I was thinking about slow roasting lamb with juniper berries and lemon. When mature, they turn a dusty blue to black color. They are sold at nurseries, and the berries are not edible. The spicy, aromatic, dark berries of the juniper tree can be used fresh or dried, crushed or whole, to flavour casseroles, marinades and stuffings and complement pork, rabbit, venison, beef and duck. Only a few yield edible berries (actually modified cones) and only one is routinely used for flavoring. First off, is it safe to eat juniper berries? Native Americans used juniper berries as a medicine to treat sore throats, colds, pain, fever, headaches, joint inflammation, dizziness, kidney stones, as well as to flavor wild game, cakes and breads. The berries of the California juniper (Juniperus californica) were utilized as a food source by the Native Americans during times when food was scarce. The Spice Way Juniper Berries - Ground berries, pure, no additives, Non-GMO, no preservatives, great for cooking and for spicing tea, syrup, meat, beef, turkey, soups and more. The juniper berries used for flavoring come from the Juniperus communis, which can be a sprawling shrub or a tree that can grow as tall as 52 feet. Juniper's blue and purple berries are actually modified cones. The berries are edible and have a unique sweetness to them which is different from other varieties of edible junipers. Berries grow on all species of juniper, though not all of them are edible. Download Juniper berries stock photos. In fact, some are poisonous. NOTE: The berries of Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus are not safe for human consumption and should be avoided. Its berries are used as a spice for flavoring meat and fish dishes, as well as sauerkraut, notes North Carolina State Cooperative Extension. Avoid harvesting from junipers which grow alongside roads, parking lots, driveways, or landscapes which are treated with pesticides or where they may receive chemical drift or runoff. What Kind of Trees Have Berries in the Summer? The common juniper can be grown in the landscape as a shrub or as a tree that can reach 25 feet in height. Certain varieties of juniper berry contain safe, low amounts of Thujone, while other varieties contain high levels and can make you very sick. Additionally, juniper berries are generally not considered safe for pregnant or nursing women. Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper, Mountain Cedar, Blueberry Juniper, or Post Cedar) is a drought-tolerant evergreen tree, native to northeastern Mexico and the south-central United States north to southern Missouri; the largest areas are in central Texas, where extensive stands occur. Now before you start foraging for juniper berries in your backyard, it is important to consider some things. The most common culinary use of the juniper berry is as a spice used to flavor gin. Juniper berries have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and current research suggests that they may offer various health benefits. The juniper sapling is a plug plant, which means it comes ready to go in compost. It's a great adjunct to meat dishes such as beef, pork, or wild game such as venison. Plums, apples, pears and juniper berries make for a dessert that’s equal parts) Both eastern red cedar trees and Juniperus communis plants produce berries that are a dark blue and about the size of large peppercorns. Words: Jenny Somervell Juniper berries aren't typically found in your average kitchen, but this exotic fruit offers a flavour that jumps out at you and can add that extra punch needed to spice up a dish. The juniper berries used for flavoring come from the Juniperus communis, which can be a sprawling shrub or a tree that can grow as tall as 52 feet. Juniper Berries Edible . Juniper berries are not eaten in handfuls, straight off the bush like the sweet, juicy blueberries they resemble. But beware of the variety Juniperus sabina also known as Savin Juniper! One of the big benefits of juniper berries is that their antiseptic properties help remove waste and acidic Juniper berries are used in medicine, spirits and as spice. The Juniperus monosperma should not be eaten as it is unpalatable. This perennial plant grows best in the dry rocky areas and is hardy to USDA zones 8 to 10, notes the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute. All juniper berries contain the powerful oil Thujone. You can plant it all year round. Juniper is a conifer that occurs naturally in many parts of the world. Many berries are commonly available in grocery stores, but other, equally delicious ones are abundant in the wild. 4.7 out of 5 stars 325 $10.69 $ 10. 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