what kind of juniper berries are edible

Other edible juniper berries include:

• Juniperus drupacea
• Juniperus phoenicea
• Juniperus californica
• Juniperus deppeana

Full Answer

How many juniper berries do you put in Gin?

• 2 tbsp juniper berries (more if you like juniper-forward gin)
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds.
• 1/4 tsp whole allspice.
• 3/4 tsp coriander seeds.
• 4 cardamom pods.
• 2 peppercorns.
• 1 torn bay leaf.
• A small sprig of lavender.

What are the healing properties of juniper?

Other medicinal properties of juniper

• skin irritations and diseases
• digestive problems, bloating and heaviness
• malaria
• viral, fungal and bacterial infections, etc.

What are the side effects of juniper?

Key Takeaways

• Juniper berries have anti-inflammatory properties, making them an essential ingredient in skincare products and cosmetics.
• However, they can cause kidney problems and may cause skin allergies.
• They may also lead to uterus contraction, making it risky for pregnant women.

Is gin distilled from juniper berries?

Distilled gin is produced exclusively by redistilling ethanol of agricultural origin with an initial strength of 96% ABV (the azeotrope of water and ethanol) in stills traditionally used for gin, in the presence of juniper berries and of other natural botanicals, provided that the juniper taste is predominant. Gin obtained simply by adding essences or flavourings to ethanol of agricultural origin is not distilled gin.

Do all junipers have edible berries?

Of the roughly 40 species of juniper, a small number are poisonous and a majority have bitter fruits. Only a few yield edible berries (actually modified cones) and only one is routinely used for flavoring. The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis.

Which species of juniper is toxic?

Savin Juniper is known to be toxic and potentially deadly poisonous if taken in large enough quantities. It can be difficult to accurately distinguish between different species of cultivated junipers because they have been bred to have unique features not present in their wild forms.

Which junipers can you eat?

Juniperus communis is the species most often used for flavoring gin and for eating, but it isn't the only species that is edible. Dozens of species have been used by Native Americans, including the American (J. californica), creeping (J. horizontalis), one-seed (J.

Which juniper is best for berries?

common juniperSince 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.

How do I know if my juniper berries are edible?

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.

How do I know what kind of juniper I have?

A helpful way to perfect juniper tree identification is by looking at its cones. Juniper cones on male trees are small and either yellow or tan. The female plants produce colorful berries, which are actually modified cones. Northwest species berries turn blue at maturity, but some species have red berries.

What happens if you eat too many 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 common juniper toxic?

ANSWER: The University of California - Davis list Juniperus (Junipers) in their Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants list as having a minor toxicity (class 2) for pets and children. This rating means ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.

How many juniper berries do you need to make gin?

Ingredients: 700ml bottle good quality vodka (we used a rye vodka) 2 tbsp juniper berries.

What time of year do you pick juniper berries?

fallWhen 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.

Can I harvest my own juniper berries?

You can harvest the berries green or later in the fall as they turn to dark blue. Juniper berries aren't really berries at all, but are tiny cones with scales so small and packed so tightly that its hard to see them with the naked eye.

Should you 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.

Are junipers toxic?

ANSWER: The University of California - Davis list Juniperus (Junipers) in their Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants list as having a minor toxicity (class 2) for pets and children. This rating means ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.

Is Japanese juniper toxic?

The plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, depending on the cultivar. Although not considered highly toxic to canines, Japanese junipers contain some mild toxins that are harmful to dogs if they nibble on the plants.

Which evergreens are toxic?

The needles of some pine trees, such as ponderosa pine, and other evergreens that are not actually pines, such as Norfolk Island pine, may be toxic to humans, livestock and other animals.

Is Blue Star juniper poisonous?

Is Blue Star Juniper poisonous? Yes. Technically, the berries, stems and needles are toxic, but just assume the entire plant is.

What is the flavor of juniper berries?

The flavor of juniper berries is said to tone down the gaminess of venison, wild boar, waterfowl, and other game meats. 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.

What are juniper berries used for?

During the Middle Ages, juniper berries were used to ward off disease and infection. Though part of this may have been plague-paranoia, juniper berries do have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties. 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 flavor of juniper berries is said to tone down the gaminess of venison, wild boar, waterfowl, and other game meats.

What is a juniper berry tonic?

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. However, for centuries before Sylvius developed his juniper berry tonic, juniper berries had already been used as a strong flavoring for wine, mead, ...

What is juniper gin?

Junipers. By: Darcy Larum, Landscape Designer. Printer Friendly Version. Image by Magone. In the mid-17th century, a Dutch physician named Francis Sylvius created and marketed a diuretic tonic made from juniper berries. This tonic, now known as gin, instantly became a huge hit throughout Europe as an inexpensive, domestic, ...

What are the berries in Sauerkraut?

In Germany, authentic sauerbraten and sauerkraut are made with juniper berries. Juniper berries are not eaten in handfuls, straight off the bush like the sweet, juicy blueberries they resemble. Juniper berries have a strong, bitter, slightly peppery flavor and gritty texture.

Is Juniperus communis edible?

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. Other edible juniper berries include: NOTE: The berries of Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus are not safe for human consumption and should be avoided.

