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Juniper Berries
The Juniper Berry may be best known as the flavoring in gin but it has a long history that began with medicinal purposes before they were mentioned in culinary uses. There are reports of Juniper Berries being discovered in the ancient Egyptian tomb of Tutankhamun.Juniper is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is found in many locations in the northern hemisphere and the purple-black smooth berries that are the fruit of this bush are about the size of a pea. The berries first appear green and take 2-3 months to fully ripen so any Juniper Berry plant is likely to have a mixture of immature and ripe berries.
Juniper Berries are the most popular in the fall during hunting season and they have a history in this country dating back to Indians from the Northwest region who used the crushed berries to flavor wild buffalo. In Europe they are used in marinades for pickled elk and beef, in venison and in Germany as a flavoring for sauerkraut.
The aroma of Juniper Berries is bittersweet while the taste is clean, a bit sweet and it also provides a slight burning sensation. Easily crushed with a mortar we recommend that you wait to crush until just before using as this releases their essential oils and enhances their flavor. If you grind too early they quickly lose their taste.
In the US the Juniper berry is frequently found in marinades, brines, stuffing and sauces. Use with apples, beef, duck, goose, pork, corned beef and sauerbraten. Juniper Berries work well in combination with bay, caraway, garlic, marjoram, pepper, rosemary and thyme.
** This product is certified kosher.