All juniper species grow berries, but some are considered too bitter to eat. In addition to J. communis, other edible species include Juniperus drupacea, Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus deppeana, and Juniperus californica..
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What does common juniper look like?
The common juniper’s leaves are more like scales than coniferous needles. Some common junipers have spiny needle-like leaves that grow in whorls of three: The leaves are sharp-pointed and glossy green with a broad white band on the upper side. The adult tree shape is often narrowly columnar.
How do you harvest juniper berries for gin?
Juniper leaves are sharp, so it’s best to use gloves when picking juniper berries. The time-honored way to pick is much like mulberry picking. Place a sheet underneath the shrub, grasp a branch with berries, and gently shake. The berries will fall off quite easily.
Which juniper has red berries?
Ashe Juniper (Juniperus asheii Buchh.) Red Berry Juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.)
What juniper has blue berries?
This “cedar,” like most of the many other trees given that name, is not a cedar at all. It’s a juniper. And despite having round, blue fruits that look just like berries and not at all like cones, eastern red cedar is a conifer.
What color are juniper berries?
Only the female tree makes the berries, while the male just has little brown cones. The small berries have a dark blue color with a silver bloom and very firm texture. Juniper berries offers a sharp flavor similar to rosemary but with sweet citrus undertones and a turpentine-like finish.
How do you make juniper berries for consumption?
Juniper Berries?
- Crush the berry or toast it; crush it if you want a stronger flavor.
- Rub it into the meat with some ginger or garlic.
- Sear the meat.
- Deglaze the hot pan (add some liquid to loosen up the meat flavors at the bottom of the pan).
- Add some eggplant or a tart apple, such as a Braeburn or a Granny Smith.
Are cedar berries juniper berries?
They are called red cedar berries or juniper berries because they are a deep purple-blue color with a white wax coating. Eastern red cedar berries are edible and were used by Native Americans to flavor food, including game meat.
Should I dry juniper berries? You can use the berries fresh or dry them for long-term storage. Fresh or dried, the flavor is always strongest just after the berries have been crushed.
What do ripe juniper berries look like?
When 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.
When should you pick juniper berries?
Juniper berries (which are actually cones) should be collected from about September through to December. They should be blue when ready. Try to avoid picking them when they are green. Cones are not always produced every year as they may take two seasons to ripen completely.
Can you harvest juniper berries in winter?
Juniper trees and berries, like most conifers, are great for fall foraging and winter foraging. Junipers have needle or scale like leaves, depending on the species.
Is creeping juniper edible?
Creeping juniper leaves and berries look nearly exactly like those of red cedar. But as its name implies, it grows low to the ground, rarely exceeding heights of 10 inches. Branches are no greater than 3/4 inch in diameter. All three species are edible and have similar medicinal properties.
Can I dry juniper berries in the oven?
Simply pluck the berries from the branches, dry roast them in a 250-degree oven until they shrivel a bit, turn black and become crumbly, then you may store them in an airtight container for months.
Can you drink juniper berry tea? Dried juniper berries can be made into a delicious and healthy herbal tea.
What parts of juniper are edible? Edible Parts: The berries and twigs are edible but may be bitter and have a strong taste. Eat the berries raw or roast the seeds to use as a coffee substitute. Use dried and crushed berries as a seasoning for meat or as a spice (juniper berries are the primary flavoring in gin). Gather young twigs to make a tea.
Are cedar and juniper berries the same? Plants in the botanical genus Juniperus carry common names of both juniper and cedar. If the botanical identities of the juniper and cedar in question are both in genus Juniperus, their fleshy female cones or “berries” are the same.
Which juniper is used for gin?
The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis. It occurs naturally in Asia, Europe and North America, and it is the parent of dozens of popular ornamental varieties.
How many juniper berries does it take to make a bottle of gin?
If you want to make Gin at home (with a compound recipe that doesn’t include the formal distillation process and all that fancy kit) you’ll need roughly 25g of Juniper berries per 70cl bottle. Three handfuls would be about right.
Is gin just vodka with juniper?
Gin is not just flavored vodka. Vodka is a neutral tasteless spirit whereas gin is infused with juniper and other botanicals. Although they are similar, they have different production methods, are branded differently, and have completely different tastes.
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.
Can you eat juniper berries raw?
Yes, juniper berries are edible. In fact, you may have tasted them before without even knowing it if you drink alcoholic beverages.
How many juniper berries do I need for gin?
When making Gin at home (a compound recipe, which doesn’t include the final distillation process and all that fancy kit), you’ll need around 25g of Juniper berries for a 70cl bottle of Gin. That’s about three handfuls.
Are Blue Rug juniper berries edible?
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.
Is a cedar tree a juniper? Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.