Flavoring food in Harvesting Juniper Berries

By SongofJoy
November 28, 2012

Edible common Juniper berries (Juniperus communis) turn from green to dark blue when ripe and to black when dried. To dry them, pick only ripe blue berries and allow to dry. Crush the dried berries well just before using; flavor will decline quickly when exposed to air. Three or four berries should flavor most dishes without being overpowering. Pregnant women and those with kidney problems should avoid Juniper berries due to their diuretic qualities.

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eclayne

Nov 27, 2012 7:24 PM CST

Plants Admin Emeritus

Name: Evan
Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)

And I thought they were only for gin. How do you use them Tee and are all juniper berries edible? Great idea and beautiful photo too!

Evan

| @eclayne | Post #331336 (1)

KyWoods

Nov 27, 2012 8:10 PM CST

Name: Renée
Northern KY

What foods are they used in?

| @KyWoods | Post #331350 (2)

SongofJoy

Nov 28, 2012 5:38 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

Well, yes, gin.

No, not all juniper berries are edible ... this is the common juniper only, Juniperus communis, the one often found in people's yards in our neck of the woods.

Around here, they are used with highly flavored meats, venison, and other wild game, etc. They are also used in many German and European dishes.

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #331452 (3)

valleylynn

Nov 28, 2012 10:24 AM CST

Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)

We have one in our front yard. It is lovely to watch the birds feed on the berries when the weather turns cold.

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| @valleylynn | Post #331515 (4)

SongofJoy

Nov 28, 2012 11:26 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #331533 (5)

LindaTX8

Nov 28, 2012 10:52 PM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

There's a LOT of Ashe Juniper berries this year! Some are eaten by wildlife, but most are just lying there where they drop. Strangely enough, the Red Admiral butterflies have taken an interest in them lately. They like fruit. But the drought is so bad lately that the berries dry up super fast. So I'm putting out some old banana for them now.

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #331734 (6)

SongofJoy

Nov 29, 2012 4:09 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

Good to know that about the berries and the bfs, Linda. I have a little feeder type thing for the bfs but have never used it as I haven't had to yet. I think putting out fruit like that is a great idea.

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #331777 (7)

blue23rose

Oct 16, 2013 6:19 AM CST

Name: Vickie
southern Indiana (Zone 6b)

What a gorgeous picture! I knew birds ate the berries, but didn't know humans could.

What kind of flavor do they have? I am imagining something spicy, but maybe not.

May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown

| @blue23rose | Post #499099 (8)

valleylynn

Oct 16, 2013 11:56 AM CST

Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)

Let me go get one and see.

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| @valleylynn | Post #499267 (9)

SongofJoy

Oct 17, 2013 11:03 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

They have a fairly strong flavor, sort of bittersweet. The berries themselves are often removed from dishes to just leave the flavor as they can be too strong for some people.

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #499684 (10)

valleylynn

Oct 17, 2013 2:52 PM CST

Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)

Good information Tee. I'm not sure how good our particular type of Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) is for this use?

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| @valleylynn | Post #499781 (11)

blue23rose

Oct 17, 2013 3:46 PM CST

Name: Vickie
southern Indiana (Zone 6b)

Thanks, Tee. I can't seem to picture a bittersweet flavor in a dish, but it is something I would certainly like to try.

May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown

| @blue23rose | Post #499806 (12)

CDsSister

Oct 17, 2013 4:07 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Greenwood Village, CO (Zone 5b)
Garden today. Clean next week.

I have heard of it being used with venison and elk stews.

Here is a link to one recipe
http://www.jamieoliver.com/rec...

| @CDsSister | Post #499816 (13)

valleylynn

Oct 17, 2013 6:48 PM CST

Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)

The Native American tribes in Oregon used it for seasoning game meats.

Yum, that really sounds delicious Marilyn.

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| @valleylynn | Post #499900 (14)

CDsSister

Oct 17, 2013 8:29 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Greenwood Village, CO (Zone 5b)
Garden today. Clean next week.

Do you have any game meat in the freezer, I don't

Try it and let us know how it tastes.

| @CDsSister | Post #499958 (15)

blue23rose

Oct 18, 2013 4:52 AM CST

Name: Vickie
southern Indiana (Zone 6b)

That would be my problem too. Not into game meat, unless it is deer salami... yum!

That recipe looks really good and it says you can use beef with the juniper berries too. I like the way the instructions were written with a little history mixed in. Poked around on the website a little and there is a lot of interesting foods and recipes there.

May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown

| @blue23rose | Post #500035 (16)

SongofJoy

Oct 18, 2013 5:00 AM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)