If you’ve ever tasted gin, you know what juniper berries taste like. The flavor is sometimes described as citrusy and evergreen, sometimes as reminiscent of rosemary. Juniper fruit has both bitter and sweet overtones. It’s complex, and useful for flavoring much more than gin.
Technically, juniper berries are cones, but they’re soft, fleshy cones, rather than the more familiar, hard, spiky cones. Since this isn’t a botany class, let’s just call them berries for the sake of conversation.
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. These are the two most common species in the U.S.
Juniper fruit takes about two years to ripen, so it’s not unusual to find both green (unripe) and purple/blue (ripe) fruit on the tree at the same time. And while a ripe fruit makes an excellent trail nibble, an unripe fruit is intensely bitter and unpleasant. I use them to make co*cktail bitters, but not for eating out of hand.
You can buy dried juniper berries in the spice section of a good market, but it’s so easy to harvest your own, you’d be crazy not to give it a try. Plus, who knows how long those store-bought berries have been sitting on the shelf? When you forage for your own juniper, you’ll know exactly how fresh and flavorful they are.
The flavor of fresh juniper fruit is juicy and complex. Dried berries aren’t juicy, but they are spicy and enticing. Fresh or dry, juniper berries have a strong flavor, so use them in moderation. Just a few berries, coarsely ground in a mortar with a pestle, are enough to flavor an entire batch of sauerkraut. They also make a great glaze for cookies and a super-simple fermented beverage called smreka.
I’m often asked if juniper berries are safe to eat, and there’s some controversy about this subject. If eaten in huge quantities over an extended period of time, juniper berries may be toxic. But don’t let this alarm you unnecessarily.
The same can be said of other common cooking spices. For example, consuming large quantities of cassia cinnamon gives you too much coumarin, which may harm your liver and kidneys. But no one warns you not to bake with cinnamon. Because the amount we use in baking is generally safe. In the same way, using most juniper berries as a flavoring in dry rubs and marinades is perfectly safe, unless you have a specific allergy.
There is one juniper (Juniperus sabina) that may be dangerous when eaten, but scientific literature on the subject is frustratingly incomplete. Studies have been made of both the bark and essential oil of J. sabina. The amount of essential oil estimated as harmful to humans is approximately one gram. Unfortunately, this doesn’t take body weight into account and that is clearly relevant. One gram of a chemical constituent is going to have a different effect on a 200 pound man than it will on a 70 pound child. But even if we accept the one gram figure, this is considerably more essential oil than you would get in a few berries. And humans aren’t grazing on juniper bark the way livestock is.
An FDA abstract says that the fruit of J. sabina has high concentrations of several potentially dangerous phytochemicals, but is inconclusive. Here’s how it ends: “The quantity of toxic ingredients, sabinene and sabinol, in gin were unknown. Neither was anything known concerning their toxicity to man. In fact, no formal studies had ever been carried out on the chronic toxicity of these materials.”
J. sabina isn’t native to this country (although it may be sold as an ornamental), so in the United States you’re more likely to come across safe junipers like J. virginiana and J. communis if you’re foraging in the wild. I feel completely safe using the fruit of both of these plants in moderation. You, dear reader, will have to decide for yourself what you feel comfortable with. I hope you’ll taste a fruit before you decide.
FAQs
Fresh or dry, juniper berries have a strong flavor, so use them in moderation. Just a few berries, coarsely ground in a mortar with a pestle, are enough to flavor an entire batch of sauerkraut. They also make a great glaze for cookies and a super-simple fermented beverage called smreka.
What are the side effects of juniper berries? ›
Stomach and intestinal disorders: Juniper berry might irritate the stomach and intestines, making disorders in these organs worse. High blood pressure, low blood pressure: Juniper berry might affect blood pressure and could make blood pressure control more difficult.
Is it okay to eat dried juniper berries? ›
Certain varieties of juniper berry contain safe, low amounts of Thujone, while other varieties contain high levels and can make you very sick. The common juniper, Juniperus communis, is the variety most often used to make gin, medicines, and food dishes, as it is considered safe for human consumption.
Can you eat juniper berries straight from the tree? ›
Juniper berries are a common ingredient in foods and some drinks. The berries come from the juniper tree. They can be used whole or ground as a cooking ingredient.
What does juniper spice taste like? ›
The taste of the juniper berry is fresh with a fruity citrus flavor and an aromatic , piney spiciness. The berry is in no way sweet, instead it has a pungent, piney taste that can mimic sweetness. The juniper berry pairs well with other strong flavors such as caraway, garlic, rosemary and black pepper.
What does juniper berry do for kidneys? ›
Kidney Health
Juniper is a powerful diuretic – a herb that increases the flow of urine, helping to cleanse the system of excess fluids and stimulating the kidneys. This causes the body to flush out uric acid and excess crystals that can cause many problems including gout, arthritis and kidney stones.
What do juniper berries do for your body? ›
Juniper berries contain chemicals that might decrease inflammation and gas. It might also be effective in fighting bacteria and viruses. Juniper might also increase the need to urinate.
How many juniper berries should you eat a day? ›
Dosing. Generally, 2 to 10 g/day of the whole, crushed, or powdered fruit (corresponding to 20 to 100 mg of essential oil) has been used for dyspepsia. Essential oil: 0.02 to 0.1 mL 3 times daily.
Which juniper berries are not edible? ›
The Berries grow on all species of juniper, though not all of them are edible. The Tam Juniper shrub (Juniperus sabina) for example, is native to Southern Europe and is popular for landscaping in the US. Its berries are not edible, because they're toxic to humans.
What are the best uses for juniper berries? ›
Juniper is commonly used with lamb (or mutton) and is particularly good with venison, wild boar, and even domestic pork. You could even add them to a pot of chili, to give a rustic flavor that complements ground smoked chile peppers. Juniper is also a good flavoring to use with roast duck.
Juniper berries, needles, and stems are all classified as being minor toxic to dogs and puppies. Eating juniper will most likely not be fatal, but it will make your dog sick. Common symptoms are vomiting or diarrhea.
What time of year are juniper berries ripe? ›
When to Harvest Juniper Berries. Juniper berries ripen for 2 to 3 years. The first year produces flowers, the second a hard green berry, and by the third, they are ripening to a deep blue. Pick berries in the fall once the plant has numerous blue berries.
What pairs well with juniper? ›
Portulaca, creeping jenny, petunias, or classic variegated English ivy all look great paired with Juniper and can be changed at the discretion of the gardener.
What is the spiritual meaning of juniper berries? ›
Juniper has been popularly used in blessing & purification rituals. It also symbolises luck and protection. Place some of the berries in an amulet and wear it to attract love, you can also throw some into your bath to help attract a suitor.
Are capers the same as juniper berries? ›
Are Juniper Berries the Same As Capers?. It is fairly understandable for some of us to mistake juniper berries for capers and vice versa, since they are similar in size, shape and appearance, and are both used in cooking. But they are not the same and come from two different plants.
What happens if you eat too many juniper berries? ›
Allergic reactions are possible. Consuming large amounts of juniper berries may cause catharsis, convulsions, or harm kidney function. The berries of some species, such as J.
Can juniper berries raise blood pressure? ›
Juniper berries also function as an “anticholinesterase agent.” (28) This is important for heart function because anticholinesterase agents (natural or pharmaceutical) help to build up acetylcholine in the nervous system, which in turn can slow heart action, lower blood pressure, increase blood flow and induce ...
Does juniper berry interact with medications? ›
Juniper has no known severe or serious interactions with other drugs. Moderate interactions of juniper include: amiloride. bendroflumethiazide.
