Most know juniper as the berry used to flavour gin - but why is it so good & how else have we used it? Learn more about the dried juniper berry and why “Juniper maketh the gin”.
Juniper berry (actually seed!)
Dried Juniper berries are actually a female seed cone from a conifer tree. When adding to cooking such as be it wild bird or game meat or vegetable roast, expect a sharp, clear flavour, citrusy and evergreen with both bitter and sweet overtones. In fact there are over 1.9 million recipes online for wild meat and juniper pairings such as this one!
Ancient uses of Juniper
Juniper as a... cure? Greek physicians once claimed that Juniper could cleanse our liver and kidneys. (Not exactly the same message as alcohol but there's a fun fact for your next party!) Interestingly its medicinal properties are continuing to be researched today.
Juniper as... Witchbane? In areas of rural Europe Juniper branches were hung over one's front door to fend off witches.
Entombed Juniper? It has even managed to make its way into the tombs of ancient egyptian pharaohs, where trade routes from Greece had introduced various species of the plant into Egypt.
Varieties of Juniper Berry
With 50-67 different species of junipers native to the northern hemisphere, it is one of the most widely distributed woody plants in the world. The violet-blue fruits are harvested from the evergreen perennial shrub - all year. Today, the mature berry can be crushed lightly, coarsely ground or its essential oils extracted to be used to flavour alcoholic beverages, baked goods and meat products.
Juniper in Gin
Of course gin lovers ❤️ Juniper for its distinctive taste in gin. In fact the name “gin” is derived from the word for juniper in several European languages including genever (Dutch) and genievre (French). A gin is defined by the presence of juniper berries, in particular, the juniperus communis species is most commonly used.
How does juniper make gin?
When it comes to flavour, Juniper is not the only berry used to flavour gin. Breaking it down, typical Gin comprises of key ingredients (aromatic botanicals) infused into an unflavoured spirit. For your at home infusions you can simply infuse a plain vodka with our gin infusion kit or make your own blend from a variety of botanicals most notably Juniper Berries, Coriander Seeds, Cardamom pods, Angelica Root, and Citrus Peel.
Juniper berries have a very characteristic spicy, piney, bitter aroma. The overall aroma can be attributed to the distribution of various aromatic molecules within berry. The exact taste of the gin is governed by the precise proportion of various flavour molecules. The secret to the best distilleries are their favourite farmers who have perfected the strain of juniper for their gin.
Juniper berry in Brewyo
Ready to add some Juniper to your culinary adventures? You can get dried juniper berries on our botanicals store or try it as part of our delicious "Aussie" tonic brew.
References:
- Antioxidant properties of spices, herbs and other sources - Deny J. Charles (pg. 357-362) (https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.library.sydney.edu.au/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-4310-0_32)
- https://www.ginfoundry.com/botanicals/juniper/
- Marmalade recipe: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/09/juniper-recipes-yotam-ottolenghi-beef-stew-rhubarb-cake-lemon-marmalade
- https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-science-of-distilling-gin/3007637.article