Juniper berries have many uses, including making gin, flavoring meats and sauces and for medicinal purposes.
Juniper Plants
The evergreen juniper shrub grows between 4 to 6 feet tall. The berries are seed cones that give the appearance of a berry. The juniper shrub is grown in the United States as well as Europe and Asia and grows in the wild.
Cultivation
Juniper berries produce blue and green berries; the blue berries are ripe and picked for processing. Juniper berries take up to 3 years to ripen before harvesting.
History
Juniper has been grown for medical purposes since 1550 BC. In Roman times, they were substituted for pepper to flavor meats and to aid digestion in the Renaissance era.
Cooking
Juniper berries are used in the production of gin, for flavoring meats and in marinades and stuffing. They are often used in German, Scandinavian and French cooking.
Trivia
The name "Juniper" in French means "gin." The berries are the only known spice that come from conifers. Oil from the berry is used for perfumes and aromatherapy.
Tags: Juniper berries, flavoring meats, juniper shrub