Where Do Juniper Berry Come From?

Where do they come from? The juniper berries used in food and drink usually come from the species Juniperus communis, which grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, as far north as the Arctic.

Where can juniper berries be found?

Juniper berries can be typically found in the spice aisle. In fact, if you look at how juniper berries are categorized in websites like Walmart, they come up as “condiments, sauces, and spices”. That being said, you may also be able to find them in the dry goods section.

What happens if you eat juniper berries?

The berries produced by Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus are toxic. Only consume berries from juniper plants that you can positively identify. The entire juniper plant contains Savin oil which is harmful to the kidneys even in small doses. Prolonged ingestion can cause severe kidney damage.

Can humans eat juniper berries?

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 juniper berry used for?

Juniper berries or extract of the plant has traditionally been used as diuretic, anti-arthritis, anti-diabetes, antiseptic as well as for the treatment of gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders.

Can you eat dried juniper berries?

Dried juniper berries (or fresh ones, when they are available) are used as a flavoring in Northern European cuisine, especially in Scandinavia, Germany and the Alsace region of France.

What is another name for juniper berries?

common juniper, Juniperus Communis, gin.

Is gin made from juniper berries?

Juniper berries: Juniper berries have a woody, pine-like flavor. They are the only required botanical ingredient for liquor to be considered gin and are usually added during the distillation process.

Are any juniper berries poisonous?

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.

What 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.

Who eats juniper berries?

Juniper berries are one of the top winter foods for many birds and mammals. Rabbits, foxes and most birds – turkeys, bluebirds, robins, chickadees and waxwings to name a few – covet the deep blue berries.

Can you drink juniper berry tea?

Dried juniper berries can be made into a delicious and healthy herbal tea.

Why does gin have juniper berries?

A single juniper plant will hold berries in every stage of ripeness, so they have to be picked a few times a year. Juniper provides gin with its sharp, piney and resinous flavour that carries a hint of citrus.

Is juniper a hallucinogen?

Although Juniperus species are used throughout the world for both ritual and medicinal purposes, only the species Juniperus recurva has a reputation for being psychoactive.

Is juniper berry good for the kidneys?

The Juniper Berry is rich in volatile oils, in particular terpinen-4-ol, which is reported to increase the rate of kidney filtration, which in turn increases urine flow whilst helping to flush out bacteria from the kidneys and bladder.

Do juniper berries make you tired?

Aids restful sleep
Many natural health practitioners recommend juniper berry essential oil as a relaxant and believe it has a positive impact on brain chemistry, encouraging rest.

Does juniper berries help lose weight?

They are diuretic.
Since it eliminates water weight, Juniper berries can cause temporary weight loss. This doesn’t mean that you are losing fat. But if you have an event coming up in a few days, juniper berries can help get rid of that bloated look.

Should I crush juniper berries?

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.

How do you know if juniper berries are safe?

Make sure you can recognize the bush that is the source of the safe seasoning or some very unpleasant experiences may await from harvesting juniper berries off the wrong plant. The common juniper is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 6 and is found in a wide variety of soils. The plants grow in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Which gin has the most juniper berries in it?

Sipsmith uses triple the amount of juniper berries in this expression as in its normal London Dry, chasing “a desire to create the ultimate gin for juniper lovers.” It’s also 57.7 percent ABV, making it a solid pick for a strong Gin & Tonic.

How do you use juniper medicinally?

It is also used for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney and bladder stones. Other uses include treating snakebite, diabetes, and cancer. Some people apply juniper directly to the skin for wounds and for pain in joints and muscles. The essential oil of juniper is inhaled to treat bronchitis and numb pain.