Juniper Berries

Juniper Berries

Specifications

Juniper berries are a spice used in a wide variety of culinary dishes. 
 

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 give it a berry-like appearance. The cones from a handful of species, especially Juniperus communis, are used as a spice, particularly in European cuisine, and also give gin its distinguishing flavour

Brief History of Juniper
The name juniper is derived from the French word 'genievre,' which means 'gin', a flavoured spirit. Scientists today have reported finding juniper's traces on clay pots that dated over four thousand years. It has been widely used for medicinal purposes as far back as 1550 BC. Archaeologists discovered a papyrus from ancient Egypt which showed juniper berries as an ingredient for a medicine to treat tape worms.

During the Roman Empire, the dried juniper berries were the common substitute to the expensive and scare pepper

Juniper Berries in Cooking
Besides being used for medicinal properties, juniper berries are also used as spices. A bitter-sweet taste and aroma of these berries goes particularly well with stronger meats. They are widely used as a recipe ingredient while preparing chicken, pork and certain fish such as salmon.

This aromatic berry is quite popular in some some European cuisines like marinades, stuffings and pates and are also particularly good with cabbage. Juniper is widely used as spice in many popular dishes such as:

Venison Medallions With Juniper & Orange

Gingerbread Trees with Juniper Berry Glaze

Potato Gratin with Juniper

Roast Duck with Prunes & Juniper Berries

Cornish Game Hens with Pancetta, Juniper Berries & Beets

Roasted Quail with Juniper Berries & Balsamic Vinegar, and many more.