Can juniper berries cause diarrhea?

All juniper berries contain the powerful oil Thujone. This oil can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and kidney problems when ingested in large quantities. Certain varieties of juniper berry contain safe, low amounts of Thujone, while other varieties contain high levels and can make you very sick.

What are juniper berries?

Junipers are often grown as shrubs for screening and hedges and are also grown as small trees. Juniper's blue and purple berries are actually modified cones. The berries are greatly enjoyed by birds. A few species produce edible juniper berries that are enjoyed by humans.

What are the fruits of California juniper?

Various Native American groups in California used the berries and other parts of the plant to treat illnesses such as common colds, flu, constipation, high blood pressure and hiccups.

How tall is a juniper tree?

The common juniper can be grown in the landscape as a shrub or as a tree that can reach 25 feet in height. Common junipers are found growing wild throughout North America, as well as Europe and Asia. 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.

Why do juniper berries have a low toxicity?

Some species produce berries with a low toxicity to humans due to an oil called thujone. This oil causes mild digestive upset.

What is the most common juniper?

The common juniper (Juniperus communis) is the most widely known edible Juniper species. Its berries are used as a spice for flavoring meat and fish dishes, as well as sauerkraut, notes North Carolina State Cooperative Extension. However, the most prominent use for common juniper berries is in the flavoring of gin.

How many species of Juniper are there?

More than 40 different species in the genus of Juniper (Juniperus spp.) occur naturally in the wild. Many of these species have been cultivated for use in the home landscape. A hardy evergreen, juniper varieties are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 to 9, notes the University of Florida.

Can juniper berries be eaten raw?

Today the California juniper’s berries are eaten raw, cooked or ground into a powder used for flavoring. 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.

What are the three antioxidants that juniper berries have?

Perhaps most significantly, the activity of three extremely important antioxidants in the body is encouraged by juniper berries: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase. (9) Issues with SOD are linked to ALS, Down syndrome, cancers and lung issues.

What is the only spice that comes from a conifer tree?

Juniper berries are officially the only spice to come from a conifer tree. (1) One of the major uses of these berries is in juni per berry essential oil. 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.

What is the best oil for cellulite?

The essential oil of juniper berries has also been used for some time to reduce the appearance of cellulite, a harmless cosmetic issue involving fatty deposits that are often found on the thighs, hips and buttocks. (20)

What did the Greeks use juniper berries for?

Long before they were used in food, the Greeks used juniper berries as medicine and stimulants for Olympic athletes. (5) Romans used them as a less expensive pepper substitute.

Why are juniper berries good for you?

Because they have a large quantity of antioxidants, juniper berries have a long list of health benefits. Consuming juniper berries can help to prevent major diseases, kill bacteria, improve the appearance of the skin, treat insomnia and even kill the parasite that causes leishmaniasis.

What is a juniper plant?

They are female seed cones that come juniper plants — a type of conifer ( Pinophyta ), which is a cone-bearing plant or tree. Juniper plants vary in appearance and can grow low and wide like a shrub or tall like a tree. Their uniquely fleshy, merged scales make them look like a berry, thus the name.

What is the best fragrance for insomnia?

A study from Mie University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated the effects of a therapeutic fragrance, including juniper berry essential oil as well as sandalwood, rose and orris, on insomniacs currently taking medication for the disorder.

Can You Eat Juniper Berries?

Yes, juniper berries are edible. In fact, you may have tasted them before without even knowing it if you drink alcoholic beverages. Juniper berries are what gives a gin martini its unique flavoring. While gin has been a popular intoxicant for over 300 years in western culture, juniper berries have actually been used medicinally since the 16th century.

How long to cook juniper berries in oven?

Preheat the oven to 350 F. (177 C.). Place olive oil and juniper berries into a baking pan and put in the preheated oven for a few minutes to warm the berries and get them to release their essential oils.

What temperature to cook juniper berries?

Try adding juniper berries to your next batch of roasted potatoes. Preheat the oven to 350 F. (177 C.).

What is the flavor of a juniper martini?

Juniper berries are what gives a gin martini its unique flavoring. While gin has been a popular intoxicant for over 300 years in western culture, juniper berries have actually been used medicinally since the 16th century.

What is juniper berry used for?

They were used to treat numerous diseases by the ancient Greeks as well as the Arabs and Native American Indians. The berries were used either chewed raw or steeped into a tea to treat gastrointestinal complaints, rheumatic pain, and for back and chest ailments.

How many species of juniper are there?

How to Use Juniper Berries. Common juniper, Juniperus comunis, belongs to the family Cupressaceae that encompasses around 60-70 species of aromatic evergreens throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed conifer in the world and the most common in the Northern temperate region. Male and female reproductive organs are found ...

How many seasons does a berry have?

Male and female reproductive organs are found on separate plants, thus, only females have fruit. These berries mature in one to three seasons and contain one to twelve seeds, although the norm is around just three.

How to use juniper berries in meat?

To use juniper berries to flavor a meat marinade, pick two or three berries, wash them and drop them into the marinade liquid. Let the marinade sit in the refrigerator a few hours or overnight to absorb the flavor of the berries. Juniper berry-flavored marinades are popular for wild game, particularly deer.

