So I foraged a bunch of juniper berries off our Ashe Juniper Juniperus ashei today. The smell of the cedar was lovely! What do I do with them?
Juniper berries are not real berries,. they are cones with scales so miniature and packed down that you can't see the scales so they appear as round berries. Only the female tree makes the berries, while the male just has little brown cones.
Juniper berries are known as the flavoring in gin, the flavoring can be very strong. Native American Indians used the berries, sometimes eating them whole and also crushed as a spice for soups, meats, and stews. They also ground the berries into flour and used them to make mush or bread. Juniper berries were used by the Native American Indians as a blood tonic to alleviate symptoms of anemia and re-energize the body, juniper berries were a cure-all for the common cold, flu, and other aches and pains.
The berries can be eaten dried, fresh, chopped, or powdered to impart a sharp, peppery flavor to balance the richness of game, meats, soups, and stews. They are also used to flavor stuffing, marinades and stews. Right before using the berries, you can also grind and sprinkle them on meats as a seasoning, or make a juniper sugar. Nevertheless, juniper is commonly used with lamb (or mutton) and is particularly good with venison, wild boar, and even domestic pork. Frequently used marinades for lamb and pork before grilling. Again, this is because the delicate resinous flavor goes well with smoke flavors but without being as offensive as cooking over pine would be. New and creative uses for juniper berries include creating gin-substitute or tinctures for drinks, in a glaze for ginger cookies, and in Scandinavian spice mixtures used for curing meats and fish.
If you’ve ever tried gin you’ll have a fair idea of what juniper berries taste like, although the ones used for cooking are riper. They have a slightly piney flavor with a touch of both fruitiness and pepperiness. Most like rosemary if you looking for a comparison, but more resinous and with citrus overtones (so if you're subbing rosemary for juniper, add a bit of lemon juice too).
Simply pluck the berries from the branches, dry roast them in a 250-degree oven until they shrivel a bit, turn black and become crumbly, cool, then you may store them in an airtight container for months. When you’re ready to use them, grind them in a clean coffee or spice grinder.
Or just put a tablespoon or so in a zippered bag and lightly crush them with meat mallet, hammer, or wine bottle. Once flattened, dump them on a cutting board and chop them finely with a chef's knife before adding to your dish or marinade.
Medicinal uses, which includes treating diabetes, cold symptoms, swollen joints, stiff neck or back, swollen legs, eye diseases, fever, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, and are diuretic. From an emotional well-being standpoint, juniper is commonly used to reduce the effects of anxiety and stress by helping to dispel emotions such as insecurity, loneliness, sadness and guilt. As an essential oil, it blends well with grapefruit, cypress and fennel.
More info on the Ashe Juniper:
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ethnobot/images/juniper.html
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUASThe
Some recipes I found:
The spice rub in this recipe can be used on a variety of meats, including pork, venison, beef and chicken. Once combined, the spice mix can be stored for several weeks in an airtight container.
For the spice rub:
2 T. dried juniper berries
1 T. black peppercorns
2 T. dried chili pequins
1 T. fennel seeds
3 T. coarse salt
1 T. dried sage
1 T. garlic powder
1 T. sugar
To make the rub, add the juniper berries, peppercorns, chili pequins and fennel seeds to a clean coffee or spice grinder and grind together. Mix with the remaining spice rub ingredients.
Juniper Tincture & simple syrup
Makes about 15 drinks
3/4 ounce crushed juniper berries 1 teaspoon lavender flowers 1/2 cup Everclear neutral grain spirit or 1 cup of hot water for simple syrup
Crush your juniper berries in a pestle and mortar to better release their oils, add them to a screw top container such as a mason jar with the lavender and Everclear. Screw on the lid and give a good shake. Store in a warm dark pace for about a week, give a good shake once a day until your week is up. if making the juniper simple syrup, add ingredients to a small pan and simmer for about 15 minutes, take off heat and and let sit covered for a couple of hours. Strain both versions through a coffee filter so you are just left with the infused liquid. For the tincture store in an airtight container and use a dropper to add to your drinks. For the juniper syrup add 1 cup cane sugar to liquid and allow to dissolve, store in an airtight container in the fridge, last for up to 2 weeks. add to your favorite lemonade or ice tea recipes
Some more recipes:
Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
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