Juniper Berries - Whole (ounce)

From appearance alone, it may be easy to identify Juniper Berries as in fact being berries. However, they are truly the seed-cone produced by various junipers or Juniperus communis. Juniper Berries taste great on gamey meats and in gravies, especially vegetarian gravies. Organic Juniper Berries have an aroma that is rather bittersweet. The flavor can be described as clean and somewhat citrusy, with a hint of pine notes and some sweetness to it. To some, there is a pleasant, slight burning sensation. Juniper berries have little to no flavor on the outside, they must first be crushed to release some of their essential oils and enhance their flavors. Grind or crush only when you are ready to use the berries in a recipe, as they will quickly lose flavor once ground. Here in the United States, the Juniper Berry is most popular in the fall during hunting season. Juniper Berries are great for masking the flavor of less pleasant meats, or even gamey meats. Americans tend to use juniper in marinades, brines, stuffing, and sauces. Native Americans were the first people in this country to use juniper berries culinarily; they would season their wild buffalo meat with juniper. In European cooking, you will find juniper berries in gravies and marinades. They are good on elk, beef, or venison. In Germany they are a common sauerkraut flavor. When you are combining with other spices, try Juniper with bay leaves, caraway, garlic, marjoram, pepper, rosemary, or thyme. Juniper Berries taste excellent in marinades, brines, stuffing and sauces. When storing juniper berries, they should be kept away from the light and moisture. They should also be stored in an airtight container. These Organic Juniper Berries are from Croatia.