What are juniper berries?

Juniper berries can flavor marinades. Several varieties of junipers are native to the United States, from tall trees to bush-like formations. All have lacy, leathery evergreen foliage. Junipers produce dusky blue berries that are actually cones containing seeds.

What is the blush on the outside of juniper berries?

The whitish blush on the outside of juniper berries is wild yeast. You can make a sourdough starter by mixing a cup of flour, three or four berries and 1/4 cup water in a glass jar. Let sit in a warm place, loosely covered, until the mixture begins to form.

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Can juniper cause diarrhea?

Oil of juniper is a powerful diuretic, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Poison Control Center reports that eating more than a few juniper berries can cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Advertisement.

Who is Cynthia Myers?

Cynthia Myers is the author of numerous novels and her nonfiction work has appeared in publications ranging from "Historic Traveler" to "Texas Highways" to "Medical Practice Management.". She has a degree in economics from Sam Houston State University. Juniper berries can flavor marinades.

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How to make a poinsettia bloom in winter?

To make a poinsettia bloom in early winter, indoor gardeners simply need to adjust the amount of light and darkness to "fool" the plant.

Where can I find juniper berries?

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) is found in central and eastern Oregon , and those berries are edible. I use crushed juniper berries in my turkey brine every Thanksgiving.

Where is the western Juniper located?

This species occupies 9 million acres in central and eastern Oregon, northeastern California, southwestern...

Can you put needles in tea?

Though I see no problem using the needles in a tea, I think they would be very woody and hard to eat, even in a smoothie! Spring would give you the most tender, new shoots, which might be preferable.

What are the compounds in Juniper Berry?

One test-tube study detected over 70 compounds in juniper berry essential oil, with the monoterpenes alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, myrcene, limonene, and sabinene making up the majority. All of them add to the oil’s strong antioxidant effects.

Why are juniper berries important?

Juniper berries are rich in essential oils and flavonoids that function as potent antioxidants and may help reduce inflammation.

What are the volatile oils in juniper berries?

The volatile oils in juniper berries contain substances known as monoterpenes, including limonene, camphor, and beta-pinene. Monoterpenes have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties ( 4 ).

What is juniper berry used for?

Juniper berry uses. Unlike other berries, juniper berries are typically used only in small amounts to flavor foods — not eaten in large portions. They have an astringent, pine-like taste, which makes them a popular ingredient for seasoning recipes and infusing beverages.

What is a juniper tree?

The juniper tree, Juniperus communis, is an evergreen shrub that grows in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia ( 1. Trusted Source. ). It produces seed cones that are commonly known as juniper berries. Though the berries’ coloring varies, most are deep blue. Their aroma is often described as woody or spicy.

Do juniper berries lower cholesterol?

Juniper berries may promote heart health by improving HDL (good) cholesterol levels and reducing high triglyceride levels, as well as LDL (bad) and total cholesterol.

Do Juniper berries have vitamins?

Though nutrition information on juniper berries is limited, they’re known to provide certain vitamins and an array of plant compounds.

What is a juniper berry?

A juniper berry is the female seed cone produced by the various species of junipers. It is not a true berry but a cone with unusually fleshy and merged scales, which gives it a berry-like appearance.

How big are Juniperus communis berries?

Juniperus communis berries vary from four to twelve millimeters in diameter; other species are mostly similar in size, though some are larger, notably J. drupacea (20–28 mm). Unlike the separated and woody scales of a typical pine cone, those in a juniper berry remain fleshy and merge into a unified covering surrounding the seeds.

What is the flavor of Juniper seeds?

A few North American juniper species produce a seed cone with a sweeter, less resinous flavor than those typically used as a spice. For example, one field guide describes the flesh of the berries of Juniperus californica as "dry, mealy, and fibrous but sweet and without resin cells". Such species have been used not just as a seasoning but as a nutritive food by some Native Americans. In addition to medical and culinary purposes, Native Americans have also used the seeds inside juniper berries as beads for jewellery and decoration.

Why did the Greeks use juniper berries?

The Greeks used the berries in many of their Olympics events because of their belief that the berries increased physical stamina in athletes. The Romans used juniper berries as a cheap domestically produced substitute for the expensive black pepper and long pepper imported from India.

What is the spice of juniper?

The cones from a handful of species, especially Juniperus communis, are used as a spice, particularly in European cuisine, and also give gin its distinctive flavour. Juniper berries may be the only spice derived from conifers.

How long does it take for a berry to mature?

The berries are green when young, and mature to a purple-black colour over about 18 months in most species, including J. communis (shorter, 8–10 months in a few species, and about 24 months in J. drupacea ). The mature, dark berries are usually but not exclusively used in cuisine, while gin is flavoured with fully grown but unripe berries.

Where is Juniperus phoenicea found?

Juniper berries, including Juniperus phoenicea and Juniperus oxycedrus have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs at multiple sites. J. oxycedrus is not known to grow in Egypt, and neither is Juniperus excelsa, which was found along with J. oxycedrus in the tomb of Tutankhamun.