Juniper berries are the key flavoring in gin, which was originally known as jenever ("juniper") and was developed in the Netherlands. Juniper berries were used in cooking and for medicinal purposes in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and ancient Rome, and have been found in India and other Asian cultures as well.
Juniper has a wonderfully piney taste with citrus overtones (sometimes compared to rosemary)and is a common ingredient in German food. A well-known Alsatian dish, choucroutegarnie, contains sauerkraut with sausage and potatoes, seasoned with pepper and juniper berries.
Other Uses of the Juniper Berry
The juniper berry, in addition to being a popular spice, has long been used in many cultures for its medicinal properties. It's an effective diureticand is believed to help soothe symptoms of arthritis. Juniper berries have been used both as an appetite stimulant and an appetite suppressant, depending on the culture.
Some Indigenous tribes have even used juniper berries as a contraceptive. But juniper berries are not recommended for use by pregnant peoplesince it's believed they may cause uterine contractions.
What Are Juniper Berries?
Juniper berries aren't actually berries; they're the tiny cones of the juniper bush (a relative of the popular landscaping shrub). Most juniper berries used in recipes come from the species Juniperus communis, a plant that grows in northern climates.
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.
Juniper berries are best when they're fresh, so if youcan't find a local market that frequently reorders the spice, check online.
How to Prepare Juniper Berries
If you want a strong juniper aroma and flavor to your dish, crushing fresh berries before adding them to a sauce or marinade is the way to go. For a more subtle flavor, you can toast the berries, but be careful not to burn them or they'll taste bitter.
To crush the berries, put a tablespoon or so in a zippered bag and lightly smash them with a meatmallet, hammer or wine bottle. Once they're flattened, dump them on a cutting board and chop them finely with a chef's knife before adding to your dish or marinade.
What to Cook With 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.
To bring out juniper berries' slight citrus flavor, most recipes call for another fruit such as apples or prunes to be added. You can rub crushed juniper berries into the meat of your choosing before roasting it. Add a little ginger or garlic to the rub for a savory flavor. Or you can stew the berries before marinating or basting the meat with them.
FAQs
Traditionally juniper berry is used across Europe to brighten game, venison, pork, stuffing stew, sauerbraten, or sauerkraut. The berries are quite high in sugar and are also added to bread and cakes. In alpine regions, dark syrup is made from berries and served as a dessert with warm cream.
What can be done with 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.
What do you use juniper berries for in food? ›
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. They can also be used in sweet dishes such as fruitcake. Juniper berries also provide the main flavouring for gin.
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.
What food pairs well with juniper? ›
Juniper pairs well with sauerkraut, wild game, roast duck and “calico beans”, a combination of mashed potatoes and carrots, flavored with thyme and juniper berries. Use it sparingly, for its tang can overpower some dishes. Juniper features in German, Italian, French, Scandinavian and Russian cuisines.
Who should not take juniper berries? ›
Special Precautions & Warnings:
It's also best to avoid using juniper if you are breast-feeding. Not enough is known about how juniper might affect a nursing infant. Diabetes: Juniper berry might lower blood sugar. There is some concern that it might lower blood sugar too much in people with diabetes.
What does juniper berry go well with? ›
Traditionally juniper berry is used across Europe to brighten game, venison, pork, stuffing stew, sauerbraten, or sauerkraut. The berries are quite high in sugar and are also added to bread and cakes. In alpine regions, dark syrup is made from berries and served as a dessert with warm cream.
Are juniper berries safe to eat raw? ›
These strong berries are often dried and used sparingly for cooking and home remedies. The intense taste of the juniper berry means eating it raw is not advised, but it can be used for a variety of things in the kitchen. Ripe berries can be used in a marinade or applied to meat before cooking.
How to eat juniper berries? ›
As previously mentioned, juniper berries are often used to flavor meats, sausages, and game. Here is a long list of recipes using juniper, most of which are meat-based. Vegetarians can try mixing juniper berries into butter (or butter substitute for vegans).
Is juniper berries a laxative? ›
Juniper is used as a laxative that passes the stool easily and in constipation, this herb increases the bowel movements. This herb is used as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that provides relief to the patient. It also avoids the straining that reduces the symptoms related to hemorrhoids.
Juniper's most effective treatment mimics a naturally concurring hormone to suppress appetite and overhaul hunger signals, helping patients feel fuller for longer.
Are juniper berries anti-inflammatory? ›
Like a lot of plants, juniper has been used for health purposes for a long time. People have used it as an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic. You can brew it as tea. You can take the powdered berries in capsules.
What blends well with juniper berry? ›
Juniperberry blends well with other woods and citruses and also with Benzoin, Bergamot, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Orange, Lemongrass, Lime, Melissa, Rosemary and Sandalwood.
Should I crush juniper berries? ›
To prepare: The berries need to be lightly crushed before using to release their flavour - do this using a pestle and mortar or press them with the back of a spoon in a small bowl.
Is it safe to eat raw juniper berries? ›
These strong berries are often dried and used sparingly for cooking and home remedies. The intense taste of the juniper berry means eating it raw is not advised, but it can be used for a variety of things in the kitchen. Ripe berries can be used in a marinade or applied to meat before cooking.
What does juniper berry 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 can I do with foraged juniper berries? ›
Culinary uses of juniper berries
Today the most common use for juniper berries is gin making. In fact, it is juniper berries that gives gin its distinctive flavor. (We definitely added wild juniper berries to our homemade winter gin!)
