Juniper berries are a key ingredient in gin, but they also have culinary and medicinal uses. They add flavor to meat dishes, sauces, and desserts, and can help with digestive and urinary tract problems. In some cultures, juniper is believed to protect against evil spirits.
Gin and juniper go well together, and gin probably wouldn’t be the same if made without these fragrant, pungent berries, but juniper itself has a variety of other uses. In food, for example, dried and chopped juniper berries add flavor to meat dishes, sauces, fillings and berries or preserves. Juniper berries also have a variety of medicinal uses and are part of the herbal repertoire. Also, when it comes to warding off the “evil eye” or marauding demons, juniper has long been on hold, at least in some ancient cultures.
Juniper berries are the ingredient in gin that gives it its distinctive taste. Gin recipes vary considerably and can consist of a wide variety of citrus and botanical ingredients, but almost always include a high proportion of juniper. The traditional way to add juniper to gin is to first distill a pure alcohol, then redistill it with the juniper berries and other ingredients. This process results in what is called “distilled gin.” An alternative, though less respected, way of imparting juniper flavor into gin is to add essential oils or flavorings to pure spirits by simply blending the flavoring with the alcohol before bottling. The resulting product is called “composite gin”.
Meat dishes such as rabbit, veal, beef, pork and duck can also be enriched with juniper berries. It can also be used in sweet and savory sauces and fillings, particularly when prepared to accompany meat dishes. In some of the thicker desserts, including fruitcakes and mincemeat, the pungent flavor of juniper adds to the blend of sweet and spicy aroma. The best way to preserve the flavor of juniper berries for culinary use is to keep dried whole berries on hand and then mash, mince, or grind them right before using.
Medicinally, juniper can help relieve gas, stomach upset, and other digestive problems. Juniper has diuretic properties and is also used to treat urinary tract problems. The Egyptians used juniper medicinally as early as 1500 BC. The Romans were familiar with the herb primarily for treating gastrointestinal problems.
As a medicine, juniper berries can be consumed as an extract or tea. While generally safe in small doses, long-term use can cause complications. It is best to take any herbal medicine under the supervision of a qualified herbalist or physician. Juniper should be avoided by pregnant women and people with kidney problems.
Consumables aside, juniper berries have carved another place in history. In Scotland, juniper berries were believed to protect people and homes from the “evil eye”. This was a term people used to refer to witches. Also, it was believed in Tibetan culture that juniper could keep demons at bay.
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