Native to the United States and Europe, the juniper is an evergreen bush that produces a blue-black berry. The juniper berry has more in common with the pine cone than a true fruit berry, though -- it is a cone with tightly packed scales that only resembles a berry. Regardless of what the juniper is, it has a variety of uses, from medicinal to culinary.
Gin-Making
When life gives you juniper berries, make gin. This aromatic berry gives gin its distinctive flavor. You can readily find gin available for purchase in the United States. While it is illegal to make gin at home in this country, it is possible to brew your own. Many home brew enthusiasts circumvent legalities by labeling home distilleries as fuel-related; making spirits for your energy needs is not illegal. If you require gin for a recipe but do not have this spirit on hand or wish to leave it out, you can approximate the flavor by substituting juniper berries. The generally accepted equivalent stands at 1 tsp. of gin per 2 juniper berries.
Culinary Use
Juniper berries impart a strong flavor that appropriately pairs with meats with a robust, distinct taste, such as venison, wild boar and rabbit. Some chefs feel using juniper berry as a marinade for duck serves to remove its fatty taste. This berry is often mixed with herbs and spices, including thyme, sage, allspice and garlic, to create a unique blend suitable for use in cooking. Pickled dishes such as sauerkraut, pickled ham, pickled peaches and salt pork, often feature juniper as a flavoring, and you can also use juniper berries to boost taste in bread puddings and stuffings.
Kidney Benefits
The juniper berry may offer some health benefits for your kidneys if you've had an organ transplant. A study published in the July 2003 issue of the journal "Transplantation" indicates that animal studies bear out the use of juniper oil with a reduced incidence of kidney failure after a transplant. Human studies are needed to confirm these findings. Juniper berries provide more general kidney advantages as well. The Encyclopedia of Spices notes that juniper berry consumption promotes the function of your kidneys, preventing or treating kidney infections. Consult your physician before taking juniper berry as a treatment for any kidney condition.
Diabetes Treatment
One type of juniper berry, the kind from a species known as Juniperus oxycedrus, may be helpful in treating diabetes. Evidence from an animal study in the January 2011 edition of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" notes that extracts from the fruit and leaves of this plant reduced the blood sugar levels and decreased liver and kidney stress in diabetic rats. Researchers theorize this could translate to a potential treatment for humans with diabetes, although trials on human subjects are needed to determine if the effect occurs in non-animal studies. See your doctor before using juniper berries to control diabetes.
References
- Epicurious: Juniper Berry
- Colorado State University Extension; Identifying Conifers: Arborvitae, Douglas Fir, Fir, Junipers, Pine, Spruce and Yew; D. Whiting, et al.; March 2009
- Gourmet Sleuth: Juniper Berry
- Homebrew Heaven: Distillation Supplies and Alcohol Flavorings
- Encyclopedia of Spices: Juniper
- "Transplantation"; Amelioration of Tacrolimus-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats...; L. Butani, et al.; July 2003
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