments, as … You can grow junipers in a large plant pot or in your garden. Many berries are commonly available in grocery stores, but other, equally delicious ones are abundant in the wild. The rest are pretty much edible. You must also consider location when foraging for juniper berries. Because they have a large quantity of antioxidants, juniper berries have a long list of health benefits. Well-macerated juniper berries’ heavy tones can be balanced by other botanicals or by incorporating juniper that is more lightly treated by adding it to the still just before distillation or vapor distilling it in a basket within the still. Plants for a Future: Juniperus communis - L. Are Japanese Junipers Dangerous for Dogs? They are sold at nurseries, and the berries are not edible. Whole berries are also added to teas and tinctures for their medicinal qualities and ground into salves for wound care. Because she’s toxic and consumption is inadvisable. More than 40 different species in the genus of Juniper (Juniperus spp.) Juniper Berries Edible All the species of the juniper trees grow berries, and almost all are edible. Also, do not use berries from the commonly sold hybrid known as the Pfitzer Juniper (Juniperus × pfitzeriana) . In addition to Juniperus Communis, other edible species include Juniperus Drupacea, Juniperus Phoenicea, Juniperus Deppeana and Juniperus Californica. This tonic, now known as gin, instantly became a huge hit throughout Europe as an inexpensive, domestic, buzz- producing alcohol beverage, rather than the medicinal tonic Sylvius had intended it to be. In fact, some are poisonous. Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper, Mountain Cedar, Blueberry Juniper, or Post Cedar) is a drought-tolerant evergreen tree, native to northeastern Mexico and the south-central United States north to southern Missouri; the largest areas are in central Texas, where extensive stands occur. Here are 10 tasty wild berries to try — and 8 poisonous ones to avoid. The fruit of common juniper (Juniperus communis) is generally considered to be the most flavorful juniper berry, but J. virginiana (eastern red cedar) also produces tasty, edible berries. Juniperus communis berries can grow to about twelve millimeters in diameter. They are the required ingredient that flavors gin. All the species of the juniper trees grow berries, and almost all are edible. Junipers produce dusky blue berries that are actually cones containing seeds. First off, is it safe to eat juniper berries? What Kind of Trees Have Berries in the Summer? When trying to identify juniper berries, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind so you don't mistake poisonous berries for edible juniper berries. In Germany, authentic sauerbraten and sauerkraut are made with juniper berries. A: Many conifer needles are used to make tea, usually due to their high level of Vitamin C. Western juniper ( Juniperus occidentalis ) is found in central and eastern Oregon, and those berries are edible. It's been known to chase away evil spirits! Though part of this may have been plague-paranoia, juniper berries do have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. All juniper berries contain the powerful oil Thujone. Juniper is a conifer, that occurs naturally in most parts of the world. Juniper berries grow on the evergreen shrub that is botanically classified as Juniperus communis and a member of the Cypress Family. The juniper berries used for flavoring come from the Juniperus communis, which can be a sprawling shrub or a tree that can grow as tall as 52 feet. Commonly referred to simply as cedar, the Easten red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is in fact a juniper variety that is found growing naturally throughout the Northeastern United States. Now before you start foraging for juniper berries in your backyard, it is important to consider some things. Note that not all juniper berries are edible, so don't go pulling them off a bush unless you're sure they're the safe kind. The Spice Way Juniper Berries - Ground berries, pure, no additives, Non-GMO, no preservatives, great for cooking and for spicing tea, syrup, meat, beef, turkey, soups and more. They are sold at nurseries, and the berries are not edible. They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8, as well as several other zones, depending on the cultivar. If you want tasty juniper berries and do not have a J. communis, it would be best to plant one. I use crushed juniper berries in my turkey brine every Thanksgiving. North Carolina State Cooperative Extension, University of Florida: Key Plant, Key Pests: Juniper (Juniperus spp. Juniper is a conifer that occurs naturally in many parts of the world. Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies (Kershaw, 2000) includes an easy recipe for making a Tricky Mary, a virgin Bloody Mary in which you allow juniper berries to flavor tomato juice. When mature, they turn a dusty blue to black color. Juniper berries are most famous for their use in gin. Certain varieties of juniper berry contain safe, low amounts of Thujone, while other varieties contain high levels and can make you very sick. Ethnic/Cultural Info Juniper berries are responsible for not just the flavor of Juniper berries areprevalent in European cuisine, such as meat stews, juniper tea, and sauces. You can plant it all year round. Juniper berries are officially the only spice to come from a conifer tree. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. This perennial plant grows best in the dry rocky areas and is hardy to USDA zones 8 to 10, notes the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute. Juniper berries flourish in the wild, and can be used for a number of things such as cooking, creating gin, and survival in the wild. It’s also the one that’s Both eastern red cedar trees and Juniperus communis plants produce berries that are a dark blue and about the size of large peppercorns. Carlson and Jones (1942:522) note that the Comanche ate the cones of the eastern red cedar, but this species has a fibrous cone that is not particularly flavorful. 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